HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
6-1 
the Lepas fluviatilis, which, like the other shells found in the rivers of this island, 
is covered with a black skin; the Oreille de Mer, whose inside is empearled, and 
a kind of white shell, whose bourellet is still more rounded. 
The vermicular , (the Serpula of Linn.) which is nothing more than a white pipe* 
is supposed to be a fragment of the Arrosoir, (the Serpula penis), a large kind which 
winds across the madrepores. The Cornet of St. Hubert , a small white vermicular , in 
a spiral form, and divided into separate partitions, like the nautilus; the Nautilus 
papyraceus, and the common Nautilus, whose section forms such a fine volute. 
Among the Rouleaux, (Conus, Linn.) is a common olive; (Voluta, Linn.) a 
beautiful olive, which resembles the shades of a velvet of three colours; the black is 
most esteemed; there are some of five inches in length; a small olive more open; 
and the common Rouleau, with red spots. These three kinds have an upper skin 
covered with hair; the Drap d’or ; the Tonnerre, whose shell is very small, striped 
in zig-zag; the Poire ; the Rouleau covered with skin like the Poire, whose mouth 
has an hollow slit, and is of a fine scarlet; the Ear of Midas is incrusted, but it is 
of a beautiful lustre; the Grand Casque of a pale yellow colour; the white Casque 
spotted with purple, and is very small; the Scorpion, covered with skin, and has 
seven fangs; and, lastly, the Araignee , a large and fine shell, whose lips are of a 
violet colour, and has a mouth decked with prickles. 
Among the Porcelaines, (Cypraea, Linn.-) there is a common kind of a reddish 
brown, d dos d'ane ; another, which is spotted like a tyger, and the Carte de Geo¬ 
graphic’, which is rare. There is also the CEuf or the egg of a milk white, whose 
mouth is red and yellow. The Lievre , (Lepus,) of a fine dark red colour, and the 
Olive de Roche , Voluta, whose shell is very brittle. 
Among the Vis , the common speckled Vis is very long; there is another equally 
beautiful, whose spiral form is accompanied with a moulding; the Enfant en Mail- 
lot, more swelled; another equally large called the Calotte de Suisse, whose colours 
and lustre are very fine; a small Vis with a kind of beak, with an hole pierced in 
it; another d dos d'ane, that is also pierced; the fuseau blanc, which is rare; the 
fuseau with red spots; the maritime Mitre , marked with the same spots; the Mitre 
fluviatilis, which is covered with a black skin. 
It is a singular circumstance, that all the univalves are turned from left to right, 
the shell being placed on its mouth, and the point towards the person who regards 
it. Exceptions from this general rule are very rare. If it were asked, by what law 
