VOL. IX No. 6 APRIL, 1961 NEW SERIES NO. 16 Page 2 HAWAIIAN 8:

in Hawaii. Most local collectors say they are all juveniles of sumatrensis, as the local form of Conus vexillum is Offlcial Publication of tho called. No one has ever found an adult Hawaiian Malçcologiu Society specimen. They all grow up to be suma- 2777 KalalMua Avenua, Honolulu IS. Hawdi, U.S.A. trensis. Another problem; if he can be induced to spend some time on it, is OFFICERS whether Conus lividus with a red . - is Conus sanguinolentus Quoy & Gaimard. Prmtdaa ...... CUFTON S. WEAVER A live Strombus hawaiiensis Pilsbry Mrs. Harrison kept a so-called sanguin- was collected last month by Reggie Gage and Vic. President ...... JAMES W. ANORVS olentus alive in her aquarium for several Lockwood Albright, a visiting collector weeks. The red gradually changed to Tremurer ...... MRS. GERTRUDE ANDRUS from Encino, California. The shell was black while the animal was apparently alive collected in water less than knee deep in Adsf. Trewurer ...... OONALD con CELDERN and healthy, and when it died it was a black sand and rubble close to the shore line on Recording Secretary ... MRS. HAROLD M. BAKER animaled lividus. No microscopic exami- a beach on northern Oahu, which Reggie nation of the soft parts of the two has Cor. Secretary ..... MRS. ELIZABETH HARRISON refuses to name specifically until he has been made that we are aware of. searched the surrounding area for more Dr. Rehder really has a busy summer PUBLICATION COMMITTEE like it. The find was made following a planned. The newly organized National Ca- period of storm and high water, which Karl W. GreeaeOlive Schoenberg pitol Shell Club, of which he is president, apparently had washed it in from deeper Spencer W. Tinker will be host to the 1961 A. M. U. convention water. So far as known this is the first and OfficerÃat listed above. June 20 to 24. The Pacific Division will recorded instance of the finding of a live meet at Santa Barbara, June 28 to July 1, specimen of this since the HSN first Issued monthly and mailed to all re ular mem- if he should attend, and the Hawaiian Shell bers. Admembershi fHov. to dct.) $4.00. started publication in 1952. The shell and B airmail, wherever Cf 8. ostage applies, Fair dates, which he hopes to attend, are the animal still in it, have been forwarded d.00. lmm6dia.h members of a regtblaf mem- July 1 to 9. Then to the Bishop Museum to Dr. R. Tucker Abbott, at the Academy ber's family may join for $1 .OO but are not en- where he will spend the rest of his time (Kled to the Hawaiian Shell News. of Natural Sciences at Philadelphia. The in Honolulu. First he plans an inventory decision to send the shell to Dr. Abbott Items of interest to shell collectors are solic- of all the various collections of the Bishop was largely based on his discussion of ited for publication in the Shell News. Dead- Museum, and the area covered. Then as line 90th of month preceeding publication. Strombus hawaiiensis in the issue of Indo- time allows, classifying and arranging the Pacific Molluaca recently devoted to Strom- collections in the new cases the Museum bus. In this study, he placed S. hawaiiensis has added. with S. iredalei, as subspecies of S. vomer. Dr. Abbott will take in the 10th Pacific His closing remark on S. hawaiiensis was LUCKY HONOLULU Science Congress, and being editor in "The soft parts have not been examined". LUCKY SHELL CLUB chief of Indo-Pacific , will check This need no longer be true thanks to on Harold Jewell's collection from the Line Reggie's contribution. LUCKY SCIENTISTS Islands to see how many, if any, new Strom- It is interesting to note that Dr. Abbott bus he can find. is of the opinion that S. vomer Roding is Three of the malacological wizards of And all three of them are not averse to headed for extinction. He bases this ob- the U. S. A., all well known here, and accepting an invitation from local collectors servation on the fact that it is currently in the past not infrequent visitors, will for a shell hunting trip. found but rarely in Okinawa and in New spend all or sizeable portions of the 1961 Caledonia, with a stretch of over 3000 miles vacation period in Honolulu. They are: in between in which it does not occur Dr. Alan J. Kohn, now an assistant although it is found in fossil state in this Professor of Zoology, at Florida State Shelling In Nadi Bay, Fiji 3000 miles. He also observes that the two University, Tallahasse, Florida, with his subspecies, hawaiiensis and iredalei re- wife and child, will spend the entire sum- Have you ever shelled sitting down? semble each other more than they do the mer here. A. Jennings, Box 183, Nadi Airport, Fiji Parent species vomer, although geographi- Dr. Harald A. Behder, Curator of Mol- tells how it's done. You first got acquainted cally vomer is found in territory located lusks in the U. S. National Museum, Wa- with him in the Feb. HSN,. and he says by between the two. It will be interesting shington, D. c., accompanied by his wife a result of his offer to trade shells for to see what changes If any are made in the and a son and daughter, will spend the classification and identification has brought present classification after the soft parts months of July and August, in Honolulu. him so many offers that "I really don't of hawaiiensis are examined. Dr. R. Tucker Abbott, Pilsbry Chair know-how to cope with the inflow". of Malacology, Academy of Natural Sciences But he seems to be an observantcollec- of Philadelphia, accompanied by his wife, tor, and in a recent letter he tells about will spend three weeks in Honolulu, from collecting sitting down, which may or may Specimens were few, but what big ones August 27th to Sept. 7th. not be typical of other areas than Nadi they were, seemed to be the rule for And now may we add that the order in Bay, Fiji. Cliff Weaver's collecting this winter. Dur- which the three learned doctors were men- It must be an area covered with seaweed (Continued on page 3) tioned is based on the length of their stay with