The Tritons and Frog Shells 



silversmiths in the decoration of plate." — Reeve. Lip and 

 columella are smooth. 



This West Indian species is 3 to 7 inches long. 



The Tiger Triton (7. tigrinus, Brod.) 5 to 7 inches long, has 

 the tiger's tawny colouring on its horny, tufted exterior. The 

 lip flares when full grown in to a wide, wavy margin. The aper- 

 ture is orange. 



Habitat. — West coast Central America. 



The Club Triton (7. clavator. Lam.) is typical of a group of 

 trumpet shells of pear shape, with long, narrow, twisted canal, 

 and two shiny porcellanous lips, the inner one reflected over the 

 columella. The revolving ridges bear tufted hairy fringes in 

 life. The narrowed aperture has a bright red lining. The ex- 

 terior is whitish, the rounded varices marked with brown. Length, 

 2 to 5 inches. 



Habitat. — Philippine Islands. 



The Pear Triton (7. fyrum, Lam.) is a bright orange shell, 

 lined with paler colour. The teeth of the lip are very strong and 

 white. The columella bears narrow white folds. The long nar- 

 row base is curved. The exterior is strongly ridged and knobbed 

 with prominent varices. The apex is blunt. Length, 3 to 4 inches. 



Habitat. — Philippine Islands, Indian Ocean, Madagascar. 



The Canaliculated Triton (7. caudatus, Gmel.) is dis- 

 tinguished from the species above by the deep canal that runs 

 around the top of each whorl. It is a white shell, with double 

 spiral ridges, and a long, slim, twisted canal. Length, 3 inches. 



Habitat. — Chinese Seas. 



The Chinese Triton (7. Sinensis, Rve.) has the size, form 

 and colouring, but lacks the canal that sets it and 7. caudatus 

 apart. 



The Quilted Triton (7. tuberosus. Lam.) has oblong swell- 

 ings all over its surface, and the mouth is stained with dark red. 

 The six rounded varices are prominent and light coloured. The 

 ground is ashy or dark brown. The noduled teeth are whitish. 

 The columella is smooth, yellowish, and thickly enamelled. The 

 canal is long and slightly curved. This commonest of the trumpet 

 shells exhibits considerable variation in colouring and other char- 

 acters. Length, i| to 2^ inches. 



Habitat. — West Indies, Indo-Pacific Ocean, Polynesia, Mauri- 

 tius. 



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