The Cone Shells 



Island of Matupi, New Britain, who had been bitten by a Conus 

 geographus at once cut small incisions with a sharp stone all 

 over his arm and shoulder. The blood flowed freely, and the 

 native explained that if he had not taken these precautions he 

 would have died." — Cooke. 



The California Cone (C. Californicus, Hds.) is a plain little 

 colourless shell when the cinnamon-brown epidermis wears oflf. 

 The largest is less than two inches long. The spire rounds up to 

 the elevated peak. The body whorl is rather square-shouldered. 

 There are occasionally cloudings of pale chestnut on the spire and 

 about the base of the shell. Southern California. 



The Florida Cone (C Floridanus, Gabb.) has a low but 

 very steep spire and a squarish keeled shoulder whorl. The 

 yellow ground is streaked with broken lines of brown spots 

 grouped so as to leave bands of white between. Single rows of 

 dots are often seen on the lower part of the body whorl. 

 Length, i to 2j inches. 



Children on the Florida beaches call these much admired 

 shells "Chinese tops." The serried dots look much like the 

 characters of some unknown alphabet, and the perfect cone shape 

 and sharp little apex suggest spinning capabilities. 



Habitat. — Florida. 



The Protean Cone (C. Proteus, Hwass) varies, as its name 

 suggests, in colour and markings. It is a square-shouldered cone 

 with a sharp apex, with its white surface darkened by splotches 

 of brown arranged in spiral bands, often interrupted, and painted 

 with longitudinal white streaks. A single broad canal occurs 

 on the depressed spire. Length, i to 3 inches. 



Habitat. — West Indies, Florida. 



The Mouse Cone (C. mus, Hwass) has a high turbinated 

 spire set with white tubercles and the body whorl with raised 

 spiral striae. Broken streaks of chestnut cross the whorls; a 

 white spiral band often occurs in the middle of the body whorl. 

 Clouding of blue often underlies the striping, just below the angled 

 shoulder. Olive stains may occur near the base. Length, i to 2 

 inches. West Indies, Florida. 



Peale's Cone (C Pealii, Green) has an unusually steep spire 

 and strong grooves on the lower half of the body whorl. The 

 yellowish ground is spotted with brown and white dots in spiral 

 lines. Length, i inch. Bahamas, Florida. 



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