294 The Commercial Products of the Sea. 



open with a spring, enclosing scent-bottles or cigar-holders, 

 and such like. Fashion has brought into use, of late years, 

 handsome sections obtained from this shell, which have 

 been largely used for ornamenting ladies' hats, for buckles 

 for shoes, sashes, and waist-belts. The light-greenish 

 iridescent play of colour of this shell is more ornamental 

 than that of the true mother-of-pearl. Fine large shells of 

 this species formed the drinking goblets of the Scandina- 

 vian monarchs, and are often still met with, very elegantly 

 mounted and set with jewels. 



Another shell of this genus, the Turk's cap (Turbo 

 sarmaticus), from the west coast of Africa, is used for 

 making small articles, such as caskets, scent-bottles, 

 brooches, etc. 



The ear shells of different species, principally the green 

 kind, Haliotis iris, the common British, Haliotis tuberculata, 

 and some Japan and Californian species, are much used, 

 from their brilliant play of colour, ground down for inlay- 

 ing papier-mich^ work, as well as for making buttons, 

 studs, links, buckles, and earrings. Among other handsome 

 species of ear shell, which are polished for mere ornament 

 or trade use, are H. rufescens, H. splendens, and H, 

 cracherodii. 



Sections of white cones, sufficiently large to go on the 

 arm as a bracelet, are so much in request in the Pacific 

 Islands, that dealers in Europe obtain high prices for them. 

 Very often rare fluviatile and terrestrial shells are obtained 

 from native necklaces. One of these necklaces was stolen 

 from an aboriginal dressed figure at the Crystal Palace, the 

 shells being worth to collectors several pounds. 



In full dress many of the Pacific Islanders are decked 

 out with large white Ovulum shells, appended to the waist, 

 elbows, and ankles. Necklaces of Natica shells are also 



