90 



POPULAR CONCHOLOGY. 



mantle lobes, and expose the shell, is very curious and 

 surprising."* When at rest the Cyprcea remains buried 

 under the sand, at a short distance from the shore; it 

 however occasionally traverses the rocks and coast, and 

 may be found under stones and corals. 



These shells are generally found in the seas of hot cli- 

 mates, the Indian Ocean, and those of Africa and America. 

 A few species are met with in temperate regions, but they 

 possess no great beauty, neither attaining the vivid tints 

 nor the delicate markings of those more favoured in situ- 

 ation. The Cyprcea Europea, or Nun Cowrie, is found in 

 abundance on our own coasts. 



The Cyprcea moneta, or Money Cowrie, is the current 

 coin of Siam, Bengal, and Africa : it is collected by the 

 negro women, and sent into different countries. In Ben- 

 gal 3200 are reckoned to be equivalent to a rupee, or 

 about two shillings of English money. Five bearers 

 are required to carry ten pounds' worth of cowries. It 

 was stated by Mr. Archer, in the Great Exhibition, 

 that in the year 1848 sixty tons of money cowries were 

 imported into Liverpool; and in 1849 nearly three hun- 

 dred tons were brought to the same place : they are 

 brought there from the Eastern seas, and again exported 

 for barter with the natives of Africa. Specimens of C. 

 annulus were found by Mr. Layard in the ruins of Nim- 

 roudf, where perhaps they had been used for the same 

 purpose. In the Friendly Islands permission to wear 

 the Cyprcea aurantia, or Orange Cowrie, as an ornament, 

 is only granted to persons of the highest rank. The 

 C. aurora is considered the most rare of this genus. The 

 New Zealanders suspend it to their dress as an orna- 

 aent, and it is therefore frequently found with an artifi- 



v British Moll. 



f Woodward. 



