Part 11

The hyaline spots as seen on the under side are of the same size and form as they appear above, but the opake spaces instead of being uniformly black as on the upper surface, are agreeably diversified with rufous and geminous dots of white: these double white dots are situated on the black border at the tips of the wings, three on that of the anterior pair, and three on that of the posterior ones.

From the very close analogy that prevails between this and several other species of the same tribe, it would, no doubt, have been a matter of considerable difficulty at this time to determine the Fabrician species Papilio Hippodamia with precision, if we had not possessed the means of reference to the Fabrician manuscripts, and the drawings in which it is delineated; for it has remained to this period unfigured by any author. It will be observed that Fabricius does not refer for this species to the Collectanea of Mr. Jones, as in many other instances. The cause of this omission will admit of a very easy explanation; Fabricius had seen the insect in the first instance in the cabinet of M. Mauduit, at Paris, to which he has referred. But subsequently when in England he found a drawing of the insect in the collection of Mr. Jones, and inscribed the name and character of the species upon the drawing, as it afterwards appeared in his Entomologia Systematica; and it is upon this authority that we are enabled to speak with certainty upon a species which, but for this circumstance, would be now involved in ambiguity. The figures in our plate are copied from the drawings of Mr. Jones, inscribed with the hand-writing of Fabricius.

At the time Fabricius described this species its _habitat_ was unknown: we have lately met with it in a collection of Brasilian insects, and entertain no doubt of its having been brought with the rest from that part of the globe.

CONCHOLOGY.

PLATE XXXII.

CYPRÆA AURORA AURORA, MORNING-DAWN, OR, ORANGE COWRY.

* UNIVALVE.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Shell univalve, involute, subovate, smooth, obtuse at each end: aperture effuse at each end, linear, extending the whole length of the shell and denticulated each side.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER AND SYNONYMS.

Shell ovate ventricose, and somewhat globose, orange without spots: margin white: throat orange or sometimes rosy.

CYPRÆA AURORA: ovato-ventricosa, subglobosa, aurantiâ immaculatâ: margine alba, fauce aurantia vel incarnata.

CYPRÆA AURANTIUM: testa subturbinata aurantia margine alba immaculata fauce rutila. _Gmel. Linn. Syst. Nat. T. 1. p. 6. 3403. 121._

CYPRÆA AURORA: testa ovato-ventricosâ, turgidâ subglobosâ, aurantiâ, immaculatâ; lateribus albis; fauce aurantiâ. _Lamarck T. 7. 382. 14._

* * * * *

Every Conchologist is aware of the existence of this superb shell: its magnitude is considerable, and its colour too conspicuously distinct from that of all other species of its genus to be passed over without immediate observation.

The Cypræa generally are a tribe of shells peculiarly striking: the most common species possess an elegance of fervid colouring and politure that never fail to recommend them to attention. But a few years only have passed away, since the mantle decorations of the fire place in the apartments of fashion, besides images and jars of china porcellain, consisted of shells, among which the various kinds of Cowries were not esteemed the least ornamental. And they are sometimes still seen in such situations; while the grotesque statuary, the josses, and the dragons, of China and Japan, in conformity with a better taste, have wholly disappeared.

The shells of the Cypræa, genus which are most familiar to the generality of observers, are the spotted Cowries, and some others of usual occurrence. There are others which from their rarity are less extensively known, and among the number we may truly rank the species which we have now before us, the Orange Cowry, or as it is sometimes called, the “Morning Dawn.” The beauty of this shell, as well as scarcity, has established its celebrity; the species is well known, but few collections, excepting those of the more costly kind, possess the shell. Its magnitude is considerable, for its size is nothing inferior to that of the Spotted Cowry, which ranks in this respect the chief species of its family, while the distinction of its colour from that of all other shells of the Cypræa tribe at once attracts particular attention.

The colour of the back in this species is of a very fine orange, simple, and unadorned with any marks or spots whatever. The tint of orange varies in different shells from pale to darker, but whatever may be its deviations in this respect, the tint of colour is constantly deepest upon the back, and the transition as constantly becoming gradually paler or more diluted as the colour descends upon the sides towards the margin. This margin is rounded, projecting, and of a pure white, except at the throat, as it is termed, where a tint of red or reddish prevails to a small extent. The under surface of the shell is white, except at the sides where the orange colour of the back descends, spreads, and fades away into the white. The aperture of the shell is a longitudinal opening down the middle as usual in the other kinds of Cowry; the surrounding region of the shell is a pure white, but the edges of the opening, both which are beset with numerous linear teeth, are of a fine orange.

