Mr. Gray'^s Monograph on the Ci/prceidce. 571 



marked with 5 or 6 irregular, squarish, pale, flesh-coloured spots, 

 three of which are placed on each side of the dorsal line ; the 

 striae are longitudinal, thread-like, very thin, and smooth, leaving 

 (in the perfect specimen) a broad but scarcely impressed dorsal 

 line, so that the back appears nearly smooth. The base is rather 

 convex ; the aperture linear, a little longer than the hidden spire? 

 and slightly curved towards it ; the outer lip slightly thickened 

 above, rather rounded ; the teeth of both lips are nearly equal, 

 minute, and close together. 



Length J^^, breadth -^^ of an inch. 



When this shell is not quite full grown, or when it is worn, in 

 which state it appears to have been described, the ribs do not 

 reach the centre of the back, so that the dorsal line is not seen, 

 and the surface is quite polished and smooth. Its texture, its rose- 

 coloured ends, and large irregular dorsal spots, at once distinguish 

 It from the other species. 



109. Ci/prcea aperta. — Open Cowry. 



Test^ ovato-globosa, inflated, subvesiculosa, albido-rosea, im- 

 maculata ; striis longitudinalibus plurimis, distinctis, subirregu- 

 laribus, laevibus ; linea dorsali impressa, angustiorej basi convexai 

 aperturS, amplissima. 



Cypraea Oniscus. Lamarck^ Jnn. Mus.x\i, 103. Hist. v'u. 40% 

 not Dillw. 



Incompleta, vel subdecorticata. Dorso la?vi, roseo. 



Cypraea aperta. Swainson, Blights Sale Cat. 317. Sf Append. 18. 



Icon. Wood, Cat. Append. Ined. t. 3. f. 10. 



Inhabits the African Coast. Cape of Good Hope, Fzllet. 



Mus. Brit., nost. 



Shell ovate-globose, inflated, vesicular, pellucid, whitish rose 

 colour, whiter beneath ; longitudinal ribs many, distant, rather 

 irregular, smooth, convex ; dorsal line narrow, impressed ; base 

 convex ; aperture very broad, as long as the hidden spire ; inner 

 lip scarcely toothed, concave ; the front of the columella slightly 

 jucurved, the back slightly thickened and rounded ; teeth rather 

 jarge, distinct; the frontal groove and the concave part of the 

 columella broad and smooth. 



