The Cowries. Venus Shells 



THE COFFEE-BEAN SHELLS 

 Genus TRIVIA, Gray 



Shells cross-ribbed, roundish, with a concavity on the inner 

 face of the ribbed columella. Mantle covered with papillae; 

 foot extended far out behind the shell. 



The Coffee-bean Shell (T. pediculus, Linn.) is a pinkish 

 button-like shell, tinged with brown and marked with six large 

 black spots on the back, three on each side of the median depres- 

 sion which runs lengthwise of the shell. Strong cross ridges 

 encircle the shell, and continue into the aperture. Length, i to f 

 inch. 



Habitat. — Florida, West Indies. 



The Four-spotted Coffee-bean (T. quadri-punctata, Gray) 

 is a bit smaller, with finer cross ridges, purplish, with four small 

 but distinct black dots along the median groove. 



Habitat. — Florida Keys, West Indies. 



The California Coffee-bean Shell (T. Californica, Gray) 

 is about the shape and size of a large grain of coffee. The dorsal 

 depression is shallow, the twelve ribs are white and somewhat 

 far apart. The purplish brown of the shell is dull beside the vivid 

 scarlet of the body. When the creature extends its long tentacles 

 and proboscis in front and its broad foot behind, the shell is 

 swallowed up by the mantle, and makes the bright red dull by its 

 purple showing through. 



T, Solandri, Gray, is twice the size of the previous species, 

 with stronger sculpture, and a paler purple between the ribs. 

 There is an additional tooth between each two ribs of the outer 

 lip. 



Habitat. — Santa Barbara, Gal. 



T. sanguinea, Gray, has a bloody spot on the middle of 

 the back. The ground colour is purplish, the ribs whitish. 

 Length, J to i inch. 



Habitat. — California southward. 



The European Cowry (T. Europcea, Montagu) is closely 

 ribbed, the ground colour flesh pink, the base white. The body 

 is bright yellow, brown and pink. The mantle is broad, its 

 surface covered with papillae, brownish yellow or white, often 

 dotted with scarlet and purple. Length, i to f inch. 



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