TURBINELLID^. . Ifil 



Distr. — 4 sp. Indian Ocean, Coast of Brazil. T. pyruvi, 

 Linn. (Hi, 1). 



Thick, obconic, smooth, last whorl large ; spire obtuse, apex 

 papillary ; aperture oblong, narrow ; canal long and straight ; 

 columella with several strong, transverse plaits in the middle ; 

 outer lip thin, simple. Animal unknown. 



The shankh or chank ( Turhinella pyrum) is the sacred shell 

 of the Hindoos, and the national emblem of the Kingdom of 

 Travancore. The god Yishnu is represented as carrying a chank 

 shell in one hand and a chakra in the other. 



The principal demand for these shells is for making bangles 

 or armlets and anklets, and the manufacture is still almost 

 confined to Dacca. The shell is cut or sliced into segments of 

 circles, or narrow rings of various sizes, by a rude semicircular 

 saw, the hands and toes being both actively employed in the 

 operation. Some of these bangles, worn by the Hindoo women, 

 are beautifully painted, gilded and ornamented with gems. 



The shell rings are coated inside with plaster to smooth the 

 roughness. Filagree-bordered edges of plaster are also added, 

 patterns and devices of red, blue and gold are figured on them, 

 and they are further ornamented with silver or gold tinsel, 

 spangles, small colored glass beads, etc. The larger bracelets, 

 formed of many segments, are made to open to admit the hand, 

 by two spiral pins, which vmscrew and let out the piece. These 

 bangles are not removed at death, and hence there is a continual 

 demand for them, many wearing several, both on the legs 

 and arms. 



The mammillary apex of the shell is made into a button or 

 bead ; the latter are called krantahs, and necklaces of these are 

 so commonly worn by the Sepoj^s in the British East India ser- 

 vice as almost to be deemed a regular part of their uniform. 



CARiCELLA, Conrad. Columella-folds decreasing in size from 

 above, as in Mitra, base canaliculate and not emarginate. The 

 small group of fossils referred to it may be said to resemble 

 Turbinella in essential characters, the difference being that the 

 folds are situated lower down on the pillar, and that the shell is 

 thinner. T. praetenuis, Conrad (lii, 2). Eocene ; Claiborne, 

 Alabama. 



Yasum, Bolten. 



Syn. — Cynodonta, Schum. Scolymus, Swains, 



Distr. — 7 sp. Zanzibar, Brazil, West Indies, Panama, Philip- 

 pines, Indian Ocean, Mauritius, Polynesia. V. cornigerum, 

 Lam. (lii, 3). 



Shell oval, oblong, solid, tubercular or spinose, with spinose 

 fascioles below ; spire short, apex not papillary ; aperture 

 oblong; canal short, somewhat recurved ; columella with several 

 transverse folds in the middle ; outer lip thickened and sinuous. 