For the discovery of this extremely beautiful shell, like many other acquisitions of importance in the cabinet of the Conchologist, we stand indebted to the assiduities of that eminent Naturalist Sir Joseph Banks, and those who accompanied him in the celebrated voyage of Captain Cook round the world. They observed it among the ornaments with which the natives of Otaheite had decorated their dresses, which were composed of feathers, and the barks of trees. To these garments they were attached by means of a string passing through a hole perforated for the purpose on one side of the shell. The natives were not so easily induced to part with these shells as the other decorations of their clothing, appreciating them at a much higher value. Our navigators were at first led to imagine these shells to be inhabitants of the seas surrounding Otaheite, in which particular they were at length undeceived by the natives who informed them to the contrary: they said the shells were found near an island at a great distance from Otaheite, and from the direction of the spot toward which they pointed, it was conjectured they meant the Fegee or Fidgi Islands, which are inhabited by the most ferocious cannibals throughout those seas.[24] Our navigators were therefore able only to procure such specimens as were attached to the dresses of the natives, and these being almost constantly perforated for the better convenience of fastening them on safely, at once explains the reason of the Orange Cowry being so rarely met with undisfigured by such perforation.

The mention of this circumstance, which at this distant period can be little known, is moreover of some importance, because as the shells were really brought from Otaheite, it has been generally supposed to be a native of that island, and has even sometimes been called the Otaheitan Cowry. Gmelin, who records this shell under the name of Cypræa Aurantium, speaks of it as a native of the Friendly Isles, “habitat ad insulas amicas,” resting his authority, we apprehend, upon the Conchology of Martyn, and which though published shortly after the return of Captain Cook, could not be so well informed upon the subject as the venerable friend who assured us it is neither a native of Otaheite, nor the Friendly Islands. Lamarck has subsequently observed that the species inhabits the seas of the Friendly Islands as well as those of Otaheite, and also of New Zealand. Upon what authority the _localities_ have been increased to this extent is not stated. We have understood from very good authority that researches have been made repeatedly of late years by our navigators to discover the shells in those seas, and without effect; and this fact appears to be confirmed from the increasing value and importance attached to the species. We are indeed not entirely certain that any of these shells have ever been procured, except as before observed from among the natives of Otaheite, and the value of the shell has progressively advanced in consequence from four, or five, to ten pounds. A specimen in the collection of Mrs. Angus sold about three years ago in London for twenty guineas; thirty guineas have been in vain offered for another specimen within the last two or three years, and a collector at this period in London is in possession of another which it is understood cost him very lately fifty guineas. These circumstances, if we mistake not, conspire to prove, that the Orange Cowry is a far more local species than might be inferred from the observation of Lamarck.

Besides the name of Otaheitan Cowry, this shell has been also called the “Orange Cowry,” and the “Morning Dawn,” in reference to the latin “Cypræa Aurantium,” and “Aurora,” by both which it had been at different times distinguished. That of Aurantium alludes only to the prevailing orange colour of the shell, and has been given to it by Gmelin after Martyn. There is something more poetically elegant, and perhaps no less appropriate in the trivial name Aurora, which Lamarck adopts: we may in truth compare its beauteous fulvous hues fading into white with inexpressive softness, to the warm glowing tints and fainter blushes of an opening morning sky in summer. We have also adopted this name as well as Lamarck, for its peculiar elegance, in preference to that of Aurantium.

The origin of the epithet “Aurora,” bestowed upon this shell has probably long since been forgotten; it arose from one of those fugitive events not likely to be recorded excepting only in the recollection of collectors; and those in whose immediate knowledge the circumstance occurred have long since passed this transitory scene and are perhaps ere this themselves forgotten. The relation though in some respects trivial, may afford amusement to the amateur: it serves to shew the origin of its name “Aurora” at the same time that it presents a striking illustration of that ardent zeal with which the science of Conchology was cultivated in this country nearly half a century ago; its authenticity may be relied upon. The circumstance as related to us by an old collector some years ago was briefly this; a specimen of the shell had very shortly after the return of the discovery ships been presented by one of the officers to a lady, which coming to the knowledge of a most zealous collector of that period, he solicited the indulgence of seeing it; and waited upon the lady for the purpose, upon an intimation that the favour would be readily granted. Madam, said the enraptured visitor, gazing in admiration upon the Cowry, which he now beheld for the first time, has this shell a price? will twenty guineas purchase this lovely gem? it will not answered the lady. Allow me then said its enthusiastic admirer to clasp it for a moment in my hands, and bending on one knee, at the same time pressing the shell to his lips, pronounced with an emphasis of poetic fervour, “thus do I salute the ‘Morning Dawn’ of the new discovered world!” Let poets reverence Venus the beauty of the Grecian seas: my idol is “Aurora,” this sea-born nymph of surpassing beauty, that rose upon the waves of the Southern deep!

