244 FISHERIES OF THE ORIENTAL REGION, 



with large and very finely shaped or colored specimens of Fusus, 

 Fleurotoma (babylonica), Melo, Ranella, Terehra or augur-shell, and 

 Turhinelia cornigera. The finely enamelled and brilliant cowries 

 and olives are, of course, numerously represented, notably Cyprcna 

 tigris, histrio, argus, (rarely) arabica, raapjja, annulus (very 

 common), and Ovulum ovum. The olives are confined to one or 

 two species, such as 0. irisaiu and 0. oryza, but they are served 

 out in bushels in beautiful preservation, with abundance of 

 Naticas and Xeritas ; Nerita costata, atropurjmrea, poliia and 

 alhicilla. Trochus niloticus, and Turbo marmoratus are also common, 

 and, together ^nth the nautilus shell, often depi'ived of the outer 

 shelly coat, which is chipped off with ruthless vandalism to display 

 the nacreous interior. Tlie bivalve shells are well represented by 

 the clams, Hippoinis niaculatus and Tridacna squamosa, always 

 abundant and of large size ; the beautiful Pecten pleuronectes 

 (both the thin red and white porcelain varieties) is common, with 

 Placuiia placenta which is used instead of glass in the \vindow- 

 frames in the Philippines, Macao, jtc. ; and the clumsy-looking 

 P. sella in all the glories of its gold and purjile nacre. Curious 

 pinnae, mussels, cardiums and pearl oysters must complete this 

 list, which has only partly enumerated the conchological splendors 

 of the Malayan region. 



Corals. — A great number and variety of corals are exposed 

 for sale along with the shells, including, of course, a large propor- 

 tion of branching Madrepores, such as J/, secunda, abi-otinoideg, 

 nobilis, echiiMto,, acervata, arbuscula or rosana, appersa, conigera, 

 brachiata, pla7itaginea, subulata, spidfera, securis, besides a good 

 many encrusting species. The Fungia or mushroom corals are 

 very abundant, including F. patella, dancB, and echhuita, with 

 Ilerpetolit/ui linwo: and Polyphyllia pelvis. The large cup-shaped 

 Turbiivxrias are abundant, with the usual cespitose tufts of 

 Seriafopera, Pocillopora, the thorny Massas, besides numerous 

 brain-corals, Favia, Symphyllia, Astrcea, and other meandroid 

 LiTHOPHYLLAC.EA. Galaxeci astroeato. is plentiful ; and one day, 

 when fishing off the Dindings, my line became entangled with a 



