. Beautiful shells : their nature, structure, and uses familiarly explained, with directions for collecting, cleaning, and arranging them in the cabinet : descriptions of the most remarkable species, and of the creatures which inhabit them : and explanations of the meanings of their scientific names, and of the terms used in conchology. Shells; Shells; Mollusks. 28 EOCK SHELLS. —the Royal Murex, {M. regius,) from regno—to reign. It is a splendid species, of the rich colouring of which, art can give but a faint impression. It is brought from the western coast of Central and South America, where
. Beautiful shells : their nature, structure, and uses familiarly explained, with directions for collecting, cleaning, and arranging them in the cabinet : descriptions of the most remarkable species, and of the creatures which inhabit them : and explanations of the meanings of their scientific names, and of the terms used in conchology. Shells; Shells; Mollusks. 28 EOCK SHELLS. —the Royal Murex, {M. regius,) from regno—to reign. It is a splendid species, of the rich colouring of which, art can give but a faint impression. It is brought from the western coast of Central and South America, where, as well as in the islands of the South Pacific, many new shells of the genus Murex have been discovered. One shell found on our own coast, often mistaken for a Whelk, is the Pelican's-foot Strombus, called in scientific language, Strombus pes-pelicanus, which is but a Latinized form of the English name. This shell varies greatly in shape in different stages of its growth, and by an inexperienced con- chologist, the young, middle-aged, and old Strombus, might be taken for distinct species. In the Stromhidce family, so called we know not why, the same word in Latin meaning a kind of shell-fish, are some species which have produced pearls. One member of the family which we sometimes see in collec- tions, is a large and very beautiful shell; this is the Broad- winged Strombus, {S. latissimus,) probably from latesco—to wax or grow broad, or large; issimus being in the superlative degree, would indicate that this shell was very much so, as we find it is, sometimes measuring as much as twelve inches across. In Plate II, is a representation of this handsome shell, greatly reduced in size, of course: see Fig. 4. We here give a figure, as more curious than beautiful, of the Scorpion. Pteroceras, [P. scorpius,) which also belongs to the Strom- hidoe family; as does the curious Chinese Spindle, {Rostellaria rectirostris.) The generic name of the first of these species, comes from t
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdeca, booksubjectmollusks, booksubjectshells