Tu quoque cum Dea sis, Divâ formosior illâ Concha per æquoreum quam vasa ducit iter.[25]

_Sec. 6. Basium._

Abating somewhat of the romantic warmth with which the ideas of the venerable collector alluded to was expressed, it must be admitted that in point of beautiful simplicity this shell has never been surpassed by any subsequent discoveries in the southern hemisphere; and it is no less singular than certain that the price of twenty guineas, which that collector named upon an imaginary valuation, has become the average standard value of a fine shell of this kind for some years past. At present they are more highly prized, because it is now pretty clearly ascertained that they are no longer to be procured among the natives of Otaheite; and for this reason it is much more likely they will reach a still higher price than that the value of them should diminish. The shell we have represented is to be considered as a very fine specimen in respect to size as well as colour.

Footnote 24:

We learn from Labillardière, one of the Naturalists attached to the expedition of Admiral Bruni d’Entrecasteaux, who went in search of La Perouse in 1791, 1792, 1793, that this report is true. When the French ships _Recherche_ and _Espérance_ touched at Tongataboo, there happened to be peace between them and Fidgi, and as usual when they are not at war, a considerable commerce was at that time carried on between them. This brought Vouacecee, one of the chiefs of Fidgi, to Tongataboo soon after the French had cast anchor, and as he paid them frequently a visit, they were able to collect from him some useful information. Vouacecee represented Fidgi to be very high land, of great fertility and lying distant in the north west direction about seventy-two _myriametres_. The myriametre reduced to our standard is six miles, one furlong, one hundred and fifty-six yards, and six inches, giving in total value about one hundred and forty-nine leagues, or four hundred and forty-seven miles. In the most favourable weather with the large double canoe the voyage to Fidgi from thence could not be less than three days, and when they had to struggle against the south winds they must ply to windward upwards of a month. The people of Tongataboo told them the people of Fidgi were cannibals: Vouacecee strove to exculpate himself by answering that it was only the _touas_, or people of the lowest class, who eat human flesh. But the assurances of the natives of Tongataboo were fully confirmed in other quarters, and Labillardière who observes they devour their enemies to satiate their fury, is entirely satisfied the chiefs as well as touas are _Anthrophagi_. These people, notwithstanding this atrocity, are represented as being far more advanced in arts and industry than the people of other islands, who receive from them in time of peace many articles of ingenious workmanship and produce of their island, and it is, no doubt, by this means that the _Orange Cowry_ has been introduced among the natives of Otaheite and other islands in those seas.

Besides its being satisfactory to ascertain beyond any doubt the habitat of the Orange Cowry, the Conchologist is assured that other shells of the most choice and valuable kinds inhabit the seas of this island, for which reason it is presumed the above information may not prove altogether unimportant.

Footnote 25:

We should not omit to mention that this shell was called _Aurora_ by Dr. Solander about the same time, _Vide_ his MS. Whether he was indebted to this circumstance for the hint of so naming it, or on the contrary that the gentleman was aware of the name which Dr. Solander intended for it, is now beyond our means of ascertaining. It is more obvious that Chemnitz, and after him Lamarck, have received the name Aurora from one or both of these sources, although the anecdote may be itself forgotten.

ORNITHOLOGY.

PLATE XXXIII.

PSITTACUS MACULATUS SPOTTED BREASTED PARRAKEET.

PICÆ.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Bill falcated; upper mandible moveable and in general covered with a cere: nostrils rounded, placed in the base of the bill: tongue fleshy, obtuse, entire: feet formed for climbing.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Green: crown, hind, head and nape black: temples cinereous: throat, neck, and breast fuscous with the margins of the feather sulphureous: shoulder scarlet: rump and middle of the abdomen sanguineous.

PSITTACUS MACULATUS: viridis: vertice, occipite, nuchaque nigris: temporibus cinereis: gula, collo, pectoreque fuscis marginibus pennarum sulphureis: humeris coccineis: uropygio abdomineque medio sanguineis.

* * * * *

A very rare species of the Parrakeet tribe, and which is presumed to be a native of South America.

The length of this bird is nine inches and a half; the bill and legs blackish. The prevailing colour of the plumage green, front and crown of the head blueish green, the rest of the head and neck black: the feathers upon the face glossed with blue: a large ovate cinereous spot on the cheeks: throat and breast black varied with pale yellowish scollops, the margin of the feathers being a pale sulphureous yellow, the disk black: the black disk usually forming a kind of triangular spot with the point tending downwards. The wings are green, except the quill feathers, which are blue, and the butt of the wing or shoulder the colour of which is scarlet. The body beneath green with a large spot of sanguineous-purple on the abdomen. The lower part of the back and rump the same sanguineous purple colour as the abdominal spot: tail above green, the feathers purplish towards the end; beneath rufous brown.

