Shells 111. 



Fol 11', No. Q. 



SCARCE SHELLS. 



Fig. l. The Hammer - Ovfter. 



(Oftrea Malleus.) 



This Hammer or Cross- Muscle is of the Oyfler 

 kind, and is found in the India Ocean and in the 

 South- Sea. Its double fhells con fi ft of three arms, 

 which have been by io m e liken' d to a hammer, 

 fey others to a cross, whence it has acquir'd thefe 

 différent names. The length of the two fide- arms, 

 are commonly from 5 to 6 inches. In the deep 

 cavity at the junction of the 3 arms lies the escu- 

 lent oyfter. This fhell, which is of an ugly 

 blackish, or greyish brown colour, was formeily 

 much fought by collectors on account of its fcar- 

 ceness. They fometimes paid iooo Dollars (150 L.) 

 for it, but it never cofts now at the higher! more 

 than 100 Dollars (15 L.) 



The Admirals. 



The Admirals, of which fever al forts are here 

 reprefented in Fig. 2. 3. 4. 5. belong to the trum- 

 pet fhells, and are remarkable for their rough fpot- 

 ted ground. They all belong to the moft precious 

 fhells and bear à very high price in the cabinets 

 of natural curiofities. 



Fig. 2. The Cedo - nulli Admiral. 



{Conus Amniiralis Cedo nulli.) 



This Admiral is found in the South -Sea, and 

 is the moft beautiful and the dea reft of alL As it 

 is extremely fcarcej it often cofts from 300 to 400 

 Dollars. The gold colour'd fhëll fpotted with 

 white in an irregular manner is furrounded by a 

 triple girdle confifting of feveral rows of finali 

 white prominences refembling firings of pearls. ' 



Fig. 5. The Orange Admiral. 

 (Conus Amm. Araußacus.) 



Alfo a beautiful and fcarce fhell, which often 

 cofts 40 or ,50 Dollars. An uncommon order and 



beauty reign s in its whole defign. Across the 



broad orange colour'd rings run prominent b'fown 

 and white firings of beads. 



Fig. 4- The American Admiral. 

 (Conns Amin. Arne rie anus.) 



Comes from America, is fpotted with tile- 

 colovu'd red, yellowish red, and white, with fe- 

 veral rows of white beads. It is less valuable 

 than the other kinds. 



Fig. 5. The high Admiral. 

 (Conus A j run. fumi nus.) 



The high Admiral comes from the Eaft- In- 

 dies, is brownish red and ornamented with yel- 

 lowish minutely fpotted girdles, and white fpots. 

 It fometimes coft 100 Dollars. 



Fig. 6. The royal Stair cafe. 

 (Turbo fcalaris.) 



The valuable fhell, calPd the royal Staircafe, 

 is fqund on the coaft of Coromandel, and cofts of- 

 ten fome hundred ducats. It conflits of feveral 

 white or reddish windings, which run detach' d 

 upwards round a newel. White prominent ribs 

 run across thefe. A hole goes through the whole 

 length of the fhell, through which one can fee 

 as far as the point of it. Its length is from one to 

 two inches. 



Fig. 7- The barr'd Wreath 

 (Turbo clathrus.) 



refembles greatly in its whole fashion the royal 

 Staircafe, but differs from it effentially in that 

 its windings and ribs do not run detach'd, but are 

 united together. Its whole length is an inch, 

 and its ftructure is that of a longer and taperer 

 tower. It is often found in the Atlantic, the Me- 

 diterranean, and on thecoafb» of Holland. 



