64 



POPULAR CONCHOLOGY. 



wardly from those of Fusus, Murex, Pur- 

 pura, and Columbella (Philippi). — 73 spe- 

 cies.* 



Many of these shells are exceedingly heavy. 

 T. pyrum is called in Ceylon the " shank 

 shell," and is frequently beautifully carved by 

 the natives; a reversed specimen is con- 

 sidered a great rarity, and held sacred by the 

 Cingalese. They are found principally in Turbweoapymm. 

 the Indian and African oceans. 



FiCULA. Swain. (Sycotypus Gray). — Shell thin, 

 pyriform, the base lengthened into an elon- 

 gated channel ; the upper part ventricose ; 

 spire very small, depressed ; ' inner lip want- 

 ing. Animal having an elongated pro- 

 boscis with the front portion of the foot 

 rounded and lobed ; tentacula long and 

 tapering ; eyes very large ; no operculum. — 



4 Species. f FioOaliBoigata. 



Mr. Adams, of H.M.S. Samarang, informed Mr. Reeve 

 that the animal of the Ficula was very lively, " crawling," 

 he says, " with considerable velocity, and owing probably 

 to the lightness of its shell, able to ascend the sides of a 

 glass vessel in which I had it captive, with facility. In the 

 species I observed (F. Icevigata), the mantle was bright 

 pink, spotted with white and lighter pink, the under 

 surface of the disk being of a dark chocolate colour, with 

 yellow scattered spots ; the head and neck were pink, and 

 also covered with yellow spots."! 



COCHLIDIUM. Gray. — Shell pear-shaped nearly, 

 stretching out into a long canal, and transversely grooved; 



* Reeve's Iconica. 



