Part 8

To the _first_ of these new species Dr. Solander retains the Linnæan name of VOLUTA PYRUM, it is that kind which has the beak elongated, and is known by the familiar name of the LONG BEAKED TURNIP SHELL. This is the Voluta rostrata of some Conchologists; Rapum rostratum of the Colonnian Museum; and inhabits the seas of Tranquebar.

As the preceding shell is distinguished by the name of the Long beaked Turnip Shell, in allusion to the elongated structure of the beak, there is another known by the appellation of the High Spired Turnip Shell, in reference to the greater elevation of its spire; this is a _second_ species of Solander, and is called by him VOLUTA PONDEROSA; in the Calonnian Museum it stood under the name of Rapum productum. This shell inhabits the seas of Madagascar, and is the kind which becomes the more immediate object of our consideration as the subject of our present plate.

The _third_ kind of Turnip Shell is from the straits of Malacca, a shell more ponderous than the preceding; of a broader form and having the spire more depressed. This is the common Heavy Turnip Shell of our English Cabinet, Voluta gravis of Solander.

These distinctions proposed by the late Dr. Solander are found conformable, in a particular degree, with the classification observable in the cabinet of M. de Colonne. The shells of M. de Colonne, it appears, were thus arranged by the celebrated Conchologist M. Favanne. They have, nevertheless, we believe, passed unnoticed by any of the modern writers upon this subject. The distinctions are certainly obvious, and might probably fully authorize their separation into species: it must be at least admitted that as varieties of the same species they are strikingly distinct.

Having so far treated upon the generical distinctions of Voluta Pyrum, and pointed out the differences that exist among its principal supposed varieties, we arrive at another point of view in which the history of this shell becomes no less important, or less worthy of our consideration: the sacred character which from some superstitious causes, remote beyond all research of the present race of men, this shell has acquired in the Mythology of the Indian Nations: in the rites and worship of the Indian Brahma. Among these people this shell is called the CHANK, or SACRED CHANK, the emblem of an attribute of the divine power, and is constantly seen in one of the hands of the Indian Deity Vishnu, as a type of the renovation of the earth from the waters of the deluge.—The cause of this catastrophe of the earth, the deluge, they attribute to the wickedness of mankind in remote ages, which incensing the divine Brahma, he caused a flood of the waters to overflow the earth and destroy every vestige of the creation, animate and inanimate, that existed upon its surface. After awhile the supreme Brahma disposed to restore creation, commanded Vishnu to deliver the earth from the flood of waters, and in testimony of its deliverance Vishnu bears in his hand the Chank Shell, the symbol of its renovation.[14]

Without proceding at any considerable length into the history of those mythological persuasions, it may be permitted to observe that as a type of the divine power in relieving the earth from the flood of waters with which it was overwhelmed at the time of the deluge, this shell is held among the Indians of the Brahma persuasion as one of the most sacred emblems of that figurative divinity; and this religion, it will be remembered, extends over no small portion of India and China, and even to part of Russia and Tartary. Vishnu, as one of the three attributes or triad of Brahma, almost invariably appears with this symbol in his hand. Whether in their paintings, sculptures, or carvings, or in the sacred paraphernalia of their temples, the Chank-shell is the customary type of their deity Vishnu, and sometimes it occurs in the hands of the inferior deities,[15] to whom Vishnu is imagined to have confided a portion of his power. If the Chank be the object of their devotion in health, so also it is the object of their superstitions in sickness and in death. The medicine administered by the Priest to his patient in the time of illness, from the spout of one of these shells, is considered of greater efficacy than if taken from any other drinking vessel; that from the spout of a reversed shell has a reputation inestimable. These reversed shells occur so rarely, that if at any time some happy fortunate of the fishing tribe of Hindoos should be so lucky as to find one, he is indeed considered as a mortal favoured by their divinity Vishnu; this treasure of the deep is immediately deposited in one of their pagodas, to the great honour and happiness of the discoverer. A dose of medicine from such a shell is deemed infallible, if the malady of the patient be within the art of medicine to cure; for if this should fail, they rest persuaded nothing else can save the patient from the death awaiting him.

As these reversed shells are of very rare occurrence, the price they bear is of course of considerable. Very few of the Pagodas possess such an inestimable treasure as a _Chank reversed_, they will command a price in Asia surpassing infinitely any idea that might probably be formed upon the subject. Four or five hundred dollars have been given in China, among the worshippers of Brahma, for a shell of this kind. In India they have been known to produce from one hundred to two hundred rupees, sometimes, three, four, or five hundred rupees, or perhaps a larger sum. The shells of this kind, which are purchased from the natives and brought to Europe, it may be imagined, for this reason, can have been obtained only at a considerable cost. It was principally through the unrivalled liberality of the Conchologists of the low countries, about the beginning of the last century, that the cabinets of Europe became possessed of these rarities, and they still remain extremely scarce.

