508 



MOLLUSC A. 



threo hun.lri«(l tons of thorn were importi-.l into Liverpool tor tliis purpose. The Map Cowry, 



C. mappa, found in the Indian Ocean, is 

 iKindsoinely marked. Other species arc the 

 TitiKR Cowry, Mole Cowry, Children's 

 Cowry, Blotched Cowry, &c. 



Besides the hving ones, there are seventy- 

 eight known species of fossil Cypraeidae. 



THE CONID^. 



These have the shell inversely conical; in 

 the animal the head is produced, the tentacles 

 far apart, and eyes on the tentacles. There 

 are two hundred and sixty-nine known species, 

 found in all tropical seas. They inhabit fis- 

 sures and holes of rocks, and the warm and 

 shallow pools inside of coral reefs. They 

 move slowly, and sometimes bite when han- 

 dled. All are predacious. Some of the shells are beautiful, and have been sold for enormous prices. 



THE MAP COWUT. 



VOLUTA CNDULATA. 



BISHOP S MITRE SHELL. 



THE VOLUTID^. 



(renys VOLTJTA : Voluta. — This includes numerous living as well as fossil species; among 

 the former are the V. undulata, V. musica^ V. vespertilio^ V. Brasiliana, &c. Many of the Vo- 

 lutidse are very beautifully marked. 



Genus MITRA : Mitra, includes the Mitre Shells, one of which, the Bishop's Mitre Shell, 

 M. episcopalis, is noted for a very long proboscis, sometimes twice the length of the shell. The 

 latter is turretted, smooth, white, and spotted with light red. It is found in the seas of the East 

 Indies and some of the Polynesian Islands. 



