CONCHOLOGY. , 



it is believed to be still more uncommon. These shells are, moreover, 

 so very brittle that they seldom occur perfect, and more especially 

 the larger ones, which in almost every instance is abbreviated or im- 

 perfect at the point or apex. And, it may be also added that like 

 Voluta Pyritm, the Sacred ChaTik Shelly of which an explanation was 

 given in a former plate, the Wen tie trap is one of the sacred shells 

 of the worshippers of Brahma, and consequently when found in fine 

 condition, is sure to obtain a considerable price among the opulent 

 devotees of that doctrine, the prevailing worship of the many millions 

 of inhabitants that people India, China, and other vast regions of the 

 continent of Asia. In China, shells of this kind, of a moderate size, 

 are valued at from four to five, or even ten dollars a piece, those are 

 shells of about an inch and a quarter in length, and such as exceed 

 that size are considered in proportion valuable. In England a fine 

 specimen about the same size last mentioned would be estimated 

 in worth at little less than five guineas. The celebrated Wentle- 

 trap of the Leverian Museum was about two inches long, but as it 

 exhibited little freshness of colour, it produced only eleven pounds. 

 Since that period another specimen, a trifle larger, and with the same 

 bleached or depauperated appearance in its tints of colour, was sold 

 at the public hammer for twenty seven pounds. This is the highest 

 price we have seen paid for a specimen of this curious shell : we have 

 heard of fifty guineas being given by one collector for a shell of this 

 kind. Considerable as this price may be deemed, it appears to have 

 been exceeded in one, if not more instances, upon the continent. 

 Denys de Montfort, speaking, as it may be presumed, of the low 

 countries and France, informs us, that he has seen it sell, when the 

 height or length has exceeded two inches, at two thousand four hun- 

 dred livres, or one hundred Louis. It will be observed that he is 

 alluding to shells about the same size as that delineated in the 



