Figs. 251 and 252. Cypræa zigzag (Linnæus).
The New Zealand Cowrie, of which we have spoken above, is nearly globular, of a uniform orange colour above, and white below; the teeth of the opening are of a bright orange. The shell is rare, and much sought after.
The Money Cowrie, Cypræa moneta (Figs. 253 and 254), is a little oval shell, depressed, flat below, with very thick edges and slightly waving. It is of a uniform yellowish white colour, sometimes citron-yellow above and white below. There are usually twelve teeth in the opening. It comes from the Indian Ocean, the Maldivian Isles, and the Atlantic Ocean.
Figs. 253 and 254. Cypræa moneta (Linnæus).
Fig. 255. Cypræa Madagascariensis (Gmel.). (1 and 2).
This shell, so common in collections, is gathered by the women on the shore of the Maldivian Isles, three days after the full moons and before the new moons; it is afterwards transported to Bengal, to India, and Africa, where, as we have already said, it is used by the negroes and other natives as money.