CONCH OLOGY. 



Genus— STROMBUS. 

 tyrcia— STROMBUS SOLITARIS. 



Character Shell univalve, spiral, the cheek or Maxilla 



Oris turned backwards, and spread out like a flap, 

 the cheek also cut open and farrowed at the top 

 and bottom, near to where it joins the beak ; the 

 beak twisted inwards and backwards. 



AMONGST the various specimens of Shells presented 

 to our view in the marine kingdom, there are few which 

 possess a greater variety than the Genus Strombus, The 

 body is generally large, the spire and beak small, but the 

 most striking and characteristic mark is in the cheek of the 

 shell, which is very much expanded in the side, and 

 differs in that respect from all other Genera. A change 

 takes place during the growth of this shell to its full size, 

 which is extremely curious, and which is caused by the 

 operation of the animal which resides in it. As soon as it 

 finds its own body grow too large for Hie habitation which 

 it occupies, it uses a flexible instrument of the form of a 

 trowel, and with which nature has wisely provided it, and 

 spreads a natural viscous incrustation or plaister round the 

 edge of the mouth, gradually enlarging and adding to it, 

 as it progressively hardens ; during this period it also 

 provides a safe covering for the instrument itself, which is 

 the spire or long horn that is represented at the the top of 

 the shell in the annexed engraving. Most of the other 

 Strombi however have five or six imitations of this principal 

 spire, and are generally placed upon the side of the cheek, 

 at regular distances. The inside of the Strombus Solitaris 

 (so named from the circumstance of its having only one 



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