CALIFORNIA SEA-SHELLS. 
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OJ 
and concentric grooves. The low whorls are 
marked by spiral, raised lines, broken into 
numerous points, which give the shell a character- 
istic appearance; rounded teeth also line the 
lower part of the aperture. Its color varies 
from light to dark brown. 
Three fine species of Top-shells, which always 
delight the heart of one who loves to study and 
collect these graceful forms of nature, have the 
common name Calliostoma. They are shown in 
Figs. 2, 3, and 4, PI. VIII. They commonly 
live outside the low water mark, upon the kelp, 
where the rocks can not injure their delicate shells. 
At times, they are very difficult to obtain, prob- 
ably sinking to the bottom ; but it is said that 
when the sun shines brightly they crawl up near 
the surface, and can easily be captured by the 
aid of a boat. 
C&ttiostoma costatum , Mart., Fig. 2, PI. VIII, 
is quite thick and strong. It has four whorls 
rounded and marked with fine spiral ridges. 
The thin, reddish brown, outer coat is easily 
peeled off* showing the bright, pearly blue shell 
underneath. The aperture of dead shells is often 
inhabited by the White Slipper-shell, Crepidida 
navioelloides . 
Fig. 3, PI. VIII, is a fine picture of Calliosto- 
ma annulatum , Mart., Banded Top-shell, It is 
a very pretty shell, thin and delicate, sharply 
conical, marked by fine spiral lines, which are 
cut into minute grains. Color, light brown, with 
darker dots, and a spiral line of violet. The 
aperture is nearly square, and the short columel- 
la is pearly. 
