The Mitre Shells 



The Papal Mitre (M.^fapalis, Linn.) is thick and stout, 

 painted with close spots of purplish crimson on a white ground, 

 the spots uniformly small and squarish, often touching each 

 other. The lip is crenate. Length, 3 to 4 inches. 



Habitat. — Island of Annaa, Pacific Ocean. 



The Pontifical Mitre {M. pontificalis, Lam.) is smaller 

 than the two already described, and has its whorls strongly 

 coronated with a spiral row of triangular cusps that stand erect. 

 Below these are some impressed lines deeply punctured with 

 rows of pinholes. The white ground is painted with irregular 

 rows of orange-red spots. The animal is cream-coloured, with 

 opaque white dots. Length, 2 to 3 inches. 



Habitat. — Annaa and Tahiti Islands. 



Belcher's Mitre (M. Belcheri, Ads.) is a handsome fusi- 

 form shell, strongly chiseled with revolving ribs; the wide sulci 

 which separate the ribs are crossed with fine striations. A thick 

 black epidermis coats the white surface while the mollusk is alive. 

 Length, 4 to 5 inches. 



Habitat. — Deep water off the coast of Central America. 



Swainson's Mitre {M. Swainsoni, Brod.) is represented by a 

 ya.nety, Antillensis, Dall,found in deep water off Cape Lookout and 

 among the West Indies, and in the shallower regions on the west 

 coast. It is a slender, graceful form, with slightly rounded whorls 

 scored with shallow, spiral lines, cancellated by cross lines of 

 growth. The outer lip widens a trifle at base. The columella bears 

 the four strong, oblique folds near the middle. Length, 3 to 4 inches. 

 The Moor Mitre (M. maura, Swains.) a dark brown, fusiform 

 shell, faintly lined both ways, with conspicuous ridges on the 

 columella, is, while alive, covered with a black epidermis. Length, 

 I J to 2 inches. 



Habitat. — California coast. 



Genus MITRAMORPHA, Ads. 



Minute shells of this genus have stouter shape, but most of 

 their characters proclaim their relationship with the true mitres. 

 The columellar folds are often lacking. 



The Rough Mitramorpha (M. aspersa, Cpr.) is brown 

 and strongly cancellated. Length, i inch. 



Habitat. — California. 



