SHELL.
Sadaf, ARAB. Sipi, ..... HIND.
Ecaille, FR. Conchiglia, . . . .
Coquille, „ Cascara, Schale, . . . . GER. Kabuk, . . . . T URK.
The ordinary shell is the protective covering of the molluscous cla.ss of animals, in most cases large enough to enclose the whole body of the mollusc, but in some cases it is interior, and only of sufficient size to protect the heart and lungs. The snail affords a fanailiar instance of an ex ternal shell. Shells are called univalve or bivalve, according as they consist of one part, or of two parts joined together by a hinge. The snail is univalve, the oyster is bivalve. The generality of the bivalve shells, including various oysters, mussels, etc., are termed nacreous shells, from ,Nacre, the French for mother-of-pearl. The so called shell of the tortoise is a horny covering, and it is obtained from Ceylon, the Eastern Archipelago, France, Trinidad, etc. The glisten ing lining of oyster shells, known as mother of - pearl, is manufactured into articles of great beauty. Most of the univalve shells are of tho character called porcelanous, from their brittleness„ translucence, and the resemblance of their fractur, to that of porcelain. • The trade in shells is one of extreme anticp in Ceylon. The Gulf of Manaar has been fisl, frotn the earliest times for the large chank sta \ Turbinella rapa, to be exported to India, where \ is 111t0 rings, and worn as anklets and bracelets by the women of Hindustan, Dacca beitig the chief place of manufacture. Another use for those shells is their conversiou into trumpets, which are sounded in the Hindu temples on all ritual occasions. A chank, in
which the whorls, instead of running from left to right, as in the ordinary shells, are reversed, aud run from right to left, is regarded with such reverence that a spechneti formerly sold for its weight in gold, but one may now be had for .£4 or X5. Abu Zaid, an Arab, who wrote an account of the trade and productions of India, speaks of these shells by the name they still bear, which he states to be Schenck. In general, shells are more prized for their beauty than valued for their rarity, though Argus cowries have been sold as high as four guineas a pair.
One of the principal sources whence the Ceylon supplies of shells are derived is the beautiful Bay of Venloos, to the north of Batticaloa, formed by the embouchure of the Natoor river. The scenery at this spot is enchanting.
Shells are used as a flux in the furnaces instead of lime, and along the coast, near Madras, the finest plaster is inade froin calcined shells. The Placnna placenta or window shell is still used as a substitute for glass.
The chanks and large ornamental shells im ported into India are between 7 and 8 millions annually, valued from about two to four lakhs, and from 21 to over 28 million cwt. of cowries, valued about a lakh.
Shell middens occur at the mouth of one of the rivers of Perak.-11PNair, p. 23 ; Tomlinson ; J. Ind. _Arch., 1847 ; Tennent's Ceylon ; Cosmas Indicopleustes, in Therenot, p. 21.