Читать книгу The Book of Shells. Containing the Classes Mollusca, Conchifera, Cirrhipeda, Annulata, and Crustacea онлайн

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Pterocera scorpio.

Family CANALIFERA.

The shells belonging to this family agree with those of the last in having a canal at their base; but the lip to the right of the opening does not change its form through age.

The Triton variegatum, or Variegated Sea-Trumpet, a large and beautiful shell, sometimes as much as two feet in length, is found chiefly in the torrid zones, near the Asiatic coast. The attendants on the sea-gods of pagan Rome are frequently represented with this shell applied to their mouth by way of a trumpet.

Already Triton, at his call, appears

Above the waves; a Tyrian robe he wears,

And in his hand a crooked trumpet bears.

The sovereign bids him peaceful sounds inspire,

And give the waves the signal to retire.

His writhen shell he takes, whose narrow vent

Grows by degrees into a large extent,

Then gives it breath; the blast, with doubling sound,

Runs the wide circuit of the world around.

The sun first heard it, in his early east,