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Monggo shell
It will be seen by those who compare this list of fourteen species with that given by Schilder that seven species are
recorded from the Tubuai Islands for the first time. It brings the number of species known from this area to seventeen, the
species known previously from the islands and not found by my collectors being Cypraea talpa L., C. tigris L., and C.
(Lyncina) lynx L.
It should be mentioned that a specimen of C. mauritiana L. was seen in a small private collection on Tubuai, which the owner
said was collected on Raevavae, it being unknown on Tubuai. Other informants, however, told my collector Dick Sixberry that
this species has been carried to the Tubuai Islands by sailors on the inter-island trading schooners, probably from the
Marquesas.
The collections from which the above information is taken were made during the time of the most unfavorable weather, and
storms prevented collecting on many days of the expedition's stay.
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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