Ad99999 04 007a/eng
Seltene Concilien
Beschreibungstext eng
Shells III. Vol. IV. No. 5., SCARCE SHELLS., Fig. 1. The Hammer-Oyster. (Ostrea Malleus.), This Hammer or Cross-Muscle is of the Oyster kind, and is found in the India Ocean and in the South-Sea. Its double shells consist of three arms, which have been by some liken'd to a hammer, by others to a cross, whence it has acquir'd these different names. The length of the two side-arms, are commonly from 5 to 6 inches. In the deep cavity at the junction of the 3 arms lies the esculent oyster. This shell, which is of an ugly blackish, or greyish brown colour, was formerly much sought by collectors on account of its scarceness. They sometimes paid 1000 Dollars (150 L.) for it, but it never costs now at the highest more than 100 Dollars (15 L.), The Admirals., The Admirals, of which several sorts are here represented in Fig. 2. 3. 4. 5. belong to the trumpet shells, and are remarkable for their rough spotted ground. They all belong to the most precious shells and bear a very high price in the cabinets of natural curiosities., Fig. 2. The Cedo-nulli Admiral. (Conus Ammiralis Cedo nulli.), This Admiral is found in the South-Sea, and is the most beautiful and the dearest of all. As it is extremely scarce, it often costs from 300 to 400 Dollars. The gold colour'd shell spotted with white in an irregular manner is surrounded by a triple girdle consisting of several rows of small white prominences resembling strings of pearls., Fig. 5. [sic!] The Orange Admiral. (Conus Amm. Arausiacus.), Also a beautiful and scarce shell, which often costs 40 or 50 Dollars. An uncommon order and beauty reigns in its whole design. Across the broad orange colour'd rings run prominent brown and white strings of beads., Fig. 4. The American Admiral. (Conus Amm. Americanus.), Comes from America, is spotted with tilecolour'd red, yellowish red, and white, with several rows of white beads. It is less valuable than the other kinds., Fig. 5. The high Admiral. (Conus Amm. summus.), The high Admiral comes from the East-Indies, is brownish red and ornamented with yellowish minutely spotted girdles, and white spots. It sometimes cost 100 Dollars., Fig. 6. The royal Staircase. (Turbo scalaris.), The valuable shell, call'd the royal Staircase, is found on the coast of Coromandel, and costs often some hundred ducats. It consists of several white or reddish windings, which run detach'd upwards round a newel. White prominent ribs run across these. A hole goes through the whole length of the shell, through which one can see as far as the point of it. Its length is from one to two inches., Fig. 7. The barr'd Wreath. (Turbo clathrus.), resembles greatly in its whole fashion the royal Staircase, but differs from it essentially in that its windings and ribs do not run detach'd, but are united together. Its whole length is an inch, and its structure is that of a longer and taperer tower. It is often found in the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and on the coasts of Holland.
