Fig. 227. Turbo marmoratus (Linnæus). Fig. 228. Turbo undulatus (Chemnitz).
The genus Turbo are very generally diffused, being found on every shore, where they cling to rocks beaten by the waves. About fifty species are known, some of them large shells, others very small. Turbo margaritaceus (Fig. 225) is large, thick, and weighty, round-bellied, and deeply furrowed; in colour it is yellow, or rust-coloured, marked by square brown spots. Turbo argyrostomus, the Silver-mouthed Turbo (Fig. 226), is still larger, with protecting spines on the top of its larger spiral. Turbo marmoratus (Linnæus), the Marbled Turbo (Fig. 227), is the largest shell in the group. It is marbled, green, white, and brown, outside, and superbly nacred within. The Gold-mouthed Turbo is so named from its nacre being of a rich golden yellow. The Wavy Turbo (T. undulatus), (Fig. 228), vulgarly known as the Australian Serpent's Skin. The shell is white, ornamented with longitudinal waving flexible lines of spots of green, or greenish-violet. Turbo imperialis (Fig. 229), from the Chinese seas, is green without, and brilliantly nacred within; it is vulgarly known as the paroquet.
Fig. 229. Turbo imperialis (Gmel.).
The Turbos are found in the North seas, in the Channel, and on the Atlantic coast. The animal is eaten in nearly all the sea-ports of the Channel.
Rotella Zealandica, from the Indian Ocean, whose shell, represented in Fig. 230, presents the most lively colours, forms one of a genus by no means numerous in species.
Fig. 230. Rotella
Zealandica.
Near to the Trochi and Turbos in the system are the Monodonta.
The Monodonta are elegantly-marked shells, belonging to the seas of warm countries. M. Australis (Fig. 231) is a native of Australian seas. M. labia (Fig. 232) is a small brown shell, with white spots, which is very common on the shores of the Mediterranean.