OSTREADiK. 
351 
But the most remarkable species of all is assuredly Spondylus regius 
(l 3 !.. XV. Fig. I.). This species is a native of the Indian Ocean, and 
hiere scarcely exist three fragments of this rare shell in the museums 
°f Europe. M. Chenu relates in one of his hooks an anecdote which 
' f °uld prove — if any proof were necessary — how far the desire of a 
Elector to obtain possession of some rare and costly specimen will 
c arry him in order to attain his object. “ M. B says M. Chenu, 
1 "'as Professor of Botany to the Faculty of Paris, and was, as some- 
,|u 'ies happens, more learned than rich ; he wished, on the invitation 
01 a stranger, to purchase one of these shells at a very high price, 
"hich might he from 3000 to 6000 francs ; the bargain was made, 
^*'1 the price agreed upon ; it was only necessary to pay. The money 
111 the professor’s hands made only a small part of the sum the merchant 
"'as to receive for his shell, and he would not part with it without pay- 
out. M. B , now consulting his desire to possess the shell more 
Lis weak resources, made up secretly a parcel of his modest plate, 
" n <l went out to sell it. Without consulting his wife, he replaced his 
8 ^er plate by coverings of tin, and ran to the merchant to secure liis 
' ; ° v eted Spondylus, which he believed to be S. regius. 
‘‘ The hour of dinner arrived, and we may imagine the astonish- 
ment of Madame E , who could not comprehend the strange meta- 
morphosis of her plate. She delivered herself of a thousand painful 
^jectures on the subject. M. B , on his part, returned home 
"Tpy with his shell, which he had committed to the safe custody of a 
K ‘ x placed in his coat pocket. But, as he approached the house, he 
^Osed, and began for the first time to think of the reception he 
might meet with. The reproaches which awaited him, however, were 
^pensated when he thought of the treasure he carried home. 
'^ally, he reached home, and Madame B in her wrath was 
"°rthy of the occasion; the poor man was overwhelmed with the 
■f^ef he had caused his wife ; his courage altogether forsook him. He 
' Ir 8°t his shell, and, in his trepidation, seated himself on a chair with- 
^ the necessary adjustment of his garment. He was only reminded 
his treasure hv hearing the crushing sound of the broken box which 
C °"tained it. Fortunately, the evil was not very great — two spines 
0 % of the shell were broken ; but the good man’s grief made so great 
| U| Compression on Madame B , that she no longer thought of her 
' l '" n loss, but directed all her efforts to console the simple-minded 
Philosopher.” 
