[18]. A New Zealand specimen of this rare bird, lot 6286, sold for the sum of £2 10s. in the Leverian sale.
[19]. Wenteltrap, Wendeltrap, Rondom gaande trap, met een spil daar al de trappen in schroeven. Marin.
[20]. Vide Donovan’s British Shells, Vol. I. plate 28.
[21]. Serpula Linn. Vermicularus De Montf. Vermet Adanson. The animal of the Serpulæ, it may be added further, does not differ, according to Cuvier, from those of the Linnæan Genus Turbo, and consequently not from Scalaria of Lamarck and Cuvier, as must be concluded from their admission of Turbo Clathratus among the number of its species, in an arrangement founded on the organization of the animal, as well as its testaceous habitation. Cuvier himself observes that the animal of the Vermet, and also the opening (of the shell) resemble those of the Turbo, but that the whorls do not touch, and are in part irregularly curved like the tubes of the Serpulas.—Règne Animal T. 2. 419. And his classification further shews the analogy of these tribes of shells, since the animal of the Linnæan Turbo, the Vermets of Adanson, and Scalaria of Lamarck, are all of the same family, the Gastéropodas Pectinibranches of Cuvier.
[22]. Testa extus intusque nigra: lobo basis longiusculo. Animaux sans vertèbres. T. 6. p. 145.
[23]. Var. testâ albidâ; lobo basis abbreviato. Ibid.
[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.
[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.
[26]. Many of these are found on our own coasts. Vide Donovan’s British Shells, in which the figures and descriptions of a number of the species of these genera occur.