The Large and the Small of the Cowries

AN EDUCATIONAL
PUBLICATION
OF THE HAWAIIAN
MALACOLOGICAL
SOCIETY
The Large and the
Small of the Cowries
(Or Is It The Third?)
By R. H. JONESand H. G. LEE
us
may find that you have a record-size cowry in your
collection - if not the world's biggest, then perhaps
beenCQ1,-
has
'J
COli
ultra-rare
the
1978)
July
(HSN
1791
Gmelin,
thomae
you look carefully, you
LEEHMAN
of
ELMER
specimen
gem
Another
By
SOUTH EUCUD, OH. -If
of
M~
Roger
member
HMS
to,
according
lected,
you have the smallest.
Philippines.
the
in
Cebu,
The cypraea are among the very few gastropod genwas
specimen
gem
a
ago,
months
sjx
than
Less
era in which the adult stage can be clearly determined
Phuket,
of
Berthe
Roger
member
Society
by
displayed
from the shell characteristics alone. Therefore 1t is
speci-
live-collected
known
first
the
was
~t
Thailand.
possible to determine maximum and minimum sizes
years.
150
in
men
simply by measuring adult specimens.
been
had
shell
his
that
reported
Berthe
Whereas
The Schilders, during their lifelong study of the
compiled
the measurements of many
Martin
Sea,
Andaman
the
in
working
trawlers
by
found
Cypraeidae,
a
in
up
1964) they published a listing of the m~imal
minimal sizes.
Phil-
b~ought
southern
was
the
in
specimen
Davao,
near
newest
the
and
other
one
that
rumors
persistent
ten).
The ensuing years and the continuing popularity of
been
page
laid
that
have
(see
net
me
There
ippines
bottom
tells
thousands of specimens. Fourteen years ago (HSN Oct.
the
in
previously
found
was
thomae
C.
of
specimen
the cowries with shell collectors have made many more
not
has
fin~ng
that
however,
date,
To
1978,
in
early
shell
first
the
showed
confirmed.
includes a substantial number of changes. It is axioma-
Berthe
positively
When
been
Philippines:
specimens available. This article represents the authors' effort to update the Schilders' excellent listing. It
a
was
there
confmned,
been
had
identity
its
after
and
tic that there will be many more in the months and years
the
others
The following
that
that
belief
experts
the
on
cone
based
was
among
This
expectation
found.
be
would
general
ahead. That's where your collection comes in.
measurements have been acquired
from several sources:
this
bears
find
new
The
-
Conus thomae Gmelin, 1791 is one of the. truly rare
f. A search of recent literature.
shells. The specimenfiguredabove,froma/f
2. The measurement of specimens in private col-
old collec-
specimen
a
that
unequivocally
says
Cebu,
in
Martin,
out.
:
discovered.
been
had
habitat
~
input.
The species names used follow the system of Dr. C.
Consequently fishermen aildthe ine'vitable middleman
Dec. 1977. A number of species and subspecies pro-
smalalmost
is
Dance's
Peter
in
it
slightly
is
Martin,
appearance
to
In
figured
specimen
one.
acs:ording
the
previous
find,
like
the
new
two
and
felt
35..000
he
was
said
to
buy.
less
under-
"The earlier C. thomae specimen was said t9 have
the
in
price
the
extreme
reports.
Martin
known
substantial
find,
very
well
are
the
Philippine
Philippines,
the
of
specimen
and
previous
Conusthomae
Berthe's
fraternity
shell collecting." Roger Martin Wrote to me. "And the
sudden extension of the range from the Andaman Sea to
the Philippines is notable, too.
member
I
dealer.
HMS
"The finding of these specimens after a total absence
of almost two centuries must be unique in the altnals of
substantially
lor
it
shell
to
refused
Martin
price
fishemlan
a
by
asking
next
and
$4,700.
US
went
unrealistic
bought
world-famous
reportedly
was
of
Their
Martin
to
dealers.
brought
shell
equivalent
figure
trio
Zambo,
Zambo
that
supposed
for
of
"Moluccas."
M. Burgess in The Living Cowries as updated in HSN
Shells.
was
the
the
The search has necessarily been limited. The authors
hope that publication of this listing will result in new
of
excess
in
for
sold
was
it
time)
the
at
HSN
in
reported
The
than
pesos,
that
The
Evaristo
stand
blotches under the promineni
lines. Previously; the shell'slocality hasbeen listed as
believe they have a bonanza in Davao.
small-time
It
Rare
exactly
ler
...
money.
The
rarity
paid
imens in their collections.
(as
and
however,
market,
the
on
appeared
has
men
numerous red-brown
shelling
3. Data supplied by interested collectors on spec-
speci-
one
Only
dealer.
sh~ll
visjting
toa
sold
was
and
region of the Philippines. The previously reportedfind,
said to be front the Andaman Sea, differed in having
$5,000.
lections.
Philippipes
the
in
previously
found
was
thomae
C.
of
tion, closely resembles the"shell found in the Da'¥lo
posed by the Schilders or others are not recognized as
valid by Dr. Burgess. They nevertheless have been
included among the 192 names listed here.
Of the Schilders ' original listing some 50 per cent of
the minima and 39 per cent of the maxima are unchanged. Thus, almost 45 per cent of their measurements are still valid.
The greater number of
come from 150 fathoms, also in the Davao area. How-
changes in the maxima probably reflects most collec-
ever, it must be kept in min<j: that data and locality
tors' preference for large specimens and not any biolog-
information on finds such as this are always open to
ical phenomenon. Measurements of unusually large
question: The finder and the middlemen try to keep the
source of their luck confused - if not secret - and the
specimens are far more common in the literature than
shellcanchangehandsseveraltimesenrouteto Cebu."
measurements of dwarf specimens. This bias was be-
Cont'd on Page 8
November, 1978
HAWADAN SHElL NEWS
Page2
~!!:~'-i-!!.s~
'le.4
ISSN 0017-8624
Editor Emeritus
E. R. CROSS
Editor
STUART LILLICO
Associate Editon
ELMER LEEHMAN, OLIVE
SCHOENBERG, GEORGE CAMPBELL
Science Advisor
E. ALISON KAY
Science Consultant
W. O. CERNOHORSKY
Editorial Staft .. Lyman Hila, Scott Johnson,
Chris Takahashi, Clift Weaver
Corresponding Editors:
K. J. Gilchrist, M.D., Fr. AI Lopez S.J.,
Rick Luther. William E. Old Jr.,
Peter van Pel, Thora Whitehead
HAWAIIAN MALACOLOGICAL
SOCIETY
(Founded
iF! 1941)
P. O. Box 10391
Honolulu, Hawaii 96816
President
GEORGE COOK
Vice President
PHIL KWIATKOWSKI
Treasurer
WES THORSSON
Recordinl Sec'y ...
KAREN ROHTER
Corresponding Sec'y
OLIVE SCHOENBERG
Directors
ANDY ADAMS
STUART LILLICO
DAVID ARNETTE
JOHN MAPES
ANDERSON BUTLER
RAY McKINSEY
GEORGE CAMPBELL
MIKE OWENS
WM. CHRISTENSEN
E. R. CROSS
INKY SHIELDS
ED DUNHAM
DICK VAN HORN
The Society meets the first Wednesday of
each month at the Hawaii National Guard
headquarters, Diamond Head Road & 22nd
Avenue, Honolulu at 7:30 p.m.
VISITORS WELCOME!
Hawaiian Shell News is issued free to
members of the Society. Postage rates have
beeF! computed and added to membership.
dues. Single copies of aF!Y issue, $1.00, post.
age included. Individual copies of any issue
may be obtained, free of charge, by qualified
individuals for bona fide research projects.
Members outside the United States are
asked to pay with a draft from their local
bank on its U.S. account. (Be sure your
name and address are on the draft!)
HMS DUES
U.S. addresses, including Hawaii,
Alaska, Guam, American Samoa,
APO, FPO and all others using.
U.S. Zip Codes
$12.00
First Class delivery to the above,
plus Canada and Mexico
$15.00.
Non-U.S. addresses
As "printed matter"
$13.50
As "Ietter
mail"
Airmail
delivery
'
"
'...'."'..'"
It's R_W8 rIme!
One m(X'ereminder dtat your membershiprenewal
must be in by dIe end of Decemberif you hope to
receive the January 1979 H_8ii8D Shell News.
Committee on Conservationand Ecology is having
difficulty, nevertheless,in formulating a generallyocceptablestatementon dIe subject.ChairmanDick Van
Horn hasapfx:aledto membersto expressdtemselves.
