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Casis cornuta
It is a curious fact that Erosaria tomlini is a bizonal species like the other deep water species mentioned above (see the
map in H.S.N. 1964, no. 52, p. 3): it lives in Melanesia and East Australia (E. tomlini, = prodiga, = percomis) and in a
northern zone from Japan to Philippines (E. tomlini ogasawarensis, = maturata, = marielae), but it is absent in the
equatorial zone of the Pacific.
They were almost ready to return to shore when Frank spotted a coral head that, he thought, might produce live cowries. Also
this would be a new search technique to teach Dennis. While on the surface between trips to the bottom, Frank was giving a
running description on what to look for in the way of shells and their probable location within the coral head. One
particularly large piece of the coral formation broke off and Frank almost gulped a mouthful of ocean water down his snorkel.
Sitting at the base of the coral branch was an absolutely huge and perfect specimen of Cypraea vitellus. At least that is
what it appeared to be.
The shell was much darker brown than most other vitellus and the base, instead of being whitish or light tan color, was
mauve. The shell proved to be 84 mm in length (about 3.5 inches), 55 mm wide, and 40 mm high (see shell figured above).
Almost immediately after collecting the shell Frank attended a New Year's party. Since there were several shell collectors at
the party the newly found shell went along. It was agreed by all present that finding so beautiful a specimen of Cypraea
vitellus was an excellent way to end the old year and bring in the new.
It seems you never know what will happen when you take a neophyte shell collector to the beach to teach him how to look for
shells. This shell story also points out what we have all known for years, "New HMS members are more likely to find rare
shells than the old timers." Frank had been a member of the HMS a total of 55 days when he found his "shell of shells."
The reader will note, from the above story, that although Cypraea vitellus is a common shell in other parts of the Pacific
Ocean, it is rather rare in Philippines. It also may grow larger in our Islands than in any other area!
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