206 SHELLS AND THEIR ANIMALS. 



the greatest quantity of lime used for agricultural 

 and architectural purposes is made of calcined 

 shells. The public streets of Christianstadt and 

 Santa Cruz are paved with the Stromjjus Gigas, 

 and the town of Conchylion is entirely built of 

 marine shells. 



In uncivilized countries the natives not only 

 delight to deck their persons with shells, but 

 where the working of iron is still unknown, they 

 often employ shells as its substitute, and convert 

 them into agricultural or domestic implements, 

 and also warlike instruments. The military 

 horn of many of the African tribes is formed of 

 the Murex Tritonis. The blue and white belts 

 of the Indians of North America, used as sym- 

 bols of peace and amity, in opposition to the 

 war hatchet, is made from the Venus Mercena- 

 ria ; and the gorget of the chieftain's dress, 

 is constructed of the Mytilus Margaritiferus. 

 Among the Friendly Isles the permission to wear 

 the Cypraea Aurantia or Orange Cowry marks 

 the highest rank of the country. The Cyprsea 

 Moneta or Money Cowry is the current money 

 of many nations of India and Africa, and the 

 liberty of a man is often bartered for a certain 

 weight of these shells. In Grecian. History we 

 read that the suffrages of the Athenians were on 

 certain occasions marked upon a shell. Pearls, 

 the effect of disease in certain Mollusca, form a 

 portion of the revenue of many kingdoms, and 

 are among the most costly ornaments of the 

 noble and the wealthy. In former times the dye 



