MISCELLA2^^E0US NOTES. 
1143 
its skin regularly and appeared in perfect health. At the end of the time 
it suddenly began to get thin and weak very rapidly, so we let it go in 
the jungle.” Toads and ducks were also presented. The author of the above 
story, IVIr. F. G. Ballantyne of the Poloi T. E., who kept the reptile in captivity, 
Col. K. St. J. Hickman, C.I.E., and Dr. Davis of the Bura Jalinga T. E. can 
vouch for the above facts. I would be glad to hear from any member of a similar 
case of the longevity of a python’s fast. 
Boro Jalinga T. E., Dwarband P.O., A. G. McARTHUR. 
Cachar, 
\lth June 1922. 
[We would refer members interested in this subject to Col. Wall’s exhaust- 
ive treatise on the common python which appeared in Part II, Vol. XXI of 
this Society’s Journal. “ A Popular Treatise on the Common Indian 
Snr.kes”. Illustrated copies of this part are obtainable from the Society — 
Price Rs. 10. — Eds.] 
^O. XXIX.— XOTE ON THE OPERCULUM OF THE TURBAN- 
SHELLS. 
The object fonvarded by Captain T. S. Jervis is the stony operculum of one 
of the Turban-shells, gastropod inolluscs of the family Turbinidae. Possibly 
it belongs to the common Indian species Turho argyrostoma, abundant on rocky 
shores all round the coasts of India. This operculum is always plano-convex 
in shape and stony in structure. In life it is attached bj'^ the flattened side to 
the upper surface of the tail end of its owner, which is a snail-shaped mollusc 
allied to the pretty Top-shells (Trochidae) so common at home among rocks 
and boulders ; the latter, however, have an operculum thin and horny and 
marked with a closely set spiral, very different from the thick, stony and 
massive one characteristic of the Turban shells. When one of these animals 
retires into its shell, when alarmed or attacked, the operculum serves as a door 
or rather stopper to close the opening and so to keep the intruder out. The 
Turban shell operculum is particularly effective for this purpose ; it is too hard 
to be broken through or pierced and its rounded (convex) shape jirevents a 
po\^erful enemy from getting a grip at the sides in order to tear it out. 
The outer rounded surface of the operculum is usually more or less prettily 
mottled with green on a white ground ; that of one species found in New Zealand 
is so very brightly ornamented with green and brown that the Maoris value 
it highly as a personal ornament and set it in gold, particularly in the form of 
brooches ; they also employed specially large and fine ones to make the eyes of 
their weirdly fashioned wooden idols in former times. There are also species 
so large that the operculum is heavy enough to be used as a paper weight two 
inches in diameter. Such big .shells are valuable as a source of mother of pearl 
for the manufacture of pearl buttons in particular. 
In India the operculum of Turbo is one of several common objects of the sea 
shore that possess deep intere.st for tlie ])ilgrims and devotees who flock in 
thousands from all parts of India to worshij) at the most holy shrine of Rames- 
waram in the south. There, just within the main entrance to the temple, half 
a dozen shell vendors are allowed stalls ; on the floor in each are arranged trim 
heaps of shells of many sorts, all carefully separated according to their kinds. 
Here is a pile of several tliousand Money Cowiies from the Maldives, there a 
smaller one of the same shells but brighter in colour and larger in size from the 
41 
