download pdf

2 34 American Seashells
the last whorl. Outer lip turned in as the varix is formed. Color brighter.
Posterior canal longer. Common in the West Indies; intertidal.
Cantharus cancellarins Conrad Cancellate Cantharus
West coast of Florida to Texas and Yucatan.
Similar to C. tinctiis, but with a lighter shell, higher spire, and with sharp,
spiral threads and narrow, axial ribs which cross to make a beaded and can-
cellate sculpturing. Posterior siphonal canal absent or weak. Varix very
weak. Moderately common in shallow water.
Genus Macron H. and A. Adams 1853
Macroji lividus A. Adams Livid Macron
Monterey, California, to Lower California.
Plate 24X
% to I inch in length, half as wide, strong, with 5 whorls which are
covered with a thick, felt-like, dark-brown periostracum. Shell yellowish
to bluish white. Outer lip sharp, strong, and near its base bearing a small,
spiral thread. Columella strongly concave and white. Upper end of aperture
narrow, with a small, short channel and with a white, tooth-like callus on
the parietal wall. Siphonal canal short and slightly twisted. Base of shell
with a half dozen incised spiral lines. Operculum chitinous, brown, thick,
oval and with the nucleus at one end. Very common under stones at low
tide.
Family MELONGENIDAE
Genus Melongena Schumacher 18 17
{Galeodes)
Melongena corona Gmelin Common Crown Conch
Florida, the Gulf States and A4exico.
Figure 52
2 to 4 inches in length, very variable in size, color, shape and production
of spines. Dirty-cream with wide, spiral bands of brown, purplish brown
or dark bluish black. Pure white "albinos" are infrequent. Shoulder and
base of shell with i, 2, 3 or 4 rows of semi-tubular spines which may point
upward or horizontally. Numerous varieties have been named which do
not even warrant subspecific standing: minor Sowerby (dwarf); estephomenos
Melville (dwarf and narrow); altispira Pilsbry and Vanatta (long and
narrow); bispinosa Philippi (2 rows of spines); insp'mata Richards spineless
shoulder); and jnartiniana Philippi. A very common species in Florida.
Used extensively in the shellcraft industry.