The Tiger Cowry— The Whelk. 531 
THE TIGER COWRY. (Gypraa Tigris.) 
The Cowries or Porcelain shells are amongst the most 
beautiful of the univalves. The shells are generally of 
an elegant oval form, with no visible spire ; the mouth 
is a long slit on the middle of the lower surface, with 
two nearly equal lips toothed along their margins ; the 
surface is most beautifully polished, and generally 
adorned with rich colours, arranged in varied and 
elegant patterns. The Tiger Cowry, which is one of 
the commonest, is rather broad, and very convex ; it is 
of a white colour, covered with numerous dark brown 
spots. It is usually four or five inches in length, and 
inhabits the seas of India. The Money Cowry (Cyprcea 
moneta) is a little Indian species, which is used in place 
of money in some countries, especially the interior of 
Africa. It is imported into England for exportation to 
Africa in large quantities ; as much as 300 tons having 
been landed at Liverpool in one year. 
THE WHELK, (Buccinum undatum,) 
Is a common British shell-fish of considerable size, 
which is obtained in large quantities by dredging, and 
used as food. In London it is sold commonly at stalls 
in the streets, we believe in a pickled state. The 
mouth of this animal is furnished with a powerful 
rasping proboscis, by means of which it is able to bore 
through the shells of other mollusca. 
