EDIBLE MOLLUSKS. 279 



sands. They are used as food, but care should be exercised to 

 get them perfectly fresh, as otherwise they are apt to produce 

 gastric trouble. They sell in the local market for 6 centavos 

 per hundred. 



HORN SHELL. 



The hangongon, Telescopium telescopium Linn. (Plate II, 

 fig. 12), is a large, dark brown, cone-shaped shell, found in 

 Manila Bay in salt or brackish water; usually on a mud bottom 

 in shallow water. It is regarded as good food by the natives 

 and frequently sold in the local market. There are at least 25 

 species of this family (Cerittindae) found in the Philippines. 

 Most of the individuals are very small. All are used as food. 

 One species called suso, Potomides sulcatus Born (Plate II, fig. 

 13) , is often sold in the local market at 5 centavos per kilogram. 

 It is found in brackish water on a mud bottom. Perhaps the 

 most abundant species is one called susong-puti or bayongon, 

 Cerithium rhizoporarum A. D. (Plate II, fig. 11), a shell about 

 5 centimeters in length. It is yellowish with dark lines. These 

 shells almost invariably have the tip broken off, and the tail of 

 the animal protruding. They are sold in the local market for 

 about 5 centavos per kilogram. 



STROMBUS SHELLS. 



The palagsi, Strombus canarium Linn. (Plate II, fig. 15), is 

 quite common in Manila Bay. It prefers shallow water and 

 a sandy bottom. It is used as food, selling for 6 centavos per 

 kilogram in the local markets. There are at least 30 species 

 of this family (Strombdse) found in the Philippines. 



The alaunghuga, Melongena cochlidium Linn. (Plate I, fig. 

 7), is 8 to 10 centimeters in length, deep chestnut in color, and 

 is very common in Manila Bay. The animal is used for food. 



BLEEDING TOOTH SHELLS. 



The family Neritidte (Plate II, fig. 14) is represented by a 

 great number of species which are very abundant in the Phil- 

 ippines. The local name is sihi. All are small shells usually 

 much striped or highly colored. The children of the natives 

 gather quantities of these animals for food. The species most 

 frequently seen in the local market is Neritina pennota Bonn, 

 which is picked up from shallow water along almost any beach 

 near Manila. 



