42 



CLASS MOLLUSCA. 



mouthed snails. The greater number of these shells, 

 (and the species are very numerous,) are of a beautiful 

 pearly substance, and many of them are also elegantly 

 marked with longitudinal ribs; there are as many as 

 seventy species, — the larger and more elegant are only 

 found in the seas of hot climates. 



The Precious Scalaria, (Scalaria pretiosa.) 



This shell is noted for its rarity, and for the singular 

 arrangement of its whorls, which do not touch each other, 

 and appear as if they were only connected by the ribs 

 with which the shell is adorned. Like the turbans, the 

 inhabitants of the Scalariee are found on the sea-coast, 

 on rocks and large stones, between high and low water 

 mark. The native place of the Scalaria pretiosa seems 

 to be uncertain ; Lamarck, and several others, believe it 

 comes from the East Indies, while others consider it an 

 inhabitant of the Mediterranean. So great was the rage 



IlaJiotis iris. 



Neritina 

 pulligera. 



some years back, to possess a perfect specimen of this 

 shell, that as much as twenty or thirty pounds, and 



