508 Mr. Gray's Monograph on the Cyprceidce. 



lineated outer lip and peculiar teeth, which are somewhat like 

 those of C. helvola and C spurca. 



I have dedicated this species to the memory of the Father of 

 English, and I may say of European Conchology, whose work is 

 the ornament of the age in which it was published, and also forms 

 an unfading monument of female talent and industry. 



78. Cyprcea helvola. — The bay Cowry. 



Testa ovata, obtusa, fulvo-rufescens, punclis ocellisque albidis 

 ornata; ocellis obscuris, circulis stellatis fuscis circumvallatis ; 

 extremitatibus violaceis ; basi aurantia, sub convexa, semisulcata ; 

 marginibus incrassatis, supra denticulatis. 



Cypraea helvola. Lin. Sys. Nat. 1130. Born, Mus. 191. 

 Schroeter, Einl. ']. 126. Schreiber, Conch, j.73. Gmelin 3417. 

 Lamarck, Ann. Mus. xvi. 100. Hist. vii. 398. Dillwyn, R. S. 

 464. 



Icon. List. Conch. 691. f. 38! Rumphius, t. 39, f. B. Pet. 

 Amb. t. 16. f. 17. Gualt, t. 15. f. B. 13. Kiiorr, vi. t. 10, f. 

 6. 7. Martini, j. t. 30. f. 326, 327. Ency. Method, 356. f. 13. 



3. Decorticata. Testa pallide violacea j marginibus flavescen- 

 tibus. 



Inhabits Indian Ocean. Maldives, Lister. Amboyna, Rumph. 



Shell ovate, blunt, reddish fulvous, ornamented with small white 

 spots, some of which are surrounded with a brown circle, which 

 spreads between the other spots, so as to form a kind of star; the 

 dorsal line is slightly impressed, pale violet ; the margin red- 

 brown, thickened on both sides, and the upper part of the outer 

 lip, and the sides of the extremities, are denticulated ; the extremi- 

 ties pale violet ; the base rather orange or deep red-brown ; the 

 aperture rather wide ; the teeth large, rather close, with the grooves 

 partly extended towards the edge, especially on the front part, 

 v/here they render the margin slightly rugose; the inside violet. 

 Axis i^j diameter J^ of an inch. 



When this shell is worn it is pale violet, with a yellow or red- 

 brown base, and purplish ends ; the back is sometimes almost 

 entirely deep chesnut-brown, with small white spots. 



This shell, which is very common, is very easily known by its 

 dark, spotless base, and peculiar teeth. 



