440 



THE OCEAN WORLD. 



The Cowries ( Cyprcea), have brilliant, smooth, and polished, oval- 

 shaped, or oblong convex shells, with edges rolling inwards, and longi- 

 tudinal openings, narrow, arched, dentate on both edges, and notched 

 at the extremities. The spiral, placed quite posteriorly, is very 

 small, and often hidden by a calcareous bed of a vitreous appearance. 



It is now known that the form and colouring of the shells vary 

 very considerably, according to the age of the animal ; so much so, 

 indeed, that the same species examined at various stages of its growth 



Fig. 246. Cypraea Scottii 

 (Broderip). 



Fig. 247. Cypraea Scottii 

 (Broderip). 



Youn 



Fig. 248. Cyprsea 

 (Broderip). 



would almost seem to belong to species and even to genera essentially 

 different 



The young cowries are thin, conical, elongated, with a conspicuous 

 spiral and large openings. The right edge soon becomes thicker, 

 and folds itself inwardly ; the opening is narrowed ; finally, the 

 spire is unfolded in successive folds from the right edge, and by 

 successive deposits of the vitreous matter we have spoken of the 

 opening is gradually contracted, its extremities hollowed out, its edges 

 disconnected, and the shell, until now only shaded in pale tints, 

 assumes its most brilliant colours, which are disposed in bands or 

 spots, as exhibited in Figs. 246 and 247, which are the adult shells, 

 and Fig. 248, which is the young shell, of Cyprcea Scottii. 



The animal which inhabits this shell is elongated, and is provided 



