The Carrier Shells 



dragging the trifling hind foot after. Thus the gait is anything 

 but a smooth gHde. It is a series of jumps, and a most laughable 

 performance to behold. 



The Shell Carrier {X. conch yli so phora, Born.) is a top- 

 shaped, pale brown shell marked by fme striae overlying irregular 

 wrinkles on the whorls. In the shell surface are inserted various 

 dead shells, for the evident purpose of deceiving the mollusk's 

 enemies. The shell is normally about two inches across. With 

 its trimmings of heart shells and the like it often doubles this 

 measure. 



Habitat. — West Indies. 



The Pebble Carrier {X. calculi j era, Rowe) adorns the shell 

 with bits of stone. This is a typical "mineralogist." Gracefully 

 curved striations are concealed by the irregular decorations 

 the mollusk superadds to Nature's efforts. Sometimes there is 

 but a small circle of pebbles and shells of dainty and uniform 

 size set around the shell more than half way to the peak. This 

 exposes the main part of the shell, and seems to indicate that 

 the mollusk chooses to make his roof beautiful at the risk of 

 exposure. Diameter, 2 to 3 inches. 



Habitat. — China. 



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