Viewing page 13 of 41

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

13.
Family Cypraeidae. No. 40, 41, 42. The Cowries are among the most beautiful of shells. When the animal crawls, the mantle, like that of the Olives [[strikethrough]] shells [[/strikethrough]], extends around [[strikethrough]] the shell [[/strikethrough]] from each side of the aperture, meeting on the back, hence the shell is always polished. On account of their beauty the Cypraeas are eagerly sought by collectors, and for some of the rarer kinds immense prices have been paid. The queenly Cypraea princeps is known by only three specimens,