60 Beautiful Shells. 



beings, sloth covers and hides the good qualities 

 and virtues with an overgrowth at all times difficult 

 to remove, and oftentimes destructive of all that is 

 fair and good in the character. — Children, be not 

 slothful ! The Obelisk Trochus (T. obeliscus), is a 

 rare white and green shell, sometimes seen in collec- 

 tions ; it is of a conico-pyramidal form, not remark- 

 able for beauty, and is a native of the Indian seas. 



Mr. Gosse speaks of the Tops and Winkles as 

 among the most useful inhabitants of the Aquarium ; 

 they mow down with their rasping tongues the 

 thick growth of Confervce, which would otherwise 

 spread like a green curtain over the glass walls of 

 the tank, and obstruct the view of its inhabitants. 

 Here is this author's description of the beautiful 

 piece of mechanism by which this work is effected : — 

 "The appearance and position of the organ would 

 surprise any one who searched for it for the first time ; 

 and as it is easily found, and as Periwinkles are no 

 rarities, let me commend it to your examination. 

 The easiest mode of extracting it, supposing you are 

 looking for it alone, is to slit the thick muzzle 

 between the two tentacles, when the point of a 

 needle will catch and draw out what looks like a 

 slender white thread, two inches or more in length, 

 one end of which is attached to the throat, and the 



