. The popular natural history . Zoology. COIVRIES. S" time the lobes of the mantle expand over it on either side, and by degrees deposit so thick a layer of smooth, shining substance, that the spire is entirely hidden. The pale streak which generally exists along the back of the Cowries indicates the line where the edges of the mantle nearly meet. This little Cowry is so well known as to need no description. The celebrated Money Cowry {Cyprcea moneta) belongs to this genus. These little white shells are well known as being the medium of barter in many parts of Western Africa; and vast mul
. The popular natural history . Zoology. COIVRIES. S" time the lobes of the mantle expand over it on either side, and by degrees deposit so thick a layer of smooth, shining substance, that the spire is entirely hidden. The pale streak which generally exists along the back of the Cowries indicates the line where the edges of the mantle nearly meet. This little Cowry is so well known as to need no description. The celebrated Money Cowry {Cyprcea moneta) belongs to this genus. These little white shells are well known as being the medium of barter in many parts of Western Africa; and vast multitudes are gathered from their home iil the Pacific and Eastern seas, and imported into tiiis country for the purpose of immediate exportation to the African coast. Sixty tons' weight of Money Cowries have been freighted at a single British port in one year. money cowry. The grooved or wrinkled edges of the lip are well known (^''"^'' """"'" > to everyone who has handled a Cowry, and these ridges assume a remarkable development in the Deep-toothed Cowry, a figure of which is here given, the empty shell being laid so as to exhibit the opening and the lips. The colour of this shell is extremely variable, but is mostly a mottled wood-brown, sometimes diversified with bands, and dark inside. It is not a very large species. We now arrive at a vast army of shells called the Sea Snatls, and distinguished by having the edges of the aperture without notches, the shell spiral or limpet-shaped, and the operculum either horny or covered with Iiard, smooth, shelly muter. One of the most curious of these shells is the Spined Neritina. The operculum is shelly, with a flexible border, and has some small teeth on its itrait edge. All the Neritinas are globular ii) their general shape, darkly. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustratio
Size: 1810px × 1381px
Photo credit: © The Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
