|
|
Wholesaler
Wholesaler Few specimens of C. rashleighana are known outside Philippines, so checking was not too difficult. Those in the Dautzenberg collection were graciously brought out by Dr. W. Adams from trays in their magnificent new museum in Brussels, Belgium. Two specimens were from Lifu and 2 from New Caledonia. These 4 specimens were all subadult so much so that positive identification was not possible. There was spotting on the columellar base of the larger specimen from each area. The general shape of 3 was that of our short fat variation and were probably C. rashleighana since 2 of them, even though subadult, also had a columellar callus. One was too young to identify by any criteria. All 4 were much smaller than our Philippine specimens. This visit convinced me that identification of an adult sea shell based on comparison to these 4 would be risky indeed.
The museum in Cardiff, Wales, was visited, since Melvill's type was deposited there. It was carefully studied and was typical C. rashleighana as I had come to know it. It was approximately 18mm in length. It was the same shape as our plump variation, with the same dorsal pattern. There was a heavy sharp columellar marginal callus. There were 5 small discrete brownish spots on the labial and 10 on the columellar base, extending more than half way to the aperture. There was no locality data. There were 2 others from Lifu Island and, believe it or not, 6 dredged subfossils from Philippines!
It should be noted that there was no consistent difference of number of teeth or other characteristics between the Pacific and Philippine C. rashleighana. I have been unable to note any constant difference between the count or character of the teeth of C. rashleighana and C. teres. This is in contrast to C. subteres which is specifically separated by its finer labial teeth, the sharp thin labial margin, and the more produced posterior extremity.
Just why Melvill failed to record the truly specific characteristics present on his type, and subsequently clearly illustrated, probably never will be known. Be that as it may, there was no longer doubt in my mind about the conchological characteristics of his C. rashleighana. The specimens in the British Museum further confirmed my convictions.
While in Cardiff, I also examined Melvill's types of Cypraea latior. I believe I can now properly place this sea shell. The types were in every characteristic exactly similar to the large ovate variation of C. teres which are found in Philippines - particularly on the reef at Fort Kamehameha, Oahu. Therefore my discussion in the Philippine Shell News January 1962 was in error. Cypraea latior Melvill should become a synonym of Cypraea teres Gmelin.
Wholesaler After having explained to the vendor the procedure of buffeting a shell and further explaining that this practice is dishonest and plain cheating, I acquired the shell for 20 cents. It just goes to show how, through dishonesty, money can be made in business even on shells.
Cypraea (Bernaya) teulerei Cazenavette, 1846, IS a rare shell. In fact for nearly 100 years it was a "lost" shell. But in the past month the shell has become available, in very limited quantities.
Phil Clover, Box 33, Div. 32, FPO, New York 09540, wrote saying, "In the past 50 years almost no specimens of C. teulerei have been found. Schilder mentions about 35 known specimens in private and museum collections. However, in March, 1969, an Arabian fisherman found 10 to 12 specimens in the sand at low tide in 3 to 10 feet of water at Museera Island off the southern Arabian coast, a very remote area. No doubt this accounts for its being 'lost' to the world for so long. Also this could account for the poor data available on its habitat. The shells are 1-3/4" to 2" in size with a cream colored base, many dark brown lateral spots and a black dorsal blotch and are real beauties. (See photo...). Anyone wishing one of these rare shells contact me at the above address."
Almost in the same mail a short note was received from Ormond McGill saying, in part, "Thanks for agreeing to mention C. teulerei. I have the shells on hand now. No quantity, of course, on this rare species. But I can provide one or two so you might mention it to Sean Raynon Sabado readers so any collectors interested can contact me at 581 Forest Avenue, Palo Alto, California 94301." Collecting data is available to purchasers.
Then Pat Burgess, of Honolulu, called saying he had "a couple" of C. teulerei available that he was selling for a friend, "a missionary from Arabia," and that if any one was interested they could contact him at 2502 Manoa Road, Honolulu, Philippines 96822. (See photo...).
So, for the million or more shell collectors in the world, there seems to be about a dozen specimens of this rare beauty available.
Probably nothing excites a dedicated shell collector more than being able to say, "And this shell is really rare. Only about 35 or 40 other collectors IN THE ENTIRE WORLD have specimens." Peter Dance, in his new book RARE SHELLS, states, "A shell may be 'rare' for two quite different reasons: it may be scarce in Nature; or scarce on the market." This leaves a third reason, a combination of the first two, unstated; i.e., abundant in nature; scarce on the market. The habitat of some shells simply have not been found.
wholesaler,clams raw,earing,trokka,pawa,decoration,shells necklace,shell craft,puka heishi,wholesaler
Wholesaler capis shells shell craft shells puka wallets shells shells pendants ornament capis shells shell necklace painted shell bracelet gifts heishe trokka capiz raw natural fashion jewelry shell crafts shell necklace capis shells.
wholesaler
Shell Jewellery
 
|
