The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-08-07


shells at all.
Some shells have texture like por-
eelain, others are pearly. CLASSY or
horny in appearance. Some OF the
land and fresh water shells are very
thin and fragile, but many OF the
ocean shells are heavy and strong A
majority of the unlvalves are spiral In
form. and into this shell the owner
wlthdraws himself. closing the open
ing with horny plate to protect him
self from the cold; and you know how
tho clans and other bivalves open and
shut the two parts OF their. shells
which are held together by q sort Of
hinge on one side.
Among these two-part shells are the
oyster in which the beautiful pearl is
sometimes found; the clam. a species
Of which, Tridaena gigas, the Giant
Clam a native of the Indian Ocean, is
the largest of all bivalve shells. some-
times attaining a length OF yard and
half and weighing as much as 500
pounds. There are many other species
of various forms and sizes and some OF
them are very beautiful in form and
color.
or the univalves, the genus Conus is
large family, and great favorite
with collectors. The Cones are so
named from being rolled up In the
form Of a cone. There are about 800
known species Of them, and they are
found principally in the southern and
tropical seas. Many OF them are very
beautiful with handsome markings
and brilliant colors. They are pre-
datory animal. boring into the shells
OF other molluscs upon whom they
live, and bites from them are said to
be very painful, the large species be.
ing able to inflict severe wound upon
the hand that picks them up.
The Voiutes, or bat shells. are
beautiful shell of many colorings and
markings. One variety is of especial
interest owing to the peculiar lines
and dots with which IL Is marked,
these are so grouped as to give fnncied
resemblance to the lines and notes OF
a musical stan. so much so as to
cause il to be named Voluta musica.
Doubtless you have heard OF the
Cowry shells that are used for money
by the natives OF Siam, Bengal and
many parts of Africa. This variety ID
called Cypraea moneta. II is yellow>
ish or whitlsh in color and about an
inch In length. There are many other
varieties of cowry shells OF different
sizes and colors. Some are baaded
and some spotted, and they are very
handsome and showy. The Tiger
Cowry is large and cJnsplcuously
spotted shell that is so called from its
fancied resemblance to a tigbr In color
and markings. Tic Orange Cowry
(Cypraea aurantia/ was used as Q
badge OF royalty by the native chiefs
OF the Friendly Islands
The Helmet shells belong TO the
genus Cassls, and there are several
species, found mostly In tropical coun-
tries, Some OF them grow to very
large size, measuring eight or ten
inches in length and Weighing several
pounds. Some of the species are used
In the making OF canoes, the shells
being composed of layers Of different
colors and are beautifully carved by
italian artists in imitation OF antique
canoes.
Another genus of moluscs, having
an interest aside from the beauty OF
the shells themselves. Is the Murex.
There are about 200 species of these
known to naturallsts, and are remark
able for their bright colors and often
fantastical and varied forms many OF
them be ng curiously spined -Elma
lone Locke.