The Dove Shells 



C. avara, Say, follows the Atlantic coast from Massachu- 

 setts to the west coast of Florida. It has a variable outline, and 

 is nearly an inch long. The whorls are cancellated by inter- 

 secting stride, the lower half of the body whorl, however, has only 

 the revolving ridges. The yellowish ground is blotched with 

 brown. The small aperture has teeth on both lips. 



This mollusk lives below low-tide level, and is most abundant 

 on southern coasts. In life the shell has a dirty, brown epidermis. 



Genus AMPHISSA, H. and A. Ads. 



Shell whelk-like, longitudinally grooved, apex elongated; 

 aperture spreading to form a wide anterior sinus ; inner lip callous 

 with folds below; outer lip with fine plaits inside. 



The Wrinkled Amphissa (A. corrugata, Rve.), yellowish 

 brown, slenderly tapering, with fine ridges, occurs from California 

 northward. Length, f inch. 



A. versicolor, Dall, shows a pleasing range of colours, from 

 black and gray to red and yellow. It is a stout little mollusk, 

 the sculpturing of whose shell is worth examining with a lens. 

 It clings to rocks, and may be found exposed at low tide. Length, 

 less than i inch. 



Habitat. — California. 



The W^avy Amphissa (A.undata.Cpr.) resembles the preced- 

 ing species in size and form, but there are remote wavy ridges 

 crossing the fine spiral lines from apex to base. 



Habitat. — In mud off Santa Catalina Island, Cal. 



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