472 
THE OCEAN WORLD. 
find the empty than inhabited shells of the Nautilus at sea. This, 
probably, arises from its exposure to the attacks of crustaceans and 
other marine carnivora. Tins seems to be proved by the mangled 
appearance of the edges in the empty shells thus met with. 
The Flaming Nautilus, Nautilus pompilius (Fig. 331), is so 
common on the Nicobar coast that the inhabitants salt and dry its 
flesh, and store them as provi- 
sions. Its shell attains about 
eight inches in its greatest height- 
It is nearly round, smooth, trans- 
versely blazed in its posterior 
part, and entirely white ante- 
riorly. A very fine nacre is 
yielded by this mollusc, which 
is much used in ornamental 
cabinet-work. The Orientals 
make drinking-cups, on which 
they engrave designs and figures, 
which form graceful objects. Similar vases were formerly shaped i° 
Europe, which found their way into great houses. In our days they 
are generally consigned to cabinets of curiosities and the shops of 
dealers in articles of vertii. 
Fig. 331 , Shell of Nautilus pompilius (Linnasus). 
