202 POPULAR CONCHOLOGY. 



a very beautiful appearance when the sun 

 shines upon them. They are occasionally 

 found upon our coasts ; but as it is only after 

 violent storms, they are supposed to have been 

 brought from other shores. 



In the islands of the South Seas these beau- 

 tiful shells are used to ornament the boats of 

 the natives, and to make a kind of musical 

 instrument. They also form the thick left lip 

 of the aperture into fish-hooks. The natives 

 of New Zealand use the shell as spoons. Pearls 

 are sometimes found in them. 



Family 8. — Plicacidce. * 

 This family of the Trachelipoda is 'distin- 

 guished by having the pillar plaited, which 

 gives the shells an appearance of having the 

 mouth toothed. There are only three genera, 

 all marine. 



68. Tornatella. — Shell small, and oval; 

 spire small, pointed, and usually striped 

 transversely ; pillar having one or two 

 thick plaits; outer lip thin; no epi- 

 dermis. Animal not known. — 6 species, 

 recent. 



* Les Plicacees, Lamarck. 



