THE SEA TRUMPET. 



371 



THE large empty shell lying in the centre of the engraving represents the SEA TRUMPET, 

 or CONCH-SHELL, so familiar from the use to which it has been put for ages, and which 

 has rendered it a classical appendage to the marine deity whose name it bears. 



The Sea Trumpet sometimes attains to a large size, a foot or more in length ; and 

 when it has attained its full dimensions, is employed among the South Sea Islanders 

 and Australians as a trumpet. In order to fit the shell for this purpose, a round hole 

 is bored in the side, at about one-fourth the length from the tip, and the required sound 

 is elicited by laying the shell to the lips, and blowing across the hole as a performer 

 blows the flute. The note if the noise produced can be called by that name is 

 hollow and disagreeable ; but as it is loud and unlike any other sound, it answers the 

 purpose of those who employ it. While blowing the conch, the performer introduces 

 his right hand into the cavity, much in the manner of a player upon the French horn. 



TWISTED TRITON. 

 Triton distortus. 



SEA TRUMPET.- 

 Trlton variegatus. 



WRINKLED TRITON. 

 Triton anus. 



About a hundred species of Triton are known, and are found spread over the greater 

 part of the world, except the colder seas. They do not seem to frequent the deep water, 

 from ten to twenty fathoms appearing to be their favorite depth. 



The ground color of this handsome shell is white, mottled, in rather irregular spiral 

 rows, with ruddy brown and yellow, and warming to ruddy chestnut at the point. Within 

 it is white ; and the bold zebra-like streaks which may be seen upon the top of the lip are 

 composed of smooth white ridges on a black ground. It must be understood, however, 

 that many shells are so variable in their coloring, that a collector may possess fifty 

 examples of a single species, and not find any two specimens with precisely the same 

 coloring. The colors that are here given are those of the specimens examined in the 



