The Volutes and Melon Shells 



shell with narrow bands of orange revolving around its whorls. 

 Faint cloudings of the same colour often occur, and blotches of it 

 mark the nodules on the shoulder of the body whorl. The apex 

 is very sharp. 



This very distinct and rare species is three to four inches long, 

 and comes from the Indian Ocean. 



The Waved Volute (K. undulata, Lam.) is also marked with 

 wavy lines of rich chestnut — a flag with its stripes running 

 longitudinally instead of spirally. It is three to four inches long, 

 fusiform and slender, as elegant in shape as in colour and pattern. 



Habitat. — Australia. 



The Imperial Volute (K. imperialis, Lam.) wears a crown 

 of upturned hollow tubercles on the outer three whorls of the peaked 

 spire. Over the shining salmon-coloured surface is a netted 

 pattern made of zigzag chestnut lines, merging occasionally into 

 triangular blotches of solid brown. The pattern is the same on 

 the spire, but the colour is darker. 



This shell has always been the admiration of conchologists, 

 and from them received the names, "Chinese Emperor's Crown," 

 and "The Crown of the Great Mogul." 



A cross section of a young shell shows the thick walls of the 

 whorls to be made up of several layers of ivory-like substance, 

 including the thick, almost translucent lining. The plaits of the 

 columella are faint in the aperture, but they become very distinct 

 as they wind toward the smooth, knob-like apex, which is almost 

 filled solid with the callus. Length, 5 to 8 inches. 



Habitat. — Philippine Islands. 



The Magnificent Volute (K. magnifica, Lam.) is thinner 

 than the average large shell in this genus, and its whorls are not 

 knobbed. The spire is elevated, and ends in a rounded papilla. 

 The outer lip flares, making a wide aperture. The creamy ground 

 colour is banded with dark brown in a reticulated pattern. Alter- 

 nating with these dark bands are pale ones in which the same 

 zigzags are faintly discernible. Young shells show a brighter 

 pattern and more contrast than older ones. The lining is a reddish 

 orange, especially bright on the columella and lip. 



This is one of the largest and most distinct of the species. 

 It is found half burying itself amongst weeds and ooze on sandy 

 and muddy flats beyond tide mark. Length, 6 to 12 inches. 



Habitat. — East Australia. 



81 