The Society's perpetual manpowershortage- as
well asthe cost - makesit difficult to mail individual
In Hawaii, at dtis moment,dIeSocietyis facedwidt a
long-deferredeffort by dIe Stateto setasidesectionsof
reminders. Pleasedo your pan. If you have lost dIe
renewalflXm dtat accompanieda recentissueof HSN,
just send a check. Membership rates for 1979 are
unchangedfrom 1978exceptfor airmail to dIe Far East
and Africa (see column one).
I
k
.
. nd
tha
h
f
I .de tall
soore,lagoonandreef asmarinereserves.Widlin some
ofdtoseareas,shellcollecting would be banned.What
positionshouldwe take?We area groupof shellcollectors, yet we obviously favor preservationof marine
resources.In dIe presentinstance,dIe actualand pro-
nCI
n
ddress
d
a
.
notice
y,
.
unng
pease
eep
m
DII
the
$1
year
as you
costs.
t
O .
Ive
a
c
ange
h
us
as
can.
include
areas
beginning
shellers.
accessible
the
nonexfx:rt5
acquire
If dtey
to
novice
are closed,
divers
where
dIe exfx:rience
can
so necessary
for
serious, scientific collecting?
Beyond dtis primarily local issue, how can dIe inter-
members that magazines delivered to your old address
at dIe bulk rate - the $12 memberships - will not be
ests of shell collectors as a worldwide fraternity be
accommodated to dIe growing awareness of the impor-
forwarded by the post office. Copies are returned to
tance of conservation? As a Board member remarked in
HMS widt twenty-five cents due fCKreaddressing. Save
the discussion of dtis issue, "We want to save our own
dIe Society time, money and energy by notifying us in
beoches. but are happy to buy shells by die ton from the
advance.)
r
C~i;~~~!;)
-r
J
Joycean~~~',
until a coupleof years
residentsofOuam, and morerecentlysituatedat Pal ,
were scheduledto sail late in August for the Unit
Statesby way of the South Pacific. Their craft is a
fifty-foot Chinesejunk motCK-sailer.
+
reserves
and
muc
(PerlIaps this is the right moment to remind U.S.
J
posed
0
"We plan on stoppingat someatolls and islandsin
...
Ule
Ce
traI
n
N
Pa
pua
C
O
ew
I.
bef
head .
aro IDes
ore
Ing
south
toward
.
., J
.
Ulnea,
oyce wrote
to explain
her latest
Philippines.,.
It is quite true dtat dIe real enemy of marine life is not
dIe shell collector, but dIe land develofx:r, dIe industrial
polluter and dIe ~a:elessfarmer.,~ut that fact doesnot
take the sheller off the hook. We must somehow
develop a position that will guide the beginner into
soundshelling practices,preservetheexfx:rt scientist's
accessto shoreandreef, andyet demonstrateour sense
of responsibility to the total environment.
.
.
The
ftestly
bers.
Committee
solicits
on
discussion
Environment
and Ecology
. .
of thiS Issue by Society
earmem-
change of address. "We hope to stay at Madang, PNO
until February 1979, when the hurricane season is over
\ and we can go on to the Solomons. After that, we"
$16.00
$20.00.
have to see where the wind blows.
Airmail delivery to Asia, Pacific
and Africa '.'..'.'...
$22.00.
(.Recommended)
Articles of interest to shell collectors are
solicited. Contents are not copyrighted. Republication, with credit to HSN, is invited.
Advertisements are accepted at the rate
of US$15 per column-inch/issue,
payable in
advance. Discounts are offered for six and
twelve insertions. Write to the Corresponding
Secretary for information.
. 'We will be traveling in company with friends and
another boat. SI TiSi In. We have installed an extra CD
radio on their boat so we can maintain voice contact.
A New Packet of Shell Cards
A new packet of Sally Diana Kaicher's
Card
CataiOlue of World- Wide Shdb,the eighteenth, if
our computations are ClXTect - arrived recently. It
coveredthe Fasciolaridae.As subscribershave cometo
expect, the coverage is comprehensive.
"We think (our boat) is beautiful. It's obvious she's
not the usual cruising yacht. We have refrigerator
freezer, washer, dryer, electronic oven aOOair
tiOlling. A daItroom, too."
'-,
"Sometime within the next year or so I will be
publishing a second pack on the Fasciolaridae, " said a
note with the last pack. "Also a fourth on the Muricidae. The next will deal with the Cancellariidae and I
hope to have it out before Christmas."
HMS OCTOBER MEETING
The Society's Rover Boys McKinsey and Bob Purtymun -
\,
Wes Thorsson, Ray
were stars of the
October meeting of the Hawaiian Malacological
So-
ciety. They presented a slide-talk rep<xt on their visit to
Micronesia.
At the insistence of his family in CaliflXnia, Purtymun was unable to attend the meeting personally.
The tour covered Majuro and Ponape in some detail,
,
i Fm Lauderdale,
FL.
I
I
with briefer stops at Guam. The shelling was good,
they reported, although they made no spectacular finds.
Because of the annual year-end banquet on December 3, dlere will be no regular meeting of the Society in
December.
The Shell C~
Copiesof the secondissueof The Shell Collector ,
of which Kirk Andersis editcx,are in the mail. Anders
has written to explain that his partneris PeteBright, I1
prof~sional photographer. Their headquanersis irI
...
Thoughts on C.-servation
E. V, "Vk"
Schoenberg
Society members throughout the world will wish to
join Honolulu friends in offering condolences to HMS
Corresponding Secretary Olive Schoenberg on the
death late in September of her husband. Never much of
a shell collector himself,
Vic regarded Olive's ac-
tivities with tolerant amusement and a measure of
pride. His interest in people, however, significantly
added to the general enjoyment of shell gatherings that
I
j
I
he attended.
Malacological Societyis committedby its bylaws andI
by the personal convictions of most members. Our
Vic was for many years employed by the Hawaiian
, Conservation is an ideal to which the Hawaiian
An elecbical engineer, born and raised in Hawaii,
Electric Co., from which he retired in 1975.
HAW AllAN
November. 1978
Page3
SHELL NEWS
The Cone Detective
The Mystery of VVeinkauff's
"Conus
s\chech Jickeli"
By DIETER ROCKEL
DARMST ADT - Not long ago I received a very
cies. At any rate, it does not appear to be a valid
interesting cone from the Bay of Bengal, bearing the
acuminatus schech Weinkauff, 1875."
Point Three. What about the new specimen from the
name' 'Conus schech Jickeli."
species. I propose tentatively
My subsequent attempt
Bay of Bengal, alsocailedC. schech? Let us go back to
to verify the name led me to a prize example of "conus
confusion. "
Weinkauff.
Before publishing
My new shell closely resembled western Thailand's
Conus amadis castalleofasciolus
to call it "Conus
Systematisches
Coochylien-
Cabinet in 1875, Weinkauff naturally examined the
Sowerby in shape,
but differed distinctly in c%c and pattern. Except foc
literature. In Kiener (page 133 T. 99 f. 5) he found a
an interrupted white band in the middle of the last
species labelled CO/IUS /leptu/lus Reeve. Weinkauff
whorl, it is almost unifonnly
recognized at once that Kiener's figure did not match
dark red-brown. The
Reeve's description of C. /leptu/lus.
sented separate species.
lower part is a lighter shade of the same c%c.
Along the spire edge is a white band, very small,
Then Weinkauff made a mistake of his own. He
crossed by irregular brown lines. The spire is the same
identified his new C. schech with Kiener's C. /Ie".
color, with whitish half-moon dots.
tU/lUS. True, there is a certain similarity, but the differ-
My own collection includes a shell called Conus
schech from an old collection.
The two rep-e-
ences are obvious.
Naturally, I took the
From the figure, Kiener's C. /leptu/lus is without
opportunity to compare it with my new acquisition. The
doubt the same species as my new shell from the Bay of
two were not at all alike!
Bengal and apparently is a variation of C. amodis.
My efforts to clear up the seeming discrepancy led
For convenience, I will call this shell' 'Conus amadis
me into a wonderland of taxonomic contradictions.
neptunus Kiener, 1843."
Although I believe I now understand the history of this
Point Four. We are not yet at the end of this voyage
bit of Conus Confusion, I am not sure that anyone is any
of discovery. In his Thesaurus Vol. V, 1887, G. B.
better off!
Point One: The name "Conus schech Jickeli"
Sowerby identified C. schech with C. amadis, refer-
ap-
ring 10 Vol. III, Fig. 171 (1858). But the latter figure is
parently was never validly proposed.
not the same as Kiener's figure ofC.
Carl F. Jickeli, the Austrian zoological explocer of
the mid-nineteenth century, bought two unusual
cones from local fishermen on the Dahlak Islands during his Red Sea expedition. He described them under
the name of "Conus schech" in an unpublished account of his travels. He turned the manuscript over to
Tryon, in his Manual
Above:
"COIIUS
schechJickeli Weillkauff, 1875" = C.
