45 O THE OCEAN WORLD. 



In PLATE XXI. we have represented some interesting species. 

 Conus imperialis (Fig. I.) is a fine species, of white colour, with bands 

 of a greenish yellow or tawny colour, ornamented with transverse, cord- 

 like, articulated lines of white and brown. One of the largest species 

 is Conus geographus (Fig. II.), which sometimes attains the length of 

 six or seven inches ; it is shaded white and brown. 



Among the non-crowned species, we have represented in Fig. III. 

 Conus tessdlatus, common in the Indian Ocean. Its anterior part is 

 violet in the interior. The spots with which it is surrounded are of 

 a fine red or scarlet, or, in short, a red lead colour upon a white 

 ground. 



Conus ammira/is, of which three varieties, Figs. IV., V., and VI.. 

 are natives of the seas which bathe the Moluccas ; they are beautifully 

 marked varieties, of a brownish citron colour, marked with white 

 spots nearly triangular, with tawny bands painted in very fine tracery. 

 This species has been, and is still, much sought after by collectors, 

 and presents many varieties besides those represented. 



Among the shells, which seem almost ready to become cylindrical, 

 may be noted Conus nobilis (Fig. VII.), a rare shell of yellowish colour 

 approaching citron, ornamented with white spots. The golden drop, 

 Conus textile (Fig. VIII.), is yellow in colour, ornamented with 

 waving longitudinal lines of brown, and white corded spots edged 

 with tawny colour. The glory of the sea, Conus gloria maris (Fig. 

 IX.), is white in colour, banded with orange, and reticulated with 

 numerous triangular white spots edged with brown. This is a native 

 of the East Indies, and one of the most beautiful shells of the whole 

 group. 



The fourth family, Biicanida, contains numerous genera, as 

 examples of which we may instance Oliva, Harpa, Cassis, Purpura, 

 JVassa, Terebra, Eburna, and Bucdnum. 



The genus Oliva is so named from its resemblance in form to the 

 olive. Its nearly cylindrical shell is slightly spiral, polished, and 

 brilliant, as in the Cowries; its opening is still long and narrow, strongly 

 notched in front, its edge columellar, swollen anteriorly into a kind of 

 cushion, and striped obliquely in all its length. 



These Molluscs belong to the seas of warm countries, where they 

 frequent the sandy bottoms and clear waters. They creep about 

 with much agility, reversing themselves quickly when they have been 

 overturned ; they live upon other animals, and are flesh-eaters. They 

 are, in fact, taken at the Isle of Tranu by using flesh as bait. The 

 colours of the shell are very varied, and sometimes fantastically 

 streaked. Oliva erythrostoma (Fig. 275) is ornamented externally 