Only two examples of those reversed shells have occurred to our observation: both were of that kind in which the spire is elongated; the high spired Turnip Shell of the English cabinets. One of these reversed shells we saw in the year 1797, in the celebrated collection of Mon de Calonne, ci-devant Minister of France, and which passed, at a considerable price, into the collection of the Earl of Tankerville. The other occurred in the late Leverian Museum, which was distributed by public auction, in the year 1806. This last-mentioned shell was in a less perfect condition than might be wished; it was worn and mutilated, and for this reason did not obtain by any means such a price as was expected from its rarity: it produced only _seven guineas_, a sum considered much beneath its real value, even in its injured state.[16] In the month of April, in the year 1815, the same shell appeared in the sale of certain effects, the property of the Duke de Bourbon, at his residence in Great Ormond Street, Portman Square, where it was sold, we believe, at an advanced price. It is the figure of this last-mentioned shell that appears in the present plate. We have delineated the specimen with all faults for the sake of greater accuracy, and from a persuasion that the Naturalist would prefer a correct representation from an undoubted original, to any figure in which its actual defects might have been amended by the pencil of the artist. The shell is depicted in its natural size, and it will hence appear, is little inferior in point of magnitude to the generality of those shells of the same species which are not of the reversed kind. The species is sometimes known to grow to the length of seven or eight inches, but such examples are not common. Of the reversed kinds the Leverian specimen, as it has been emphatically denominated, is probably one of the largest known.

The smaller figure in the lower part of our plate is a representation of the same species in its usual form, and appears clothed or covered with the thick filmy epidermis, of a brown colour, with which the shell is naturally covered when in a living state. From this figure it will be perceived that the direction of the spiral wreath or whorls in the larger shell is exactly reversed, and that the mouth or aperture of the shell, which in the smaller figure appears on the right side, is seen in the reversed shell on the left. Thus upon the least comparison of the two figures, the true character of the reversed shell will be distinctly perceived.

We should not omit to mention that the smaller figure which represents the unreversed shell would appear of the same pallid hue as the reversed shell, upon the removal of the epidermis with which it is enveloped. Sometimes, however, when this common kind is particularly fine, the exterior surface is delicately tinged with a less pallid hue, and the pillar lip and opening yellowish, inclined to flesh colour. That particular kind or variety which in England is denominated the low spired or heavy Turnip Shell, is sometimes pleasingly diversified with more vivid tints, and the younger shells occasionally spotted with brown, upon a ground tinged with yellowish or buff colour. We have no knowledge of any reversed shell of this latter kind, excepting one which is in the Museum at Copenhagen.

Footnote 14:

The Hindoos entertain the belief of a general deluge, not very dissimilar to that of the Mosaic records. They admit, however, many such catastrophes of the earth, and subsequent renovations through the creative power of this attribute of Brahma, which they denominate Vishnu. The Chank Shell refers to a deluge of the earth, anterior to that which seems to accord with the sacred writ. The deliverance of the earth from the Mosaic deluge they term the lotos creation, the type of which is the expanded flower of the lotos, the indian _pedma_ emerging above the surface of the waters with Vishnu seated in its centre.

Footnote 15:

Were it requisite to treat more amply upon this subject, it would be in our power to produce abundant evidence of the prevalence of this symbol of the sacred Volute, wherever Vishnu or his delegated power appears. The rich repository of the India House, the British Museum, and many private collections afford us some examples of the most interesting kind. Some few of these are so immediately connected with the object of our enquiry, that we feel persuaded no apology will be necessary for their introduction.

In the collection of Lord Valentia is a four-sided cast in brass, resembling a kind of pyramid, consisting of three low platforms, each bearing idols, and surmounted at the summit by a tortoise. In several Indian paintings mythologically adverting to the subject of the creation, the tortoise is represented raising the new-born earth upon its back above the waters, and it is usually seen in other mythological paintings of the same subject bearing the throne upon which Vishnu is seated, while the attendants, personified by various beings, are lifting the earth from the deep. Such a painting was once in the celebrated collection of Colonel Stuart: and we need no other evidence to shew that the bronze of Lord Valentia’s collection is of the same mythological nature, and referable to the deluge, than to observe the Chank Shell placed at each of the four corners of the ornament. We may comprehend the allusion of the tortoise raising the earth from the waters of the deluge, from a trait of the ancient Chinese astronomy; by the tortoise bearing the earth, they intended the north pole of the ecliptic, which, at the time of the deluge, they maintained had not materially changed its position, and that by this means the world was sustained and saved from utter annihilation.