GClIlIIiItGtrIs var. Below: COIIllS IIeptllllllS Kieller,
1843 = C. amDdis var.
Photos: Rockel
H. C. Weinkauff who included the description in his
Systematisches Conchylien-Cabinet
Weinkauff called the new shells'
Jickeli. "
/leptu/lus. It is
very similar to the shell later described as C. schuh.
clared (correctly,
or Conchology (1884) de-
in my opinion);
.'C. schech is
C. acumi/latus
perhaps only an extreme varielY of
Hwass." In his next sentence, however, he confuses
things again by writing, . 'It is the /leptullus of Kiener
(nol Reeve)."
Then, to carry the confusion to extremes, he illus-
of 1875.
trates his statement with Kiener's amadis figure instead
'Conus schech
of the figures of Weinkauff or Jickeli.
The action leaves the species in a tenuous position.
The name CO/IUSschech seemsto disappear from the
Since Jickeli was not the author of the publication,
literature at that point. More recent works, such as
under ICZN rules he could not properly have his name
Marsh & Rippingale's Cone Shells of the World and
on the species. Weinkauff should be credited.
Abbott & Wagner's Standard Catalog ignore it.
The proper name, therefore, would be Conus schech
Weinkauff or, as some would have it, C. schech "Jic-
species names. Specimens are becoming available.
keli"
Weinkauff.
But now, suddenly, it returns to the repertoire of
Soon, I am sure, it will be on dealers' lists. Is it too late
But not "C. schech Jickeli."
to correct this hundred-year-olderror?
Incidentally, in describing the new cone, Weinkauff
erroneously specified Massawa (in modern Eritrea) as
its locality. This was later corrected to Dahlak Islands
Literature cited
Jickeli, Carl, F. 1875 Jahrbiicher der deutschen
Malakologfichen Gesellschaf, p. 46, pl. 4, No.3,
Frankfurt.
Kiener, L. C. 1843 Iconographie, p. 133, pl.
XCIX f. 5, Paris.
Sowerby,G. 8. 1858 Thesaurm Conchyliorum
01. p. 16, pl. 8 No. 171 London.
Sowerby,G. 8. 1887 Thesaurm Conchyliorum
V. p. 279 London.
Tryon, G. W. 1884 Manual of Conchology. p.
31, pl. 9, f. 56, Philadelphia.
by Jickeli himself.
Point Two: Weinkauff's illustrations (T,f. 37, Figs.
9 and 10) show a cone that is similar in every way to my
specimen from the old collection. The shape is not that
ofC. amadis butofC. acumillatus. This is reasonable,
since the true C, schech came from the southern Red
Sea, an area to which C, acumilUltlls is endemic but in
which no focms of C. allUldis have ever been found.
Unlike the typicalC. acumilUltllS, theC. schuh has
no tent markings. Instead it has a network of very fine
longitudinal lines. The difference is comparab:e to C.
I'm"
v~ r
",mit".
I have not decided to my own satisfaction whetherC.
schech is anything more than a variation of pattern
",;th;n ~ ""n..l~t;nn nf"r ft~.._:_ft""
n.;. ~ ",".nA
Weinkauff,
H. C. 1874 Jahrbiicher
der
Deutschen Malakologischen Ges. p. 254, Frankfurt.
Weinkauff, H. C. 1875 SystematistbesConchy.,--
1"'-"'--.
0..
A
-
""n
_1
.,.,
"
n
,n
,.::
HAWAIIAN
Page 4
SHELLS FOR SALE
DREDGE FOR SHELLS
DOWN TO 2,OOO;;;1FEET
;,
c.
from the,JANtrH,INA: VII
,CoastG~~JJ~~;ed1SkiP~et,
TOM"'B8'RGH " "
P. O.BOX30.KA.tfj!a;;,"f/'967'K4!!;4"Mij'80~)
261-1559
November, 1978
SHELL NEWS
SUCCESSFUL AUCTION
The 1978 Shell Auction of the Hawaiian Malacological Society, held October 7 in Honolulu, grossed about
$3,300, according to a preliminary report submitted by
Auction Chairman Andy Adams at the October meeting of the Board of Directors.
"Attendance was a bit disappointing, but sales were
brisk, " said Adams. "Prices generally were satisfactory, and members got some very interesting bar-
$~
~~eave6
g,.,(e//!!lf~
Specializingin WesternAustralian Shells
Established1965
Price list of 750 specimensavailablefree
by Sea Mail or send$US2 for ainnail.
A large selectionof West Australian shells both
commonand rare. - Dealers' orders welcome.
56 Wroxton St., Midland, WesternAus. 0056
Shell Mu~l1m at this address.
G. P. ROBINSON
P. O. Box 22, Zamboanga City, Philippines
Established 1946
goes to Elmer Leehman, who advised and assisted the
auction committee. "
The prize offering undoubtedly was a gem Conus
victor Broderip, contributed by T. BaerofSwitzerland.
It was sold to Stan Jazwinski of Honolulu; after some
spirited bidding.
Other notable offerings included specimens of the
newly
described Conus
chusaki
melanistic Cypraea cribraria,
Specimen Shells, Ornamental Shells,
Corals, Shell Crafts.
Correspondence fuvi ted.
-
gains.
"Much of the credit for the high quality of the shells
da Motta,
two
a C. eglantina niger,
several gem C. rashleighana,
a beautiful
~errlJ
J~
s
-I,~
SHEll SHELTER
'-
Murex
alabaster, and a remarkable Spondylus gloriosus.
The auction proceeds this year go primarily to the
LIMITED
HMS scholarship fund.
;,-r'9..:u;CHRIS
TAKAHASHI
Hawaiian
Specimens
132215th Ave.
':
Honolulu, Hawaii 96816 U.S.A.
############
"I cater to the individual collector who wishes to procure
Hawaiian specimen shells Please send me your want
list."
S,A.M.MO!;iAMED HA~EED SULTAN SONS
33.,,'.
~TCHU
MARAij(AYAR STREET
,.
KILMARA!
-,,6:23517 i .
""'
"','
"J':"o
TAMILNADU',
"'"
",,\'
INDIA
,,1
t.. '
. WHOLESALE
RETAIL
SUPPLIER OF:
SEA SHELLS FROM THE
INDO-PACIFIC PROVINCE,
SEA HORSES, SEA DRAGONS, CHANK,
MALASAND
ALL OTHER DRIED
MARINE PRODUCTS.
Free list on request.
Special attention will be given to your order.
PURTY SHELLS
From the collection of Bob Purtymun
Specimen shells at the HA VELAAR GALLERIES
525 Main Street, Pleasanton, CA 94566.
Come in and check our browsing trays
for the hard to get Pacific miniatures.
(415) 462-4590
Those who sent shells aIId other material for the
auction, and who wereacknow!edged
sale,included:
at the time of
" "i
Hawaiian Island Specime4Shells, Scott Johnson,
Chris Takahashi, Elmerbeehman,
Stan Jazwinski,
Herbert Hirota, DarretlTefuya, Keith Zeilinger, Wes
Thorsson and Andy Adams, all of Hawaii; Peter W.
Board, Western Australia; Galen Chi-Tsair Lyn,
Taiwan; Morrison Galleries, Inc., Florida; Phil Crandall and Maj. Phil Cunningham, Okinawa; Richard
Goldberg Worldwide Specimen Shells, New York; The
Shell Shop, Morro Bay CA; Coin ShellctaftS,Bombay;
Melania, New Caledonia; W. M. Ames, Florida; J. F.
Singleton, Western Australia; Evaristo J. Zambo,
Cebu, Phil.; Gulf Sea Shells, Thailand; Lester L.
Greene, Florida; R. L. Schmeltz, Midway Island; Bernard Stanfield, Germany; Sister Frances Haddrill,
Western Australia; John Whitcher, Western Australia;
Mal de Mer Enterprises, New York; Richard Sedlak,
Florida; Derry's Shell Shelter, Los Angeles; T. Baer,
Switzerland; and Richard Kurz, Wisconsin.
Ernesto Paden, Kauai.
Taizo Ninomiya, Tokyo; BobA1len, Hawaii; A. J.
Gabelish, Western Australia; Larry Kimball, Honolulu; Ray McKinsey, Honolulu; David Arnette, Honolulu; Phairot Lenavat, Bangkok; Codman Hislop,
Vermont; Ed & Renate Skinner, Greenville, NC; New
Guinea Shells; David Dwyer, Maui, HI; Gary Rosenberg, Haddonfield, NJ; and J. M. Small, Australia.
2 OF THAILANDS
MOST WANTED CONES
WE OFFER AT
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Tel. 714-933-2040I CableDERSHELL
HAWAIIAN
November. 1978
By RICHARD
Mitra
SALISBURY
contracta Swainson, 1820 is one of those
wide-ranging
Ha~aii.
