The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-06-02
CURIOUS CONCHS.
Shell Specimens From Various
Seas-COllectiOns.
The Largest and the Smallest Kaewn Shells.
The Portuguese Man-O'-Wsr-The Sea-
Roar in Shells an Illusion.

Conchology-more's the pity-has not
nearly as many votaries hereabOuts as so
interesting a,studY deserves.
Few new names are yearly added to the
list Of old collectors in the State, who now
. own. such really splendid collections that it
is an extremely difficult matter to find
new shell specimen nowadays of any rarity
that they have not already got.
SILL, when anything choice comes along,
larger or.smore perfect than their own,
these eannoi5seurs will always buy, and
If unable 10 trade off the one already in
their collection, are not averse TO having
duplicate Of it.
As a general thing here, tourists are
about the largest and easiest customers. So
long as q shell, prettily polished, with
maybe a haud-panted view OF the "Cliff"
catches his eve, Mr.. Globs-trotter. on the
lockout tor a souvenir, never haggles about
paying So worth of coin for 81 worth Of
shell.
Besides, those natty little albums. with
pearl covers and inside leaves studded with
California moss and sea-weed, are very
tempting to an unscentifc eye, which is
generally well-couteut to leave the IN
polished gems, rough and dirty as an every
ud4 Us ~ Cbt'A III tl4S AC7o
soul Of the connoisseur with their perfect
shape and freedom from flaw.
BIG AND LITTLE SHELLS.
The biggest shell that is to be found in
this city, or perhaps anywhere, is the gigan-
tic tridacna. a huge three-eOrnered monster
weighing 500 pounds and useful only as
lawn or garden ornament.
The smallest, wee thing no bigger than
a pins head, known as the rice shell, from
- n a a TINY grain nf pnmpS
in handy for various kinds Of shell work.
While the supply is forthcoming from all
parts of the world, the South Pacific islands
furnish tie greatest variety, the Philippine
Islands contributing the very fine ones, In
Guiding the noted land shells.
Illustrative Of how values of different
species of the same shell family vary, one
species, for instance, Of cowry shells Will
fetch 10 cents, another 81 apiece, while a
perfect specimen of an orange c0wry, no
is the spondylus from South America, with
its rose and red, it's earmine and yellow
tints giitteriDgly blended, the pure, clear
white being, of course, the rarest.
THE sHELL-sHIP.
The nautilus-the little sailer'-from
Manila, Oftentimes known as the "P0rtu-
guese man-o'-war," Il regular boat-shaped
Shell, with its delicately curved PROV, is al
WAYS a favOrite.- These little fellows throw
catches the breeze for all the world like
miniature sail, and make wonderful head
way with a fair wind. Frightened or pursued
suddenly the film collapseS, and, with the
aid OF an Interior pumplng-gear, thlrty-two
senl-circular sections, OF water-tight conf
paTtments, are promptly filled with water,
10 be pumped out again when the coast is
clear for again rising to the surface.
In the 104tl Psalm, where the verse oc-
ours: There go the ships. and there is
that leviatban," it may not be generally
known that the poetic imagery of the He
brew original is lost as ships" should read
a nautilus" the intention being COMPARE
son between the large and small fish-the
whale and the nautilus.
SHELLS OF COMMERCE.
The California abalOne, or halatus, is of
three varieties, the red, white and blue Tor
green, and is used all over the world for
button making, as we'll as for pistol and
umbrella handles, pocket-b00ks, etc. That
dainty white mother-Of-pearl that comes
from Mexico has similar uses, the clear sorts
fetching 6 to 8 cents per pound, with an
.ever-present demand for ship-loaGs of it.
Its cousin, the black Scotch, with the per-
yading dark tinge, coming principally from
Tahiti, is worth IS to 20 cents per pound.
and is 50 valuable an article OF commerce
that any bank in the city will loan money
on it. a vessel with fifty tons aboard,
whichis going to Europe, has arrived in
port within the last few days. That golden
pearl oyster, from Manila, is used for the
finest work, such as opera glasses, fine
knife handles, ETC., and is worth 80 cents
por~pound, wholesale by the ton. while the
best qualities, specially selected for polish
ing purpose, are hard to obtain at even 81,
on account Of so large a proportion being
worm eaten.
THE ECHO OF THE SEA.