The Conch Shells 



made a strong' demand for them among collectors. A little one, 

 R. powisii, Petit, rare but by no means the most beautiful species, 

 brought 200 francs at a sale in 1877. 



R. fusus, Linn., with the most graceful spindle shape, is the 

 prize of the genus. It has a stem as ;lpng as its spire and six 

 short teeth on the outer lip. Length, 6 to 8 inches. 



Habitat. — China. 



THE LITTLE SCREW SHELL 

 Genus TEREBELLUM, Lam. 



Shell slenderly conical, china-like, spire blunt; aperture 

 narrow, notched; lip sharp, simple; columella straight, truncate; 

 one eye pedicel very long, protruded through the anterior notch 

 in the shell. 



T. subulatum, Lam., is a dainty "lady fmger" in form and 

 size. Nothing but structural characters of the fleshy parts 

 suggest its relationship with the strombs. It is well described 

 above. The polished white surface is daintily mottled with brown. 

 The body whorl is four-fifths of the total length. It looks, more 

 like a slim little olive shell than anything else. 



The creature is shy and sensitive to disturbance. While 

 taking observations it is a strange-looking object, with its one eye 

 thrust out so far, and waving about, while the pointed shell is 

 held unsteadily in a vertical position. It takes fright ' easily 

 and moves by a series of quick jumps. On one occasion a beau- 

 tiful specimen ' leaped suddenly out of the hand of Mr. Hugh 

 Cuming, the eminent English collector, as he was admiring it 

 and congratulating himself upon getting one alive. Length, 2 

 inches. 



Habitat. — China, Philippine Islands. 



THE PELICAN'S FOOT 

 Genus APORRHAIS, Dillw. 



Shell spiral with whorls angled and set with knobs; outer 

 lip much expanded, ending in two to three flattened fingers, as 



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