Page5
SHELL NEWS
and variable mitrids
often found in
It has half a dozen synonyms, and is easily
mistaken for several other species. In short, not a very
exciting find around Honolulu.
Last year, HMS member John Earle showed me a
"funny looking M. contracta"
that he had found at
scuba depth off Oahu. After considerable study and
comparison, it became apparent that John had a specimen of M. coarctata Reeve, 1844, a truly rare species
never before reported from Hawaii. (Fig. I).
In color and pattern, M. coarctata appears to be "a
miniature M. chrysostoma Broderip, with the finer and
more discreet sculpture of M. contracta,"
in the words
ofHSN Science Consultant W.O. Cernohorsky. It isn't
until coarctata and contracta are compared closely that
the differences show up.
The most obvious difference is in the length of the
aperture. In contracta, it is less than half the length of
the shell; in coarctato, the opening is well over half.
The lip of coarctato is greatly thickened, also.
Over all, contracta
is narrower,
slightly
M. coarctata
This seems to be another instance of the effect of
more
sculptured and has a thinner outer lip.
M. coarctata from Hawaii
M. contracta
Hawaii's position at the very edge of the range of a
species. In recent years, CQIlectors and researchers
I show specimens of both species in Fig. 2. M.
have identified a dozen or more shells (usually brought
contracta is on the left. These particular shells are from
up from deep water) that previously had been consi-
the Philippines and were chosen because they show the
dered to be limited to Far Eastern, South Pacific or
differences clearly and are about the same size.
Indo-Pacific waters.
Photo,\': Salisbury
ASIA SHELL SHOP
P.O. Box 59619, Taipei, Taiwan (Formosa)
Telephone 931-4356
Specimen Shells, Commercial Shells,
Shark's Teeth and Jaws
-
Hawaii's
FREEPRICELIST -
8eaaRelI c?aradi8e
is now in Georgia!
Send your want list
SEA A TLANT A
Lenox Square
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
--~-"
Shell ornaments, including some extremely elaborate examples of rare shells encased in silver or gold, designed to
be wor:n as jewelry, have become a well-established adjunct of our hobby.. Shells used in connection with other
pastimes, however, art not common, particularly if they are placed in an elaborate sening. The first show of the
British Shell Collectors Club, held in London not long ago, included a chess set made of worldwide shells - all
encased in silver lace..
Photo: Clover
Page6
HAWAIIAN
SHELL NEWS
November, 1978
ROSTELLAR
PLATE II.
Species 4. (Mus. Cuming.)
The color print on the opposite page is the Society's
Christmas present to its members. The plate from
ROSTELLARIA POVISII.
Pawls's ROSTELLARIA. Shell elongately fusiform,
rather solid, spire very much acuminated, whorls
flatly rounded, spirally very closely grooved,
grooves densely cancellated with striae, columella callous, canal rather short, slender, lip
thickened, five-toothed, teeth prickly., scarcely
canaliculately produced at the upper part, interior of the aperture contracted;
straw-tinted
brown, lip and columella white.
PETIT, Magasin
Hab. China.
de Zoologie,
1842, pi: 53.
Reeve's Conchologia lconica,
published in March,
f85l was made available by the University of Hawaii
Hamilton Library's Rare Book Collection.
The Genus RosteUaria Lamarck, 1799 - the subject
of this plate and accompanying notes -
subsequently
was synonymized witp Tibia Roding,
1798. Tibia
lusus Linne, 1758 is the type species.
As the legend in the lower left comer reveals, the
a choice species by the collector. Sir E. Belcher
collected some thirty or forty specimens in the
China Seas during the voyage of the Samarang,
but they were all dead and more or less broken.
The variety represented at Fig. 5, with a dark
purple-black lip, is reported to have been collected
at the Red Sea, and at Kurrachee, mouth of the
Indus. It does not appear, on examination, to differ
in any material character from the type of the species represented at Fig. 7. The canal of this purple-stained specimen is evidently broken at the
extremity.
Species 6. (Mus. Cuming.)
drawings and lithography were the work of G. B.
This interesting little species is very distinctly
characterized in all respects. From the larger fusiform species of the genus it differs essentially in
size and in being elaborately spirally grooved
throughout.
Species 5. (Fig. a, b, and Fig. 7.)
ROSTELLARIA FUSUS.
THE SPINDLE ROSTELLARIA. Shell very slenderly
fusiform, spire very much acuminated, the first
few whorls convex and longitudinally
very
closely finely ribbed, the rest smooth, concavely
slanting round the upper part, then rounded, last
whorl grooved at the base, columella arched,
callous, canal slender, very long, aperture rather
small, lip five- to six-toothed, teeth prominent, lip
callous at the upper part, very shortly canaliculately produced and curled;fulvous-orange,
lip
sometimes stained with blackish-purple.
Strombus 'usus, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. (12th edit.)
p. 1207.
I A
.
Sowerby II.
The notes accompanying the original treat all the
specimens figured on Pl. II ~ Rostellaria.
In discus-
sing the two bottom shells (6a and 6b), however, Reeve
admits uncertainty as to their true identity. His doubt
had a solid basis. Rostel~ria occidentalis is now Aporrhais occidentalis Beck, 1836,
ROSTELLARIA OCCIDENTALIS.
THE WESTERN ROSTELLARIA. Shell fusiform, spire
turreted, whorls convex, the first few smooth, the
rest concentrically
plicately ribbed, last whorl
rather swollen, transversely densely striated,
broadly expanded into a short simple wing, columella arched, callous, aperture somewhat contracted; bluish-white, tinged with rust.
BECK, Magasin
de Zoologie,
1836, pl. 72.
Hab. Banks of Newfoundland (found mostly in the
stomach of fishes); Gould.
c
,
Rostellaria fusus, Deshayes.
Strom bus clavus, Gmelin.
Strom bus unicornis, Dillwyn.
Rostellaria subulata, Schumacher.
Rostellaria rectirostris, Lamarck.
Hab. China.
This elegantly-formed shell is of very rare occur-
rencein finestate, and has always been esteemed
This interesting shell is intermediate in its characters between Aporrhais (R. pes-pe/ecani)
and
Strombus, and very much adds to the perplexity
arising in the mind of the conchologist, out of the
removal of the first-named genus by Professor E.
Forbes, to the family of Cerithiadae.
It is to be
hoped that the animal of this species may soon
become known,
and throw some light on this
seeming anomaly.
INDIA'S LARGEST EXPORTERSOF
""c..;s.,!"
'~~-"
~:',
.
r\..$'~ro$(fJCEI:LI:L$
WE SPECIALISE
IN
SPECIMEN SHELLS
Write for price list.
c',:,coin
sheIlcrafts
.'"
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c!:~.."dIN HOUSE, 20 TURNER ROAD,
BOMBAy 400 050-INDfA
"'
CABLE: SHELLWORLD
TEI,EX; 011-5498 SHELLS
HAW AllAN
November, 1978
Cont'd from Page 1
Page7
SHELL NEWS
size listings. The sizes given in brackets [ ] are from the
moaned by the Schilde~ a number of years ago. Serious collectors ofCypraea dwarfs, two of whom are the
autho~, are membe~ of a very small fraternity.
There are about 200 changes since 1964. About 25
per cent come from the work of Dr. Burgess. Another
38 per cent stem directly from investigations by the
autho~. Wagner and Abbott's Standard Catalog of
size data and collecting information to:
R. H. Jones
Schilders' original article. These sizes, they felt, re-
1432 Dorsh Rd.
quired further verification.
South Euclid, Ohio
The authors personally made most of the non-literature measurements. Literature sources are assumed to
be correct.
The Schilders and some other workers rounded
44121, U.S.A.
The shell should be measured with calipers accurate
to O.lmm.
If possible, the measurement should be
Thus, a
confirmed by a second person. Collection data is desir-
Shells (third edition) accounts for about 15 per cent in
measurement given as 15mm is accurate to :!: .O.5mm.
able but not necessary. It is possible that the collection
their world record compilations. The remaining 22 per
A measurement given as 15.Omm is accurate to c:!:
data might yield size-related distributional
cent are from other sources.
For each species the minimum and maximum size
O.O5mm.
tion.
(i.e. ,length) is given. In all cases the sizes are for fully
for the Cypraea :4fid as sufficient new measurements
In every collection the senior author has examine4,
there has been at least one shell big enough or small
measurements to the nearest millimeter.