This curious bird is nearly allied to _Psittacus Squammosus_, the _Scaly Breasted Parrakeet_, and in no very remote degree with another kind of Parrakeet, the _Wavy Breasted Parrot_, _Psittacus Lineatus_. The first of these our bird exceeds by at least an inch in length, the other by an inch and a quarter. Instead of the dark colours of the head, as in our bird, the head and neck of P. Squammosus are dull orange. The darker colouring of our bird assimilates more nearly with _Psittacus Lineatus_, but in other respects is entirely different. We have considered it as a new species, at the same time that it must be observed from the very close analogy that prevails between this bird and the Scaly Breasted Parrakeet, it may possibly prove hereafter to be the adult bird of that kind rather than a distinct species.

CONCHOLOGY.

PLATE XXXIV.

TEREBRATULA SANGUINEA SANGUINEOUS LAMP-ANOMIA, TEREBRATULA, OR, LAMP COCKLE.

BIVALVE.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Shell inequivalve regular, somewhat triagonal: upper valve imperforate, lower valve beaked above the hinge, the beak usually incurvate, perforated at the tip, or grooved, for the passage of a short tendinous pedicle, by means of which it adheres to other bodies: Hinge with two teeth, and furnished with two osseous elevated and furcated processes arising from the disk of the upper or smaller valve, destined to support the animal.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER AND SYNONYMS.

Shell red, ventricose, suborbicular, longitudinally ribbed: upper valve depressed in the middle; the lower with the back elevated.

TEREBRATULA SANGUINEA: testa rubrâ ventricosa, suborbiculata, longitudinaliter costata: valva superiore in medio excavato: inferiore dorso elevato, apice incurvato perforato.

ANOMIA SANGUINEA. Obovata longitudinaliter sulcata, triloba; sinu profundo, nate producta latere angulata foramen ambiente. _Solanders MSS.—Hab. in O. Pacifico. G. R. Forster._

ANOMIA SANGUINEA. _Portland Catalogue._

ANOMIA SANGUINEA. _Leverian Cat. sec. part. p. 15._

ANOMIA SANGUINEA. _Dillwyn’s Conch. 1. 293. 21._

TEREBRATULA SANGUINEA. _Leach. Zool. Misc. t. 76._

TEREBRATULA SANGUINEA. _Lamarck Anim. sans. Vert. T. 6. p. 1. p. 243._

Lampas Sanguineus, La Sanguinolente (Anomia Sanguinea S.) _Calonne Cat. Humph. MS._

* * * * *

This is one among the number of those very choice accessions to the Conchological knowledge of the last century, that was derived from the scientific labours of our first circumnavigators in the Southern Ocean: it occurred to them upon the coast of New Zealand, not in any abundance, but so far plentifully that after the Banksian Cabinet was supplied there were several specimens to spare for distribution among the friends of Sir Joseph Banks, Dr. Solander, and Captain Cook. From this little store the species passed in the first instance into several collections, and among others into that of the late Duchess of Portland, Dr. Chauncey, Mr. Cracherode, Mr. G. Humphrey, and some others. It has since occurred, but not in any abundance to later voyagers in those seas. And it is reputed also to have been met with in the Straits of Magellan.

The specimen of this rare shell which we have delineated, and which always was considered as one of the largest of its species known, once constituted part of the Testaceological collection of Sir Ashton Lever, having been presented to that eminent collector by Captain Cook, at the time of his return to England after his first voyage. There is a small hole pierced through the upper valve of this shell, and which, in the absence of all other information, induces the persuasion of its having been originally suspended like several other shells we have already mentioned, as an ornament or appendage to the dress of some New Zealander; the aperture being so designed that the two valves could easily have been kept together by means of a string passing through this hole of the upper valve, and the opening in the beak of the lower one. The animal inhabitant is probably eaten by the New Zealanders, who besides being cannibals, subsist chiefly upon the marine productions of their shores, which their wives and female children obtain daily for them by swimming and diving into the sea. There is a rare species found in the Mediterranean Sea, Anomia Vitrea of Gmelin, which nearly approaches this species in point of size, and is eagerly sought after, we are told, by the people of those parts as a delicious food. We should, however, imagine from its scarcity, that it is only at the tables of the rich that this luxurious repast appears.

In adopting the genus Terebratula for the shell before us, some explanation may be expected for our departure from the Linnæan classification, for in the system of that author it is one of the Anomia Tribe, the term and character of Terebratula not being recognised by that author as generically distinct from the Anomia. Our reasons for this deviation shall be explained as briefly as it is possible: from the nature of those remarks, and the extent of enquiry with which it is connected, this cannot however be comprised within very slender limits.