Genus FULGUR, Montf. (BUSYCON, Bolt.) Shell large, heavy, depressed below the apex, sculptured by fine revolving ridges crossed by radiating growth lines; columella drawn out into a slender stalk; body whorl large, aperture oval with elongated anterior canal; operculum horny; foot large; sexes separate; egg capsules keeled, on connecting ribbon. The Knobbed Whelk (Fulgur carica, Gmel.) is one of the two largest and most characteristic univalve mollusks of the Atlantic coast north of Cape Hatteras. Its side partner is F. canaliculatus. These two great ocean snails are much alike in looks and habits. On any sandy beach between Cape Cod and the Gulf of Mexico one may pick up wave-worn shells of both, and their peculiar empty egg cases, always puzzling to the uninformed, who take home a string or two among other sea treasures to admire and wonder at with their friends. Naturally they do not associate the shells with these "seaweeds." Sometimes a living shell with its dirty looking inmate is picked up where the tide left it stranded; at low tide they may be found clambering about on the slippery rocks or ploughing their way through the wet sand and gravel, with the muscular foot quite buried. Hollows in the sand are caused by whelks burrowing below the surface. The grayish colour, marked with dull brown, protects these mollusks from discovery except when in motion. The extended foot covers the bright red lining of the shell's thin lip. At rest the mollusk retracts the stout foot which closes the aperture with a deep-set horny door. A formidable series of knobs adorn the shoulder line of the outer whorl of the shell, each marking the end of a period of growth. This is the distinguishing characteristic of the species. In Long Island Sound, on rocky shores, the shells never attain the size they do in the open, sandy surf-beaten beaches of New Jersey. Six to nine inches in length the adults range. Juvenile forms are found of all sizes. The size and businesslike agility of this gigantic snail may lead you to quote Alice's knight: Come, tell me how it is you live, And what it is you do. Ask the oystermen along the coast. They gnash their teeth and class the Fulgur among the numerous enemies of the helpless oyster. However, since the starfish and the little "drill" exist in so much greater numbers, ruthlessly destroying the young, the toll of the whelks may be small, though they are able to devour the oldest inhabitant of the oyster bed. They subsist chiefly upon live mollusks of various kinds. A small round hole, bevelled as if by a steel tool, is made, and the whelk sucks out the juicy contents of the shell. The helpless bivalve gapes open. Little but tough muscle and ligament remains. The long, hollow channel of the Fulgur's shell contains the muscular double siphon. One tube admits water to the gill chamber, the other discharges wastes. When the mollusk is in motion the siphon is extended beyond the end of the shell and upward. Under it the head protrudes, bearing the proboscis in front, and the waving tentacles, each with a little black eye on the side. The foot spreads broadly below the shell opening; the operculum lies flat on the posterior lobe. The shell is carried in a horizontal position, its spire directly above the operculum, its stem thrust forward. Few observers have ever seen the giant whelk lay her eggs, though all know the long "egg ribbon" from which little whelks emerge in the perfect image of their parents. It is known that the process of egg laying is an exhausting one and takes considerable time and energy. The first of the parchment-like substance is extruded upon a pebble or shell fragment which is chosen as an anchor for the completed chain. The first few capsules are small and far apart on the string. Then begin the perfect egg cases, two keeled, and set close together. The string twists spirally and is often a yard long, with nearly one hundred cases. Fresh ribbons are found during all the warm months along the Atlantic coast. In each case the development of the egg progresses, until the embryo stage is past. Then a round door opens on the lower floor of the chamber, on the side opposite the connecting string. Out tumble the little whelks and begin the life of independence on the sea bottom. The Left-handed Whelk or Lightning Shell (F. perversa, Linn.) is much like the northern species, but the spiral turns to the left instead of following the snail fashion. The young shells are bright with zigzag brown lightning streaks that radiate from the spire, crossing the fine spiral ridges that decorate the whorls. The lip is lined with brown. The knobs are blunt. The body is black. The shells fade and whiten with age; the largest specimens are a foot long. They live on sandy beaches, and spend much time burrowing just under the surface for bivalves. They are preyed upon by Melongena. Habitat.--Florida. Sub-genus SYCOTYPUS, Gill Shell with deep channelled suture, square-shouldered whorls, without knobs; hairy, thick, brown epidermis covers exterior; interior yellowish, smooth. The Channelled Whelk (F. canaliculatus, Say) is distinguished from its companion by the channel that follows its sutures. The egg cases have not the double-keeled edge, but narrow to a sharp margin. In most particulars the two species are alike. The Indians cut the long, white columella of the giant whelk into beads to make their wampum belts. Three beads were worth an English penny in early Colonial days in Massachusetts. A fathom string was worth five shillings. In the South the shells are often used to border garden beds and paths. Drinking vessels were made of them by Indians. Fulgur flower pots are often seen to-day in Florida. The sharp edge of the aperture made cutting tools for the aborigines. Length, 6 to 9 inches. Habitat.--Cape Cod to Texas. The Pear Conch (F. pyrum, Dillw.) has a depressed, unarmed spire, with a deep suture. The sculpture consists of alternately weak and strong spiral striae and angular shoulder keels. Bands of pale brown cross the white ground of the whorls. The canal is long and tapering. Length, 4 to 5 inches. Habitat.--Florida and Gulf of Mexico. Genus EUTHRIA, Gray Shell spindle-shaped, smooth; aperture oval, ending in short, recurved canal. Species, ten, widely distributed. The Dark Euthria (E. dira, Rve.), liver-coloured when the ashy powder is removed, well represents the genus. Deep revolving channels, close together, engrave the surface. The spire has longitudinal folds. Length, 1 to 2 inches. Habitat.--Monterey, Cal., to Sitka. Genus CANTHARUS, Bolt. Shell bucciniform, with swollen body whorl and narrowing to base; aperture and spire of about equal length; siphonal canal at posterior end of aperture; columella arched and faintly ridged. About fifty species in warm seas. The Painted Cantharus (C. tincta, Conr.) has the form of a typical Buccinum, with surface finely ribbed both ways, somewhat tuberculated, with variegated markings of brown and white. Length, 1 to 1 1/2 inches. Habitat.--Florida, West Indies. C. cancellaria, Conr., is ash-coloured, has strong spiral ribs, crossed by longitudinal folds, forming fine tubercles. Lip strongly lined within; spire prolonged; canal recurved. Length, 1 to 1 1/2 inches. Habitat.--Gulf of Mexico.