17 
CHAPTER III. 
DESCRIPTION OF UNIVALVE SHELLS. 
P TERONOTUS festivus , Hds., Fig. 1 , PI. 
II, is a representative of the great family 
of the Muricidse or Rock Shells, which abound 
in the warm waters around Panama, and furnish 
so many parlor ornaments. Most of the family 
have very rough exteriors, and are smooth and 
brilliantly tinted within. This species is about 
an inch and a half in length, irregularly spindle- 
shaped, i. e> tapering toward both ends, with large, 
reflexed frills, and a tubular canal. Color, 
whitish, with varicms dark markings. It is 
found chiefly in the southern part of the State. 
Ranella Californica , Hds., Frog Shell, Fig. 2, 
PI. II, sometimes glows to a length of six inches. 
It is a solid, light colored shell, with two heavy 
folds on opposite sides, long canal, the edge of 
the aperture crenulated ; spire of about four 
wliorl es. Common length, three inches. 
Chrysodomus dirus , Eve., Golden Spindle- 
Shell, Fig. 3, PI. II, has an ominous name, but the 
only ill luck we ever experienced while gathering 
these shells was getting caught by the tide on _Dux- 
bury Beef, at Bolinas, and being obliged to wade 
ashore. It is spindle shaped, from one to two 
