BUCCINUM WHELK. 85 



base, outer lip thickened and rolled outwards. 

 The animal produces this thickened revolute 

 lip at different periods of its growth, thus form- 

 ing a number of elevated ridges on the shell. 

 Such marks of increase are observable in many 

 other marine shells, and in a few land species ; 

 but in none do they occur more frequently than 

 in the Harps. The effect of these numerous 

 ribs is very rich and pleasing. The Harps are 

 found in the seas of hot climates, particularly 

 near the Isle of France. 



Another very distinct natural group of this 

 genus consists of shells called Needle Bucci- 

 num,* a term given to them from their subulate 

 form. They possess the characteristic mark of 

 the genus in the notch of the aperture slanting 

 towards the right, though their pointed elongated 

 shape has a very different appearance from that 

 of the Buccina in general. 



The name given to this genus is derived from 

 the Latin buccina, a trumpet, and probably 

 these shells furnished the first idea of that in- 

 strument, for if the apex be pierced or broken 

 off, a variety of sounds may be produced by 

 blowing into it. Triton, the fabled trumpeter of 

 Neptune, is represented with one of these shells 

 in his hand, when he is supposed to be calling up 

 the river deities to attend their monarch. This 

 kind of trumpet is still used by the Italian herds- 

 men to direct the movements of their cattle. 

 In a part of Wales also the fanners summon 



* Plate III. figure 4. 

 8 