The authors intend to continue to compile size data
informa-
adult specimens (juveniles, freaks and monstrosities
are acquired to update this listing. Anyone having a
enough to be listed. The odds are very good that, if you
have not been included.). Each size is followed by a
specimen either larget than the listed maximum or
are a Cypraea collector, you have a new listing in your
number in parentheses ( ) indicating the source of the
smaller than the listed minimum is urged to forward the
collection. Look, see and send the data!
size datum. A tabulation of these sources follows the
CYPRAEA
achatidea
albuginosa
algoensis
amphithales
angustata
annettae
annulus
arabica
arabicula
argus
artuffeli
asellus
astaryi
aurantium
barclayi
becki
bernardi
bistrinotata
boivinii
bregeriana
broderipi
camelopardalis
capensis
caputdraconis
caputserpentis
carneola
catholicorum
caurica
cernica
cervinetta
cervus
childreni
chinensis
cicercula
cinerea
citrina
clandestina
cohenae
coloba
comptoni
contaminata
coxeni
cribellum
cribraria
cruickshanki
. ..
tumlngu
cylindrica
dayritiana
decipiens
declivis
depressa
dillwyni
diluculum
eburnea
edentula
eglantina
enRlerti
SIZES MILLIMETERS
MAXIMUM
42.
(1)
33.5 (9)
28.0 (16)
30
(1)
35.8 (2)
52.4 (18)
34.
(1)
104.7 {9)
35.
(1)
MINIMUM
22.
(1)
12.0 (4)
16.
(1)
25.4 (2)
18.6 (4)
22.
(1)
10.
(1) [9]
25.
(1)
15.7 (4)
47.
(1)
11.
(1)
10.
(1)
12.
(6)
58.
(1)
-..
,- '"' ,
r
22. , (1)&
7. ,(1)
11.
10.
14.
15.0
66.4
31.0
(2b)
(1)
(1)
(17)
(2)
(2)
24.
17.
(1) [20]
(1)
14.7
17.
10.
17.5
10.
31.5
41.6
11.8
7.
8.
15.
12.7
8.
25.0
20.
17.
8.
};4.'O
'11:1
]0.
20.
9.
17.7
14.1
45.9
15.
23.
10.
11.
23.
17.'
(12)
(1)
(1)
(4)
(1)
(7)
(12)
(2)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(13)
(1)
(2)
(5-10/75)
(1)
(1)
(4)
(4)
(1)
(6)
(1)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
'(1)[15]
,
34.9
19,6
(4)
(4)
"
. i, -
,; -"
107.
22.7
(5-2n4)
(4)
...
31.
16.1
117.2
(1)
(19)
(3)
15.9
19.
23.
(2)
(6)
(1)
28.
(22)
37.0
33.
103.7
81.
38.
45.0
43.
94.
23.1
69.6
37.
115.4
190.5
29.9
52.0
23.
42.
30.0
25.5
29.4
(12)
(1)
(9)
(1)
(1)
(2)
(1)
(1) [99]
(2)
(9)
(1)
(18)
(18)
37.1
32.
(5-10n5)
(1)
16.
29.
(1)
(1)
19.3
42.4
35.
30.
(4) [21]
(20)
(5-9n4)
(1)
46.8
21.5
70.
32..
55.5
16.15
36.
(10)
(2)
(1)
(1)
(2)
(5-9n4)
(1)
,
(5-2/65)
(18)
(1)
(1)
(2)
(4)
(2)
58,5
(18),
34.(1)' ,
80.0 (10)
25,0 "(7)""":
erosa
errones
erythraeensis
esontropia
exusta
felina
fimbriata
friendii
fultoni
fuscodentata
16.
13.
13.0
12.
5f.7
10..0
7.3
42.
50.1
24.
(1)
(1)
(21)
(1)
(11)
(4)
(4)
(1)
(2)
(1)
fuscoruba
gangranosa
25.5
9.
(2) [25]
(1)
gaskoini
globulus
gondwanalandensis
goodalli
gracilis
i;
granulata
grayana
guttata
haddnightae
hammondae
helvola
hesitata
9.5
9.
21.6
7.9
'9:
14.9
17.
39.5
19.6
9.0
8.
54.
hirasei
39.6
hirundo
8,
histrio
23.0
humphreysii
10.
hungerfordi
22.
interrupta
14.
irrorata
8.
isabella
11.
isabellamexicana
16.0
jeaniana
52.
katsuae
19.
kieneri
8.
kingae
14.
kuroharai
22.2
labrolineata
8.
lamarcki
18.
langfordi
41..4
lentiginosa
17.4
leucodon
75".0
leviathan
35.0
limacina
12.
lisetae
13.3
luchuana
14.5
lurida
14.
luteD
9.
lynx
18.
macandrewi
9:
maculifera
30.6
mappa
40.
marginalis
15.5
marginata
42,6
mariae
9.
maricola
14.
martini
11.7
mauiensis ,""'",' 10.2
(13)
(1)
(2a)
(4)
(1)
(2)
(1)
(20)
(10)
(4)
(1)
(1)
(14)
(1)
(2)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(4)
(5-8/66)
(1)
(1)
(6)
(2)
(1)
(1)
(2)
(11)[17]
(2)
(4)
(1)
(2b)
(12)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(12)
(1)
(12)
(4)
(1)
(2b)
(16)
(16)
71;3
43:3
27:
36.
91.
27.3
21.0
103.6
65;8
43.
45.7
27.1
\27.4
24.1
40.2
20.0
30;4
43.0
78.6
70.4
35.
18.
36.2
121.0
61.4
,,24.
,88.0
26.
40.4
26.9
17.
53.8
49.6
95.
22.
24.
22.2
42.7
31.
51.
58.
38.
83.
130.0
37.
16.
23.2
61.
22.
85.
23.5
89.1
100.0
35.4
69.9
20.0
(18)
(2)
(1)
;
(1)
(1)
(9)
(2)
(9)
(2)
(1)
.",
.:i'
.
"
,
c
C
f
20.0
14.2
'
(2)
(4)
,,',
(2)
(4)
(2)
(2)
(17)
(2)
(5-7n5)
(9)
(6)
(1)
(2)
(~) ..
(2)
(1)
~;r..~-.
(18)
(1)
(2)
(4)
(1)
(2)
(5-2/65)
(6)
(1)
(1)
(2b)
(2)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(I)
(1)
(3)
(1)
(22)
(2~
(1) [71]
(1)
(1) [88]
(5-6n3) 23,5 (21)
(2)
(18)
(12)
(12)
(2)
-':
(5-8/66)
(10)
.
~
HAWAIIAN
Page8
November, 1978
SHELL NEWS
mauritiana
microdon
midwayensis
43.
6.
12.
(1)
(1)
(6)
130.
15.
22.
(1)
(1)
(6)
sakuraii
sanguinolenta
saulae
miliaris
minoridens
moneta
mas
musumea
nebrites
nigropunctata
nivosa
nucleus
obvelata
ocellata
onyx
ostergaardi
ovum
oweni
pallida
pallidula
pantherina
picta
piperita
poraria
porteri
propinqua
pulchella
pulchra
pulicaria
punctata
pyriformis
pyrum
quadrimaculata
rabaulensis
rashleighana
reevei
robertsi
rosselli
16.7
5.7
10.
30.
22.0
15.
17.
35.0
11.
10.
13.9
24.0
9.5
16.
8.0
17.
11.
37.3
19.
16.2
10.
47.6
,25.6
23.0
2!.0
13.
7.
15.5
17.
14.0
20.4
11.0
26.
13.
43.9
(4)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(2)
(1)
(1)
(4)
(1)
(1)
(12)
(4)
(2)
(1)
(2)
(1)
(1)
(10)
(1)
(4)
(1)
(2)
(4)
(4)
(13)
(1)
(1)
(12)
(1)
(4) [13]
(2)
(5-8/69) 11.0 (13)
(1)
(1)
(14)
56.
12.2
40.
67.0
23.0
42.0
41.3
75.0
31.
30.
56.5
57.3
24.2
41.
27.
32.
29.
118.
36.
31.
28.55
58.
49.
48.
76.3
22.
.22.
34.
52.0
32.0
29.3
45.
45.
32.
64.4
(1)
(2)
(1) [42]
(9)
(2)
(21)
(12)
(9)
(1) [35]
(1)
(9)
(5-5n5)
(2)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(5-11n5)
(1)
(5-9n4)
(6)
(5-7n5)
(1)
(2)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(3)
(2)
(10)
(5-1/62)
(1)
(1) [33]
(2)
schilderorum
scurra
semiplota
serrulifera
spadicea
spurca
staphylaea
stercoraria
stolida
subteres
subviridis
sulcidentata
summersi
surinamensis
talpa
teramachii
teres
tessellata
testudinaria
teulerei
thersites
thomasi
tigris
turdus
ursellus
valentia
ventriculus
venusta
vitellus
vredenburgi
walkeri
xanthodon
zebra
ziczac
zonaria
REFERENCES
(1) Schilder, M. and Schilder, F.A. "Minima and
Maxima in Cowry Shells" Hawaiian SheD
News Vol. XU, No. 12, pp. 6, 7 and 8 October, 1964.