An Indian painting, mentioned by Mr. Edward Moor, the author of the Hindoo Pantheon, presents us with another deity, Sivi, who holds the Chank Shell in one of his four hands, and the antelope (moon) in another.

There is also an Indian painting of Devi, who appears holding a Chank Shell, furnished on each side with a lateral lappit or wing: this symbol he holds in one hand, and the wheel, the emblem of the universe, in the other; and in a bronze of Vishnu, in the India House, we find the Chank Shell ornamented in a similar manner.

We have seen another indian painting, in which, not only the Chank Shell is furnished on each side with alæ, or wings, but an expanded flower of six petals is placed upon its pinnacle. This shell, if we may judge from its outline, is of that kind which has the spire depressed. Lord Valentia is in possession of a bronze cast, in which Vishnu appears reclined upon his couch of serpents, attended by _Lakshmi_ and _Satyavama_, (eternity) in which the shell is also winged, and appears to be of that kind in which the beak is elongated or produced; and if this conjecture be correct, it will appear that the Hindoos venerate indiscriminately, and probably as the same shell, each of those three varieties of Voluta Pyrum, which we have mentioned in another part of this description. Our limits will only permit us to observe that we believe we may add with some degree of certainty, that the reversed shell, the more immediate object of our present dissertation, may sometimes appear also: there is in the temple of _Visweswara_, at Benares, a sculpture of Surya, the Indian personification of the sun, seated in his chariot driven by Aruna, in which the _Chank Shell_ held in his right hand appears to have the aperture on the left side instead of the right, as in the usual growth of the shell. If this be not an oversight of the copyist (_Mr. Moor_) the circumstance deserves peculiar notice.

Footnote 16:

Vide Catalogue _Lev. Mus._ “Last day, July 12th, 1806, lot 77. _The reversed variety of the High Spired Turnip, from Madagascar_, extremely rare. £7. 7s.” p. 15.

CONCHOLOGY.

PLATE XXII.

VOLUTA PYRUM PEAR VOLUTE.

_Back View._ UNIVALVE.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Spiral; aperture without a beak, and somewhat effuse: pillar twisted or plaited, generally without lips or perforation.

**** FUSIFORM.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER AND SYNONYMS.

Shell obovate and slightly tailed with striated whorls on the spire: tip produced and glabrous: pillar with three plaits.

VOLUTA PYRUM: testa obovata subcaudata spiræ anfractibus striatis; apice producto glaberrimo, columella triplicata.—_Gmel. Syst. Nat. T. 1. p. 6. 3463. 102._

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In the preceding plate (plate 21) we have introduced to the attention of our readers a figure of that truly interesting rarity the reversed Voluta Pyrum, or Pear Volute, or as it is better known in the familiar language of the English collectors by the appellation of the High spired Turnip Shell. The figure there delineated exhibits a frontal view of this shell, in which the characteristic aperture of the mouth is displayed to advantage. And in order that nothing on our part may be wanting to complete our observations on this very valuable curiosity, we have been induced to insert in the present instance, a back or posterior view of the same shell.

We have already entered so fully into the history of this shell in the description of the former plate, as to render it, we may presume, superfluous to dwell upon this subject further in the present instance. Our figure of the reversed shell, as in the former plate, is accompanied by a posterior view of a shell of the usual growth, (covered with its natural epidermis) and by the assistance of this figure, the contrary direction of the spiral wreath in the reversed shell becomes at once too obviously striking to escape attention.

ORNITHOLOGY.

PLATE XXIII.

TANAGRA TRICOLOR TRICOLOURED TANAGER var β.

PASSERES.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Bill conic, pointed, notched, nearly triangular at the base, a little inclining at the tip.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER AND SYNONYMS.

Shining green, beneath yellowish green; wing coverts violet: frontlet and upper part of the back black.

_Var_ β. Crown and chin violet: neck, and sometimes rump, orange.

