322 
THE COWRIES. 
The shell called, from its peculiar markings, the Musical Volute, has a series of lines 
supposed to represent the clefs, the spots doing duty for the notes. 
As in the preceding instance, this shell is most variable in the shape and color of its 
markings, and even the number of lines differs considerably. In this specimen is found the 
normal number of five lines and four spaces ; but in some examples there are only four lines, 
while in others their number is increased to seven. The color of the shell is a mixture of gray 
neutral tint and pale brown, the lines being nearly black, and the interior of the shell a very 
pale drab. 
A labge, uniformly colored species, called Neptune’s Boat, is a rather pretty, though 
simple-looking, shell. 
But few species of the genus Cymba are known, nine or ten being their apparent number ; 
and these creatures appear to be found mostly in Western Africa. It has a peculiar form ; its 
oddly-shaped proboscis and recurved siphon giving it a very curious aspect. The foot is of 
very great size, and deposits a thin enamel on the under side of the shell. When first born, 
the young animal is of very great size when compared with its shell. The nucleus is large and 
globular, and in the youth of the animal is sufficiently conspicuous ; but, as the inhabitant 
increases in age, and the home increases in size, the nucleus becomes partly concealed by the 
growth of the shell, the whorls of which form a flatfish ledge around it. 
Although not a very large shell, nor remarkable for the variety of its coloring, the Nep- 
tune’ s Boat has yet a pleasing effect to the eye, and, when examined, is really an elegant and 
delicate shell. Its walls are very thin, in proportion to its dimensions, and the bold, sweep- 
ing curves of the surface always call forth admiration. Its color is uniform palish-drab on the 
exterior, and the inside is beautiful pinky- white, like that of a blush rose. 
On the right hand of the accompanying illustration, and occupying the central portion, 
the reader will perceive a curious-looking shell represented as crawling upwards, the animal 
having a very broad and flat foot, and its shell almost covered with the striped mantle. This 
is the Maeginella, our last example of the Volutidee. 
About ninety species of Marginella are known to zoologists, all belonging to the tropical 
or warm seas. As may be seen by the engraving, the animal is very large in proportion to the 
size of its home ; and the mantle is so formed, that the two lobes almost meet over the back of 
the shell, nearly concealing it from view. The tentacles are long, and the eyes are placed 
upon them near their base. The shell is smooth and polished ; and when adult, the outer lip 
has its edge considerably thickened, thus gaining the generic title of Marginella. 
The color of the shell is gray, streaked with black lines, and the animal itself is of a 
pinkish hue, diversified by red rays. 
We now come to the family of the Cowries or Cyprmidse, three representatives of which 
family are seen in the engraving. As in the last genus, the mantle is expanded into two lobes, 
which nearly meet over the back of the shell ; but in many species these lobes are covered 
with filaments, like so many tentacles. The eyes are either near the base or middle of the 
tentacles, and the tooth-ribbon is powerfully armed. 
The most familiar example of these shells is the Common Cowet, which may be seen on 
the upper left-hand of the engraving, crawling diagonally upwards, and remarkable for the 
great length and breadth of the foot, and development of the mantle and tentacles. 
The celebrated Money Cowey (CJyprcea moneta ) belongs to this genus. These little 
white shells are well known as being the medium of barter in many parts of W estern Africa ; 
and vast multitudes of them are gathered from their home in the Pacific and Eastern seas, 
and imported into European countries for the purpose of immediate exportation to the Afri- 
can coast. 
In the left-hand bottom corner of the engraving may be seen the beautiful Pantiiee 
Cowey, represented as it appears while living, its mantle covered with the curious appendages 
which look very like the tentacles of the sea anemones. This species derives its name from 