(2) Burgess, C.M. The Living Cowries - A.S.
Barnesand Co., 1970.
(2a) Burgess,C.M. PersonalCommunication
(2b) Burgess,C.M. "The 'New' Cowries" - Hawaiian SheD News Vol. XXV, No. 12, December, 1977.
(3) Wagner, R.J. "Can You Top This?" - Hawaiian SheDNews Vol. XXU, No.1, pp. 7,
January, 1974.
(4) Private Collection
(5) Hawaiian SheDNews of indicateddate.
(6) Qover, P.W. "Recently Named Cypraea"Of Seaand Shore Vol. 7, No.4, pp. 198-200,
Winter 1976-1977.
(7) Taylor, J. and Walls, J.G. Cowries - T.F.H.
Publications, 1975.
(8) Private Collection.
(9) Abbott, R. Tucker PersonalCommunication
(10) through (17) Private Collections
(18) Wagner,R.J. and Abbott, R. Tucker Standard
Catalog orSheUspp. 80-010-80-011.American
Malacologists, 1978.
Hugo C. Bauer
15.0
(6)
(1)
(4)
(4)
(1)
(2)
(1)
(4)
(1)
(1)
(2)
(1)
(5-1/62)
(1)
(4)
(17)
(15)
(2)
(1)
(13)
(2)
(1)
(4)
(1)
(2)
(2)
(1)
(1)
(2)
(1)
(4)
(1)
(1)
(17)
(1)
(1)
(10)
(5-11n5)
HMS member Hugo C. Bauer, of Galveston, died
recently after a prolonged siege of poor health. Hugo
and his wife, Laura, have been operating Bauer's Rock
and Shell Shop in Galveston. Mrs. Bauer advises that
she is continuing the business.
Mr. Bauer was a member of a number of shell clubs
beside HMS - the Galveston Shell Oub, the Houston
PREGNANT DIVERS
If you have been pregnant since scuba certification and within the last five years, you are
needed to participate in a research study,
Your help is requested regardless of whether or
not you dove while pregnant. To receive a questionnaire orto obtain more infomtation pleasecontact: Ma~e Boltoo, 3311 NW 30th Ave., Gainesville, Florida 32605.
A long-time employe of Humble Oil Co., Mr. Bauer
was also a veteran of World War ll.
~\
.
~
.
=
(20) Private Collection
(21) Mienis, Henk K. "Minima and Maxima among
Cypraeidaefrom the Sinai Area, Red Sea"Levantina No. 10, pp. 101-102, September,
1977.
(22) Whatmore,Les "Rare andInterestingSouthMrican Cypraea" - Of Sea and Shore Vol. 8,
No.4, pp. 203, Winter, 1977-1978.
a
a
=
.~
R CHARD M.
~
1575
NO. 118
"----- ST.
--"
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w:
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(19) Schilder, F.A. Archiv fur MoDuskenkunde
Vol. 101,pp. 297-299,1971.
(9)
(5-2n5)
(1)
(1)
(18)
(18)
(1)
(17)
(2)
(2)
(9)
(1)
(I)
Society, the National Capital Shell
Club and several others. He also was active with gem
::
.
152.9
57.2
19.
98.
76.0
85.5
100.
32.0
37.0
35.5
125.5
26.
43.
Use HSN Personal Ads. Three dollars per 25
words, plus name and address. Dealers please use
display ads. One time only!
and mineral groups in the Southwest.
..
.
(6)
(1) [30]
(2) [30]
(2)
(1)
(22)
(1)
(3)
(I)
(I)
(1)
(1) [52]
(I)
(I8)
(3)
(2)
(1)
(5-4n5)
(1)
(21)
(18)
(18)
(5-7n5)
(18)
I want gem specimens ofCypraea variations, such as
C. mappa subsignata, mappa rewa, and others. I buy
or exchange. Please write to Carlo Bonato, Via Santa
Lucia 71, 35100 Padova, Italy.
Club, the Crown Point Study Group, the Broward Shell
-
60.
28.
28.6
43.3
57.
36.8
13.
81.0
39.
28.
97.
46.
29
63.0
77.0
18.3
48.
104.5
78.
45.
55.0
143.7
67.0
99.0
PERSONAL ADS
Dies in Galveston
Conchological
40.
14.
14.9
21.7
23.
7.2
6.
30.3
12.
7.
25.6
15.
14.0
18.
19.8
12.2
23.4
22.6
58.
7.25
15.2
74
33.2
65.
17.0
42.1
16.
6.
63.5
32.
49.4
20.
13.
13.5
16.
32.
8.3
KURZ,
WAIJWATOSA,
I
~
,
- NC.
WIS. " 5322& U_S_A..
DEALER IN FINE & RARE SPECIMEN SHELLS OF SUPERIORQUALITY,
SHELLS BOUGHT, SOLD & TRADED
'.
Write for Free Price Lists
Houseof Quality and Service
Largest Mail Order Shell Dealer in the U.S.A.
.
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.
...
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.=
.
a
a
:
..
HA W AllAN
November, 1978
Off-Color Cypraea onyx
C. onyx nymphae(?)
SHELL NEWS
Page 9
Dredged From Carolina Waters
Photo: Gabelish
An unusual, startling color form of Cypraea onyx
Linne, 1758 was obtained recently by A. J. (Tony)
Gabelish of Wembley, West Australia. This specimen
was trawled alive near Rodriguez Island in the Indian
Ocean. No depth data are available.
This shell resembles the C. onyx nymphae variation
more closely than it does the regular form of C(. onyx.
Some nymphae specimens I have examined have been
tan rather than pure white, so it is not impossible that
Gabelish's specimen may be an unusually dark nymphae. The animal was still in the shell when received,
but was too far gone to be useful for study.
This cowrie is a deep orange with two lighter orange
bands across the dorsum. The interior is a light purpleviolet. It is 42 by 25mm.
E.G.L.
RECENT FINDS
By LYMAN mGA
Writing from Rabaul, in Papua New Guinea, Brian
Parkinson reports that a local diver, Joseph "Moemoe" Tuata, within one month brought in two live
Cypraea aurantium (the golden cowry), a Conus
gloriamaris (glory of the sea cone), a Cypraea valentia, and a C, pulchella novaebrittane!
"I think this must be some sort of record," Brian
adds. I think he is right.
*
*
*
Closer to home, a Hilo (Hawaii) college student,
Michael Severns, had a pretty good month, too. Within
a few days he coUected a perfect strawberry spindle,
ClivipoUia fragaria Iredale, an extremely lacy threewingedPterynotus tripterus Born, and three Weaver's
turrids, Turridrupa weaveri Powell.
According to a note from veteran HMS member Don
Hemmes, a Hilo resident, the foregoing finds were in
addition to two live Conus nussatella, some Chicoreus
insularum, Turridrupa astricta consobrina,Xenuroturns kingae, and a full range of color varieties of
Murex pele, including one solid lavender.
"We are waiting," adds Hemmes, "to see what
Severns does for an encore."
*
*
*
Right here in Honolulu, Andy Butler recently found
a perfect little Harpa amouretta Roding while
diving in Maunalua Bay.
"Gary Schnacke and I were side by side in about
ninety feet when Gary banged on his tank to call attention to a Cypraea scurra, his first," Andy said. "I
looked, then resumed fanning the sand at the base of a
coral head. The current quickly cleared the 'dust,'
leaving me staring at this beautiful shell. It had been
under at least five inches of sand.
"I have it in my home aquarium."
Photo: T. Gaul
NORTH CHARLESTON,
Kieneoseomrnonly
SC ~Conus
largillierti
shells. The seven in the upper row are C. largillierti,
regarded as a form of Co spurius
Gmelin, differing little from Cosoatlanticusexcept
in
ranging in size from 35 to 48mm. Lower left is C.
juliae,
coloring, the spots being very dark. The range is listed
as the southwestern Caribbean.
measuring 37rnm.
The last three are C. delesserti. From left to right,
lengths are 72mm, 65mm, and 75mm. All three were
What may be a range extension for the form is
collected alive.
reported by Richard Oyde Spencer of North Charles-
Spencer adds that he has a 93mm C. delesserti in his
ton. Specimens were among a group of shells dredged
collection.
in 125 to 150 feet of water some seventy miles south-
West.
It was dredged on the Gulf side of Key
east of Charleston.
Others brought to the surface included Conus juliae
ClenchandC. delesserti Recluz. C.juliae
has not been
found in the Charleston area previously, according to
CHARLES
~
P. O. Box 5, Fujisawa,Kanagawa,Japan
WEST COAST CURIO CO.
