422 



THE OCEAN WORLD. 



are beautifully ornamented with waving and broken lines, as we see 

 them in Figs. 249 to 252. 



The New Zealand Cowrie, of which we have spoken above, is nearly 



Figs. 249 and 250. Cypraaa undata (Lamarck). 



Figs. 251 and 252. Cyprsea zigzag 

 (LinnjEus). 



globular, of a uniform orange colour above, and white below ; the 

 teeth of the opening are of a bright orange. The shell is rare, and 

 much sought after. 



The Money Cowrie, Cyprtea moneta (Figs. 253 and 254), is a 

 little oval shell, depressed, flat below, with very thick edges and 

 slightly waving. It is of a uniform yellowish white colour, sometimes 

 citron-yellow above and white below. There are usually twelve teeth 



Figs. 253 and 254. 

 Cypraea moneta (Linnaeus). 



Fig. 255. Cypraaa Madagascar iensis (Gmel.). 

 (1 and 2). 



in the opening. It comes from the Indian Ocean, the Maldivian Isles, 

 and the Atlantic Ocean. 



This shell, so common in collections, is gathered by the women on 

 the . shore of the Maldivian Isles, three days after the full moons and 

 before the new moons ; it is afterwards transported to Bengal, to 

 India, and Africa, where, as we have already said, it is used by the 

 negroes and other natives as money. 



The Madagascar Cowrie, Cyprsea Madagascar iensis (Fig. 255), 

 and the Granular Cowrie, Cyprtea nucleus (Figs, 259 and 260), are 



