86 



POPULAR CONCHOLOGY. 



Animal, head indistinct ; two tentacula enlarged at the base, 

 and having the eyes situated near the tips ; foot very 

 large, and covering great portion of the shell, the front 

 part projecting far beyond the head, two-lobed, and eared ; 

 a thread-like portion of the mantle occupies the narrow 

 canal at the suture; the mantle itself is small. — 99 species*; 

 also fossil. 



These shells are very common, nevertheless they are 

 very beautiful, and their polished exterior is kept bright 

 by the enveloping foot ; many attain a large size. They 

 are brought principally from Asia, but are also found in 

 the African and American seas. The animals are said to 

 be very active, gliding about on the shore, and burying 

 themselves in the sand. 



Philippi places the following as sub-genera : Olivella 

 and Scapliula Sw. ; Strephona and Agaronia Gray. 



Ancillaria. Lam. — Shell oblong and very smooth ; 

 spire pointed ; sutures not channelled, but 

 nearly effaced ; mouth wide and long ; right 

 lip sharp ; left lip having the base thickened, 

 with a shelly ridge. Animal almost un- 

 known ; the foot, however, is very large — 

 4 species ; also fossil. 



This genus is chiefly confined to tropical 

 climates ; the shells are smooth, and highly Anci uana. 

 polished, presenting a surface infinitely 

 more so than can be produced by artificial means : some 

 of them have a small tooth at the lower part of the right 

 lip. When the animal is alive the shell is covered so 

 much by the foot that only the middle of the back can 

 be seen. The Ancillaria cinnamomea is exceedingly 

 scarce. The fossil species are very smooth and beau- 

 tiful. 



* Reeve's Iconics 