TANAGRA TRICOLOR: viridis splendens, subtus viridi-flavescens, tectricibus alarum violaceis, capirostro dorsoque superiore nigris uropygio fulvo. _Lath. Ind. Orn. 428. 29._

TANAGRA TRICOLOR β. Tangara cayanensis varia cyanocephalos. _Briss. Sup. p. 62. t. 4. f. 2._

TANAGRA TRICOLOR: viridis, capite, mento, jugulo et pectore pallide thalassinis capistro nigro, cervice collique lateribus viridi-aureis, gulæ macula magna dorsoque nigris, pectoris fascia cærulea, abdomine crissoque ex flavicante viridibus. _Gmel. T. 1. p. 2. 891._

TANGARA varié à tête verte de Cayenne.—_Buff. Pl. Enl. n. 33. f. 1._

β TANGARA varié à tête bleue de Cayenne.—_Buff. Pl. Enl. n. 33. f. 2._

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The history of this splendid species of Tanager is unknown to Naturalists: we are aware only, that independently of the varieties arising from its different states of plumage, there are two pretty distinct and accurately defined varieties, one of which has the head of a fine green, the other of a rich blue. Some authors consider these two birds as specifically different, while others are as well assured they are the same. Dr. Latham observes that these birds are, without doubt, the same, differing only in sex, but which of them is the male is not ascertained. Some of the French writers, among whom is Vieillot, express a different opinion, for they assure us neither the female or the young are known, and they further add, that in the Brazils this bird is common, while in Guiana it is rare. Vieillot once regarded them as distinct species, but has subsequently described them as the same. Both birds, according to Dr. Latham, are from Cayenne; we have seen both kinds from the Brazils.

The size of this bird is that of the house sparrow: the rump is usually green, but in the blue headed variety, is sometimes flavous, more or less inclined to orange.

ENTOMOLOGY.

PLATE XXIV.

PAPILIO THERSITES THERSITES BUTTERFLY.

LEPIDOPTERA.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Antennæ thicker towards the tip, and generally terminating in a knob: wings erect when at rest. Fly by day.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER AND SYNONYMS.

Wings tailed and yellow: border black: lower ones with yellow lunules.

PAPILIO THERSITES: alis caudatis flavis: limbo nigro, posticis lunulis flavis. _Fabr. Ent. Syst. T. 3. p. 1. 88._

We may venture to affirm, with every degree of certainty, that there is no figure of this very beautiful species, extant, in the work of any previous author. Fabricius described it as a new species, under the name of Papilio Thersites; his description refers to a specimen in the cabinet of Dr. Hunter, but he has omitted to insert his usual reference to the drawings of Mr. Jones, among which that specimen was delineated, and from which we are well aware the Fabrician description of the species is derived. It is from those drawings, also, that we have been enabled to determine the species with perfect accuracy.

The magnitude of this Papilio renders it an object of peculiar interest; it is one of the most conspicuous insects of its tribe, and in point of elegance cannot assuredly be considered inferior to any of its numerous species. In the plate accompanying this description, the Papilio is represented in its natural size: the whole disk is of a fine yellow colour, with a deep black border: the posterior wings are marked with a series of yellow lunules, and another of brilliant blue spots, composed of little shining dots, of which the brightest are in the centre. Beneath, the breast, abdomen, and wings, are yellow: margin of the anterior pair black with a yellow streak, and a black streak of spots on the lower pair.

ORNITHOLOGY.

PLATE XXV.

TROCHILUS ORNATUS TUFTED-NECK HUMMING BIRD.

ORDER PICÆ.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Bill subulate or awl-shaped; filiform, tubular at the tip, longer than the head: upper mandible forming a sheath for the lower. Tongue filiform, the two threads coalescing and tubular: feet formed for walking: tail composed of ten feathers in general.

** Bill straight.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER AND SYNONYMS.

Golden green, beneath glossy brown, crest rufous; and on each side, below the ears, a tuft of elongated rufous feathers with a green spot at the tip of each.

TROCHILUS ORNATUS: viridi aureus, subtus-nitente fuscus crista rufo: infra aures utrinque pennis elongatis rufis apice macula viridi.

TROCHILUS ORNATUS: viridi-aureus, subtus nitente-fuscus, fascia uropygio alba, crista (in mare) verticis et fasciculo pennarum infra aures utrinque rufo.—_Gmel. Linn. Syst. Nat. T. 1. p. 497. n. 58._

TROCHILUS ORNATUS: viridi-aureus subtus fusco-aureus, crista rufa abdomine infimo vittaque transversa uropygii albis, infra aures utrinque pennis 6 s. 7 elongatis rufis apice macula viridi.—_Lath. Ind. Orn. 318. 58._

Hupecol _Buff. Hist. Nat. des Ois. 6. p. 18._

Oiseau Mouche, dit Hupecol de Cayenne.—_Buff. Pl. enl. n. 640. f. 3._

TUFTED-NECKED HUMMING BIRD.—_Lath. Gen. Syn. 2 p. 784. 55._

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