. West coast shells. A familiar description of the marine, fresh water, and land mollusks of United States, found west of the Rocky Mountains ... ider is namedNassa. The word literally means a basket for takingfish. Most of the members of this genus have a retic-ulated or checked surface, somewhat like network orthe sides of a basket. Our largest Basket shell is named Nassa fossata,Gld., Nas-sa fos-sa-ta. An excellent picture of it isgiven in Fig. 16. The spire is coni-cal, consisting of five or six whorls,and ends in a pointed apex. Thesurface of the whole shell is markedby spiral and transve
. West coast shells. A familiar description of the marine, fresh water, and land mollusks of United States, found west of the Rocky Mountains ... ider is namedNassa. The word literally means a basket for takingfish. Most of the members of this genus have a retic-ulated or checked surface, somewhat like network orthe sides of a basket. Our largest Basket shell is named Nassa fossata,Gld., Nas-sa fos-sa-ta. An excellent picture of it isgiven in Fig. 16. The spire is coni-cal, consisting of five or six whorls,and ends in a pointed apex. Thesurface of the whole shell is markedby spiral and transverse ridges, theformer of which appear also withinthe outer lip. The thickness of thislip varies much with the age of theanimal, as does the callus of enamelwhich is spread over the enamel, in mature specimens, isFig. 16. of a bright orange color, and contrasts finely with the light ash color of the general surfaceof the shell. The canal is short and abruptly reflexed, while justabove it is a deep ditch or fossa, showing at oncefrom what the name is derived. The use of the canalseems to be to afford space and protection for a. THE BASKET SHELL. 37 breathing tube which projects above the surface of themud which the animal is exploring for its prey. The Nassas are active mollusks, and are cordiallyhated by the oystermen, because they are so fond ofboring a hole through the shells of young oystersand eating the contents with as much relish as anyother judge of good living. They bore into variousclams, too, and it is even hinted that they sometimesattack their own kind. But they are scavengers also,and consume the flesh of dead crabs and like animalswhich are so liable to be found near the shores. Ihave some beautiful specimens of this species whichwere taken from the stomach of a large fish, showingthat the biter of other animals is liable to be swallowedwhole when the avenging and hungry fish comesround. The length of an adult shell is about an inchand a half, and i
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectmollusks, bookyear188
