HABITS AND ECONOMY OF THE MOLLUSCA. 149 



Other Oceanic tribes ornament tlieir pirogues with the Ovula ; 

 and 0. angulosa is so much esteemed by the natives of the New- 

 Hebrides tliat they will give in exchange for it a half ton of 

 sandal-wood, worth four or five hundred francs (Montrouzier). 

 The taste for shell ornaments has been exhibited by man since 

 a very early period of his history, for the caverns of Europe 

 contain both living and fossil species of shells, frequently pierced, 

 and in intimate connection with undoubted remains of the stone 

 age ; the mound-builders of America likewise buried these with 

 their dead along with other treasures, ornaments and implements. 

 Leidy has recently found a Conns, a species inhabiting the west 

 coast of Central America, among flint implements and numerous 

 remains of living and extinct animals, in a cavern near Strouds- 

 burg, Pennsylvania. The Troglodyte of Mentone, discovered 

 by Riviere, the skeleton of which is preserved in the Museum of 

 Paris, appears to have worn a coiffure ornamented with pierced 

 shells of Cyclonassa neritea. 



Shells serve as money in various parts of the world. In 

 Africa, Cyprsea moneto, the money-cowry has a fixed value in com- 

 mercial transactions ; Dentalium preMosum and Oliva hiplicata 

 are standards of value among the Indians of the west coast of 

 North America ; Littorina obesa and Nerita polita are current in 

 some of the Indo-Pacific Islands. 



Fragments of the shells of Venus 7)iercenaria (clam) were 

 pierced and strung by the Indians of the Atlantic coast of the 

 United States, forming their strings of Wampum or shell money ; 

 these were current among them for a considerable period after the 

 advent of white settlers. Pieces of Saxidomus and Haliotis are 

 similarlj^ used by the natives of California (Stearns). The 

 same usage prevails in Benguella. The shell of a terres- 

 trial mollusk (Achatina monetaria) cut into circles, with an open 

 centre is the monetary sign employed in commerce, and in 

 payment of a part of the tribute. They are formed into chaplets 

 called Quirandas de dongo^ which serve also as ornaments for 

 the ladies (Morelet). Even in the prehistoric grottoes of Europe 

 have been collected pierced fragments of Gardium edule, which 

 were probably used as " wampum " by the rude people who 

 resorted to such localities. 



One of the most beautiful substances in nature is the shell- 

 opal, formed of the remains of the Ammonite. The forms and 

 colors of shells (as of all other natural objects), answer some 

 particular purpose, or obey some general law ; but besides this, 

 there is much that seems specially intended for our stud}^, and 

 calculated to call forth enlightened admiration. Thus the tints 

 of many shells are concealed during life by a dull external coat, 

 and the pearly halls of the Nautilus are seen by no other eyes 

 than ours. Or descending to mere utility, how many tracts of 



