. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. 196 NATURAL HISTORT. it is like a land-shell of the genus Achatina, the shell being ventricose, and smooth, the apex regular and obtuse. Notwithstanding the fact that the fossil species of this rare and interesting shell had been found in true marine deposits in Italy associated with sea-shells, and sometimes coated by a coralline (Lepralia), yet Dr. Gray for many years adhered to the opinion that Halia was a true Land Snail, and placed it as such in the British Museum shell-collection. At length Mr. R. D. Darbishire, of Man- chester, havi
. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. 196 NATURAL HISTORT. it is like a land-shell of the genus Achatina, the shell being ventricose, and smooth, the apex regular and obtuse. Notwithstanding the fact that the fossil species of this rare and interesting shell had been found in true marine deposits in Italy associated with sea-shells, and sometimes coated by a coralline (Lepralia), yet Dr. Gray for many years adhered to the opinion that Halia was a true Land Snail, and placed it as such in the British Museum shell-collection. At length Mr. R. D. Darbishire, of Man- chester, having learnt that the specimens hitherto sold had been certainly obtained at Cadiz, set out for Spain, and, by showing a shell (which he carried with him for the purpose) to the fishennen on. Ji^ JAILS—1, PATELLA VrLGATA : 2, BUCCIXVM UNDATUM ; 3 4, HALIOTIS TLDEKCULATA; 5, LITTOKINA LITTOREA. reticulata; the coast, was rewarded by obtaining several living specimens from deep water ofi' the lighthouse, Cadiz, thus proving the correctness of the evidence derived from the fossil shells from Italy. The genus Ebnrna (ehur, ivory), or " the Ivory-shell," is a thick, solid, smooth shell, with a short spire, umbilicated when young, but the umbilicus is covered by the callus of the inner lip in the adult. These shells have usually lost their epidermis, and are then pure white, spotted with dark-red ; the animal's body is also spotted like the shell. Nine species are known fi-om the Red Sea, India, and China. It extends also to Australia and the Cape. The " Dog Whelk" (Nassa*) has a shell like Buccinum., but is much smaller ; the columellar lip is thickened by a callus, and expanded, so as to form a tooth-like ])rojection near the anterior canal. The animal has a broad foot with diverging horns in front, and two little tails l)ehind. Nassa reticulata is common on the English shores at low water, and is called the " Dog Whelk " by fisher- * Nusm, a basket use
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