208 POPULAR CONCHOLOGY. 



without a pillar ; mouth nearly 

 round, lips united ; longitudinal 

 bands the whole length of the 

 shell; operculum horny. Ani- 

 mal having two tentacula, with 

 eyes at the base ; foot short and 

 oval. — 7 species recent, and 5 

 fossil. 



In these shells it is easy to distinguish the 

 different periods of growth, as the mouth is 

 always bordered by a thick lip, which is re- 

 tained, and produces a band ; in the adult shell 

 these are very numerous, and from their appear- 

 ance have given the name to the genus, of 

 Scalaria, or Staircase. The seas of China and 

 Japan produce the rare species Scalaria pretiosa, 

 for fine specimens of which, 3 J inches in length, 

 formerly the enormous price of one hundred 

 guineas has been given ; they are now, how- 

 ever, much more frequently met with, and may 

 be obtained for a few shillings. In this species 

 the whorls only touch each other at the thick- 

 ened lip, and occasionally a specimen is found 

 in which they are perfectly separated. The 

 Scalaria communis inhabits our own coasts. 