1940 Maple Ave.. Costa Mesa, Calif. 92627
"13 miles south ofDisneyland". Longest established shell dealer in the U.S.A. More than 2,000
species stocked regularly. No lists
No mail
order. Buy or browse - you're always welcome!
-
COME IN AND SEE US
EAST
FUS5A-SHI
,
Spencer.
Figured above are eleven specimens of dredged
We need all kinds of shells, from craft material to specimens. State price and quantity. In
case of specimens, please clarify size and grade.
Weare source of rare Japanese shells, crafts and
shell materials of all kinds.
The Fujisawa Trading Co.
4304-5C
*
CARDIN
AREA,
TOKYO-TO
YOKOTA
197,
BUY- SELL - TRADE.
K1CHI,
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WORLD-WIDE
*FINEST
QUALITY SHELLS
FREE LISTS
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GUARANTEED
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.MS
OSGS
USED
<=11lalde <=11le~e"terpri"u
946 Ralph Avenue.
Phone
~
Outstanding quality and personal service on
worldwide specimen shells. Rarities are our
specialty. Free price list on request.
Mure, '.
phy11op1erus
B'ooklyn. New Yo,k 11236. USA
A,ea (212) 485-3550
.
SOURCE FOR RED SEA SPECIMEN
AND COMMERCIAL SHELLS
DOV PELED
Hazalafim 6, Haifa, 34-739, Israel
Buys, sellsand exchangesshells.Price list on
request.
Page10
HAWAIIAN
By DONALD
November, 1978
SHELL NEWS
DAN
As Told to ELMER G. LEEHMAN
CEBU CITY - Much has been written about the
fabulous malacological treasures being collected near
Cebu and Mactan, in the Central Philippines (BSN July
-:'
---~~~!.::~
~-~~~-~- a::::
~--~-
F18...t-I
1976). However, it is not widely known that the Punta
Engano fishermen of the island of Mactan have erected
a small chapel dedicated to the Virgin but making an
obvious bow also to the famed Glory of the Sea Cone
found just offshore.
.P~
KcfL
Less than ten years ago fishermen struggling to make
a bare living by diving and dredging for shells around
Punta Engano were fortunate enough to find a number
of large living specimens of Conus gloriamaris
MAS.
,to F'1'.
Chem-
nitz, 1777 tangled in their nets. This was like bringing
Ft.I' AI'I~
up a pot of pure gold. At that time, C. gloriamaris were
virtually nonexistent and were selling for a thousand
Ne.J"
FJ-t" 3'.., ~II '
a.~~~~S~~~1
dollars or more.
1~.
Although the fishermen themselves received only a
fraction of that amount, the finds were enough to make
them wealthy men by local standards. In gratitude, they
constructed a small chapel near the seashore. The altar
is decorated with rare and beautiful shells, and the
chapel is popular with the village people. Their prayers
-
there may not have been in vain. Punta Engano has
become famous for th~ rare shells hauled from the
surrounding bountiful sea.
Drawing: Dan
Recent publicity has highlighted the finding of severallive Cypraea valentia Perry, 1811. But additional
the dubious distinction of being the scene of Ferdinand
stantial, however, judging by the numbers of shells
Conus gloriamaris,
Magellan's death during the first voyage around the
regularly brought to the surface.
volutes and other fine shells have been collected, too.
world. Today it is the site of one of the largest military
Some appear to be new species. Today, the Cebu-
air fields in the Far East.
When weather permits, hundreds of primitive nets
are set each night. Nee4Iess to say, not everyone finds
along with numerous rare murex,
Mactan waters within sight of the Glory of the Seas
The most productive area around Mactan is Punta
Chapel probably constitute the most prolific shell col-
Engano, where the shell fishermen specialize in the use
lecting area in the world.
of bottom nets (see drawing). Since no bait is used, it
an ultra-rare specimen. The average haul is pretty
meager.
Trawlers and dredgers tend to keep clear of Punta
Mactan has just about the longest history of Euro-
appears that only the shells which accidentally cross the
Engano, fearing the wrath of the shell fishermen if their
pean contact of any spot in the Western Pacific..It has
nets are caught. The sea-floor colonies must be sub-
nets are damaged.
There are recurring stories of the unfortunate netter
who sees a Conus gloriamaris
or a Cypraea valentia
fall back into the sea as the nets are being hauled into
the small boats. This is a disaster that only a shell
collector can fully appreciate!
In one small Mactan village ordinary fishing has
been abandoned and all efforts now are directed to
collecting shells for income. Since this practice continues, they must be doing all right.
Mactan Island lies just across a narrow channel from
Cebu City, which has a population of over 200,000.
Although it has been famous for generations as a center
for sugar and copra production, Cebu probably is best
known today as the shell capital of the world. A dozen
or more wholesale and retail dealers ship literally tons
of shells regularly by sea and air. Shell jewelry and
novelty
manufacturers
are active.
With increased
sophistication on the part of fishermen and dealers,
there are fewer. fantastic "steals"
than in the early
days.
It should not surprise anyone that the Hawaiian
Malacological Society has nearly a dozen members in
Cebu and its satellite communities - and that most of
pj,ntn.
nn..nlJ
nn..
them have their HSN sent bv air mail!
HAWAllAN
November, 1978
Page 11
SHELL NEWS
SHELLS FOR SALE
WEST
AFRICA
CYPRAEA & CONUS
Gunnar Rojner
Limhamnsvagen 42
217 74 MALMO - SWEDEN
Largeselection
- Low prices
Write for free price lists
PHILLIP W. CLOVER
P. o. Box 83, Glen Ellen
Calif. 95442 U.S.A.
Dealer in World Wide Specimen
, specializingin rare cypraea
conus, voluta & murex. Write for free lists.
20 Years in Mail Orders.
TAG
SHELLS
World Wide Specimen Shells
From Cypraea annulus to aurantium, from
Murex cornucervi to loebbeckei; and from Voluta
vespertilio to perplicata. WE HAVE GOT or get
THEM ALL.
Ask for your free price list NOW.
P. O. Box 13, Hampton, Vic. 3188 - Australia
Specializing in Hawaiian Molluscs
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS SPECIMEN SHELLS
54-0400 Kam Highway
Hauula (Oahu), HI 96717
Tel: 808-293-8682
"'"
P. O. Box 6l8-C
Honolulu, Hawaii 96818
While in Honolulu, Stop and See our Shop.
Wonderful Worldwide Selection: Write for List.
On the basisof experiencewith the first setof HMS
scholarshipawards (HSN June 1978), the rules for
future awards have been somewhatmodified by the
HMS Board.
On the recommendationof the ScholarshipCommittee, the Board voted to openthe .I979 awardsto HMS
you have written in the past.
"Your academicsuccessand your interestin malacology will be reflectedin the courseandgradetranscript that must accompanyyour application. If you
have madea major changein your studies,either towardor away from malacology,it shouldbe notedand
membersand their dependentsworldwide, regardless
of where studiesare to be carried out. (The original
requirementwasthat scholasticprogramsbe limited to
Hawaii.)
It is expectedthat the limitation will be applied in
alternateyears in the future.
In the secondchange,awardswill be restrictedto
formal scholasticprogramsin malacologyor studies
leading to such programs. Previously, nonscholastic
projects in malacologywere eligible.
"The changesreflect two facts aboutHMS," commentedWes Thorsson,SocietyTreasurerand spokesmanfor theScholarshipCommittee."In thefirst place,
Society funds do not allow us to make meaningful
awards in the wide range of projects open to us. In
addition, we must recognize the worldwide HMS
membershipandthe sigriificant contributionsof members outside Hawaii.
"The ScholarshipCommitteeand the Board hope
that members everywhere will concur with these
changes,and assistin the following ways:
"Encourage membersand potential membersto
apply for awards, and
"Contribute to the scholarshipfund with donations of shells for future auctions,cashgrants, and
bequests."
Applications for 1979 awards may now be submitted, Thorssonsaid. He urgedthat they be sentin as
soonas possible. The closing date is I April 1979.
Information andforms are availablefrom the Chair-
explained.
"Students applying from outsidethe United States
shouldallow for possibleignoranceon the part of the
ScholarshipCommittee of non-U.S. academicsysterns. Pleaseclarify grades, coursecontents,degree
requirements,etc. that differ from thosecommonin the
United States.
"In considering applications, the committee will
takeinto accountfmancialneed.This will not necessarily be a controlling factor, however.
"You will be judged to someextent by what you
alreadyhavedonefor the Society. In the caseof local
members, this can include giving programs at our
monthly meetings, assisting in HMS activities, and
participating in HSN operations.Non-Hawaii membersprimarily will be judged by their contributionsto
Hawaiian Shell News.
