SJicll- Trumpets and tlieir Distribution. 67 



tells that in the Xe\v Hebrides there is a tradition that 

 the first woman sprang from a cowry-shell ; there is also 

 a family named after the Octopus. 



Nor is this strange " Shell-God " idea confined to the 

 Far East. There is the ancient legend of the birth of 

 Venus from a sea-shell. The representation of shells on 

 the coins of ancient nations 119 affords evidence of the 

 prevalence of similar ideas in the Mediterranean region. 

 Even in the Christian architecture of this city the same 

 curious symbolism is depicted. In an account on the 

 "Misereres in Manchester Cathedral," 120 the Rev. E. F. Letts 

 figures and describes a series of elaborate carvings under 

 the stall seats portraying numerous fabulous animals in a 

 variety of ingenious and grotesque forms. Included 

 amongst them is one carving of peculiar interest from its 

 bearing upon the matter under discussion. This singular 

 subject is to be seen on the under-master's stall, and re- 

 presents a mermaid or female child emerging from a 

 conch-shell and in the act of thrusting a spear down the 

 throat of a terrible horned dragon, whose agony is well 

 represented in the convolutions of its tail. Letts says : 

 " I find the subject of children emerging from shells and 

 fighting beasts is a common one, and represents purity 

 conquering sin." 



Another remarkable association of the conch-shell 

 and the dragon is to be seen as the crest over a coat of 

 arms of Robert Venables, of Antrobus, 1663 (also 1566 

 and 1580); but here it is the dragon which is emerging 

 from the mouth of the shell. This is figured by W. H. 

 Rylands in a communication on " Some Cheshire Heraldic 

 Documents, from the Ashmole Manuscripts." 121 



110 The shells on these coins undoubtedly represent sacred objects and 

 the symbol a cult. 



120 Trans. Lane. andChesh. Antiq. Soc., vol. iv., 1886, p. 142. 



121 Trans. Hist. Soc. Lane, and Ches., vol. Ixii. (N.S. vol. xxvi.)., 

 Liverpool, 1911, p. 122. 



