GASTEROPODA. 



121 



partly contained in the visceral cavity ; rachis I toothed ; uncini 3. The 

 cowries inhabit shallow water, near shore, feeding on zoophytes. 



CYPILEA, L. Cowry. 



Etym., Cypris, a name of Venus. 



Types, C. tigris, C. mauritiana, PI. VII., fig. 20. 



Shell ventricose, convolute, covered with 

 shining enamel ; spire concealed ; aperture 

 long and narrow, with a short canal at each 

 end ; inner lip crenulated ; outer lip inflected 

 and crenulated. (Lingual uncini similar). 



The young shell has a thin and sharp 

 outer lip, a prominent spire, and is covered 

 with a thin epidermis, fig. 75. When full- 

 grown the mantle lobes expand on each side, 

 and deposit a shining enamel over the whole 

 shell, by which the spire is entirely concealed. 

 There is usually a line of paler colour which 



indicates where the mantle lobes met. Cu- 

 Fig. 75. Cyprcea, . . J 



young* prtea annulus is used by the Asiatic Islanders 



;o adorn their dress, to weight their fishing-nets, and for barter. 

 Specimens of it were found by Dr. Layard in the ruins of Nimroud. 

 Dhe money-cowrey (C. moneta] is also a native of the Pacific and Eastern 

 eas : many tons weight of this little shell are annually imported into this 

 country, and again exported for barter with the native tribes of Western 

 Africa ; in the year 1848 sixty tons of the money-cowry were imported into 

 Jiverpool ; and in 1849 nearly three hundred tons were brought to the same 

 )lace, according to the statement of Mr. Archer in the Industrial Exhibition. 

 Mr. Adams observed the pteropodous fry of C. annulus, at Singapore, adhering 

 in masses to the mantle of the parent, or swimming in rapid gyrations, or 

 with abrupt jerking movements by means of their cephalic fins. 



Distr., 150 sp. In all warm seas (except E. coast S. America?) but 

 most abundant in those of the old world. On reefs and under rocks at low 

 water. 



Fossil, 78 sp. Chalk . India, Brit., France, &c. 



Sub -genera. Cyprovula, Gray. C. capensis, PI. VII., fig. 21. Aper- 

 tural plaits continued regularly over the margin of the canal. 



Luponia, Gray. C, algoensis, PI. VII., fig. 22. Inner lip irregularly 

 plaited in front. 



Fig. 76. 

 Trivial 



* Fig. 75. Cyprsea testudinaria, L., young, China. 



t Fig. 76. Trivia europaea, Mont. From the "British Mollusca," by Messrs. 

 Forbes and Hanley. 



