324 
THE SMOOTH NERITA. 
fast another arm. By repeated jerks the cnttle is induced to cling with all its force to the 
bait, when the fisherman rapidly hauls up the line, and flings the sprawling mollusk on the 
shore before it is aware of its danger. 
Several of these large Cowries can be successfully employed in the manufacture of 
cameos, especially when human heads form the subject, as the dark mottlings of the shell 
can be used with singular effect in expressing the deep warm shadows of wavy tresses. The 
various articles of ornament that are made from these shells are too multitudinous even to 
be enumerated, much less described. About one hundred and fifty species of this genus are 
known. 
The grooved or wrinkled edges of the lips are well known to every one who has handled 
a Cowry, and these ridges assume a remarkable development in the Deep-toothed Cowry, 
a figure of which may be seen in the right-hand bottom corner of the engraving, the empty 
shell being laid so as to exhibit the opening and the lips. The color of this shell is extremely 
variable, but is mostly a mottled wood brown, sometimes diversified with bands, and dark 
inside. It is not a very large species. 
Thbee examples of the curious Egg-shells are to be seen in the same engraving. The 
upper central figure represents the Poached Ego, a popular and appropriate name, as the 
peculiar shape and color of the shell bears a singular resemblance to the contour and tints of a 
well-poached egg as it trembles on the toast. Thirty-six species of the Eggs are known, spread 
sparingly over the greater part of the world. The under surface and opening of these shells 
are not unlike those of the cowries, except that in the Eggs the inner lip is without the ridges. 
A veey curious, elongated shell occupies the centre of the engraving. This is the shell 
probably known by the name of Weaver’s Shuttle on account of its peculiar shape. It is, 
in fact, one of the Eggs, but has the aperture lengthened into a long canal at either end. The 
foot of this species is narrower than in the other members of the same genus, but is especially 
adapted for crawling over the stems of the gorgonia, one of the zoophytes on which the 
mollusk feeds. 
Our third and last example of these shells is the Warty Egg, remarkable, not so much 
for the tuberculated exterior of the shell, as for the richly-spotted foot and mantle. 
We now arrive at avast army of shells called the Sea Snails, and distinguished by having 
the edges of the aperture without notches, the shell spiral or limpet-shaped, and the oper- 
culum either horny or covered with hard, smooth, shelly matter. 
Our first example of this family is the ISTatica. The mantle of this species is very large, 
and the front of the foot is developed into a fold, which turns backward over the head and 
serves as a kind of protection. As the animal is without eyes, this curious structure causes 
no inconvenience. All the Naticge, of which about ninety species are known, are found upon 
the sandy beds of the sea, and sometimes are taken at a depth of nearly six hundred feet 
from the surface. They are very predaceous in their habits, feeding principally on little 
bivalves, which they can assault with their short but strongly armed tongue-ribbon. The 
eggs of these creatures are very remarkable. They are compacted into a kind of spiral roll, 
broad and rather short, which is suffered to be flung about at the mercy of the waves, and 
is sometimes found resting on the sands when the tide has retreated. 
The colors of the Naticse are marvellously permanent, and even in the fossil state they are 
preserved and retain some degree of their original brilliancy. The species which is here repre- 
sented is yellowish, and marked with gray bands. 
The jST atic ella -shell is closely allied to the preceding. 
Ax example of another family, the Neritidse, is popularly known by the name of the 
Smooth INTerita. The foot of this animal is moderate, the tentacles are exceedingly large, 
and the eyes are set on footstalks just behind the base of these organs. The Aeritas are all 
inhabitants of the warmer seas, and are found plentifully within the tropics. 