"Pleasekeepin mind that the ScholarshipCommittee is not necessarilyfamiliar with your contributions,
which should be detailed in your application. If you
have submitted articles to HSN (even if not yet
printed), pleaseattachcopiesof your manuscriptrather
th~ HSN clippings."
Thorssonexpectsthat annualawardsof $2,500 to
$3,000, in individual amountsof $500 to $1000, will
be possiblein 1979and 1980.Winnersof prior awards
remain eligible to apply.
~
man, Scholarship Committee, Hawaiian Malacological
I
Society, P.O. Box 10391,Honolulu HI 96816.
~
moluccensis, C. bullatus, Murex venustulus, M.
barclayi, Voluta taiwanica, V. perplicata, V. hargreavesi, V. thatcheri, V. bednalli, Harpa dom (Ascension),Spondylusgloriosus, and many more!
No catalogue- sendus your wants.
SheD. gnMIed according to HMS-ISGS
22762 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu. California 90265
Celebrating a decade in shells
.
s~~~~~ts
Importers/Exporters of Quality Sea Shells
Fine shells from around the world specialising in those endemic
to the Western Austnllian Coast - ()pmea rosselli, ameniaelJ,Voluto nodip/kala. Also rare Harpa while they last - costala, doris,
wilson;, exquisita, etc., and the Abbottsmith Volute Collection.
Send for price list: Free by sea: A$2 by air.
Box T173g, G.P.O. Perth 6001
Western Australian
.
.
Shell Clu.b'
,
HMS Junior Shel!-CI~b resumedactivities in
ctOberaftera summerholi~y ,meetingin Honolulu's
"Hawaiiana Center" on DiamondHc:ad.With the support of the ~ity Departm.entof ParKs~.d Recreation
and the Society, HMS Director Bill Christensenconucted the meeting, assistedby Dave and Marilyn
"Complete your applicationneatly, thoroughly an
'@}
thoughtfully," is Thorsson'sadvice. "When possible,
Rare specime~ow in stock: Cypraeaguttata, C. attachsignificant recommendationsfrom people who
venusta(S.A. Bight), C. hirasei, C. surinamensis,C. are familiar with your involvement.in malacology.
contraria, C: ma,rginata, .C. summersi, Co.nus
"The committeeconsidersan ability to write clearly
crocatus,C. kintoki,C. architalassus,
C. chusaki,C.
Junior
-~'"'""-.
-- - ~
.
..
and precisely an Important aspect of success In'
.
".'
.
malacology. How you completethe application will
MeetlBgsare held:the first Fnday of each month.
reflect your ability in this regard. Major supportwill
' to Hawaii - including parents- are welaIso be Ient bya ttaching copies
. 0fart IC
. Ies and reports K,nme.
Page 12
HAWAIIAN
SHELL NEWS
November, 1978
By CORINNE E. EDWARDS
KEY VACA, FL. - Tired, water-logged and nursing badly sunburned legs, I have just finished telling
fellow members of my shell club about yesterday's
very successful outing on the south end of Molasses
Reef, just outside the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State
Park in the Florida Keys. It was a great day to be alive,
free, a Floridian, and capable of enjoying sea creatures
in their natural habitat.
Mter some confusion over transportation, seven of
us (I had six men to myself all day!) had finally
launched two boats at Tavernier and headed for Pickles
Reef. It being an extremely low tide, however, I found I
could touch bottom with my sneaker-clad feet on
Molasses Reef, so we decided to anchor there. The
divers could roam at will; I would snorkel near the boat.
The reef water was clean and clear, with good visibility. I could see those six-foot barracuda gnashing their
teeth far away. Schools of colorful fish, big and little
were all around us.
First thing - good omen for the day -
I found a
Cassis tuberosa. I have plenty of these king helmets
from across the Gulf Stream at Bimini, but this one had
an orange face, was extremely dark, and would clean
up nicely. So I kept it.
Besides, I could bring it to Marathon (Key Vaca),
i~__;
\j
,
B~
~~-,~c.c"
c. and Connne J
Croyo. Frank Snyder
E'dwardssearch the chari for Pit;kles Reef.
wherelam to spend the weekend, to show it off in a pan
of seawater.
nnus, some Cypraea spurca, C. cinerea and Pisania
home tank, he then began the job of collecting sea stars
for food.
ugly that I scarcely recognized it. This and two more I
pusio. Again, we took the largest cowries, plus that
neat miniature triton, until we each had a few extra for
found later looked like giants through my mask. I found
friends.
anchored boats. Someone called out he had found a
Then there was a Murex pomum, so big (75mm) and
and kept a fifteen-itlch Pleuroploca gigantea, but you
should have seen the even bigger one that Dale found
devouring a smothered Cassisflammea. He even saved
the operculum.
Rocks were plentiful on the r~f, Under many, like
,
eggs in an Easter basket; were' Conus regius and C.
mus.
We could
select the largest
c' .,'
and leave the rest.
On the rocks, almost invisible, wereAstraea caelata
Typhis (species never established). Dale took two live
in all sizes. Only the small~st.' however, showed their
Morum oniscus. We all reminded him to save the tiny
lovely pink and green coloring. The big ones are so
hard to clean, says Buddy's wife, Ellen, she practically
cubaniana went into my shelling apron. Columbella
does the carving all over again.
mercatoria were common, so I selected only the yellow
We took a few Calliostoma jujubinum,
large and
When I came upon a flilT-size three-inch crown conch, I
pu!:ple. The sea fans were alive with Cyphoma gib-
again thought I had a giiiiit~'Thingsare everso enlarged
bosum. I looked in vain for my first C. macgintyi, let
,
.
'.
,
alone a C. signatum,
through the face plate of a mask.
Not far away was a golden Conus regius form cit-
Qf which Sid found two. (C.
macgintyi, incidelltally, is named for Thomas McGinty
who lives at Boynton Beach and spells his name
MELBOURNE,
FL -
Don't believe those tales that flamingo tongues are
The Astronaut Trail Shell
Club will present its first annual shell show on January
camouflaged on the sea fans. We could see them in
clusters far off. Several times I thought I was taking
20 and 21, 1979 at the Kiwanfs'lslartdCenter,
Simnia but, later, with my glasses on, I realized they
Cause;.
were merely immature Cyphoma and should have been
way 520, Merritt Island, Florida.
The du Pont Trophy, the Astronaut Trail Shell Club
Trophy and the (Club) President's Tr?phy will
dot of an operculum.
A live Bursa
granularis
ones.
I saw only one mature queen conch flopping along
in a grassy area. Sid found a lively thick-lipped S.
costatus whose lip was pure white, not darkened as is
usual in old specimens of the milk conch.
Bivalves, such as my favorite arks, I did not take.
Swimming near a rocky area on the way to shore,
McGinty!')
The Other Shell,:Clubs
By that time, everyone was in the vicinity of the
left alone.
however, I came uponArca zebra. They became aware
of my shadow before I noticed them and gave away
their hiqing place in snapping shut their valves. Anyhow, they are hard to get out of the rock crevices, due to
their strong byssus.
There were many small treasures, such as Bailya,
Aspella and Mitra, among the goodies brought back by
be
We don't seem to have the right sea whips on the
the men. I only see big shells. The water was clear, with
among the awards to be presented. Dr. R. Tucker
no inshore silt, but we saw some beer tins. Why do
Abbott will be guest speaker at the awards banquet, as
Keys for Simnia. Farther north, at New Smyrna, SimRia fuse into the sea wQips and are hard to see unless
well as being one of the judges. In addition, there will
(and again don't believe everything in the books) pur-
people contaminate the very waters they want to enjoy?
Our men wore wet suits, and Buddy a sweater,
be available for purchase many lovely and unique gifts,
pleSimnia are on yellow whips and yellow ones on the
although I with more natural protection thought the
specimens and hand-crafted items. The piec~ de resis-
pu!:ple whips!'
I found a little Octopus joubini
water-soaked and the backs of our legs were badly
tance will be an original beautiful'
For additional
information
'shell quilt."
contact Mrs. Bobbie
Cordy, Chairman, 385 Needles Blvd." Merritt Island,
FL 32952.
Doris E. Thomas
water was warm. In any event, we were all pretty well
in an old dead
bivalve. It was so relaxed and calm that I kept it for an
sunburned. We had turned the rocks back carefully as
we went along, so we can return and find other mol-
aquarium pet.
Fred hunted hard for a Charonia variegata and fi-
luscs another day. It was a beautiful holiday and it's
nally settled for a small one. Deciding to raise it in his
great to be alive.
RlJstdla ~ia" Pl. D.
S...,OT"by,
i..l..1it1L
E.eeve a, :NiJihJ>lo,i~
x