a sandy bottom covered by a soft in Honolulu, and was not dictated by personal layer of silt from an inch to an inch and preference, age, year of graduation, size a half in thickness. Sheltered bays, and CONTENTS of family, scientific know-how or standing inlets having fresh water streams feeding in the profession. And while summer is in are the most likely areas. Low tide usually regarded as a vacation period, you when not more than 12 to 15 inches of sLine Island in Relation to Hawaii can put a question mark after the word water covers the area is the best time. Lucky Shell Club vacation as far as these gentlemen are Some sort of foot covering is necessary Shelling in Nadi Bay, Fili because of the ever present pinna or pen Recent Finds - - concerned. Shell Fair Progress Dr. Kohn is bringing some of his work shells. Sit down, slowly, also because Shell Exchange with him and some will be provided by local of the pinna, and when you move, move Shelling Vacation on Zanzibar collectors. For one thing he will study slowly for the same reason. Pass your Preliminary Studies in Cone Venom the Conus eugrammatus-acutangulus prob- hands slowly through the weed and the first The A. M. U. Annual Report half inch of silt. There you will find the "Little Stranger" Department lem. Is eugrammatus a synonym or are Report on Line Islands there two species included in this complex? small strombus. Then dig through the Cvofaea Semiolota Still Endemic He has asked the cooperation of any local silt to a depth of 1-1/2 inches. At this Jar/is Island (Chart) collector who has specimens to confer with depth you will find bulla, many bivalves The Molluscan Family HarpMae him. Also he will be called upon to defend and sometimes a cone or an olive. At "The Cowry"-A New Publication , his nosition that Conus capitaneus is found (Continued on page 8) April, 1961 HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS Page 3 -.-

SHELL FAIR PREPARATIONS SHIFT INTO HIGH GEAR At a meeting called for that purpose, some thirty-odd members of the Hawaiian Malacological Society met Wednesday eve- ning March 15, to listen to progress re- ports of the Fair Committees, and ap- proved a number of decisions, where From Hungary, and in English, the following has been received: "I should be necessary. very glad to exchange shells with you; I am especially interested in the land shells of The meeting was an enthusiastic one. your country, and I could offer you Hungarian species in exchange. I send only identified The committee reports were listened to mater i a 1, and I would beg you to do the same. (Signed) Agocsy, Keeper of the with interest, discussed informatively, a- Malacological Collection, Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest VIII, Baross. mended sometimes, and in the end unani- u. 13, Hungary". Mr. Agocsy also enclosed a reprint of an article of which he and mously approved. Almost everyone ex- T. Pocs are joint authors entitled Data on the Mollusk Fauna of Hungary. You may pressed themselves on one subject or be interested in the opening remarks: "The Mollusk Collection of the Hungarian Natural another, it was clearly evident that those History Museum was wholly annihilated in 1956. The new collection, brought together present came to the meeting to boost the since then, is based partly on purchases partly on collectings. In the course of the shell fair project, and were willing to do following two years, we have visited several home areas and of the results of our what they could do to help. collecting we submit herewith those data which originate from hitherto unknown lo- The committee on exhibits and awards calities. The de str oy e d collection was tenfold the size of the present one. . . . The present collection presents a faunistical picture of preponderantly the reported that there would be five classes . . . into which the exhibits would be divided. present area of Hungary Accordingly we already can dispose of shells and data from within our borders of forty more localities than was the case with the old collection". 1) Marine shells from Hawaii. 2) Marine Then follows several pages of details of locations, names of shells whether new or shells from restricted areas other than Hawaii. 3) Worldwide marine shells. 4) not, etc. *************** Live shell exhibits. and 5) miscellaneous We don't know whether we can help this member or not. It will depend on whether exhibits. There will be various sections, the right person sees it, or not. Mrs. Harvey Bell, 615 West Alturas St., Tucson, five in most cases, under each of the five Arizona writes "I would like to correspond with some one living in the Panama Canal classes. In the miscellaneous class will and learn abour shelling there as we hope to visit and gather shells from the be included land shells, educational exhibits zone, and shell craft. These classes relate only area." *************** to exhibits in competition for the awards, This will probably be new to most of you. Mrs. C. M. Ackermann, "Dunblane", but other exhibits are also solicited. The Firth Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa writes "Would you be interested in complete list with detailed explanatory exchanging sea shells? I have some very rare trawled specimens, some not so rare letter will be mailed to every member in and the commonest ones. Our limpets are big and beautiful. I am keen on obtaining the Hawaiian area by April 1st. the giant Hawaiian Tigar Cowrie. 1 could send you a list of the shells I have available The committee said they left out the if you are interested. We are leaving March 24th for a ten day shelling trip to Jef- "largest shell'' competition until the mem- freys Bay. Altho the shells wash out there, they are never alive, but good specimens bership voted on it. And the membership are to be obtained there". Although there are several Tiger cowries measuring over voted to retain that feature. This will con- five inches in length in the Children's Museum, (which is our hobby) it would probably sist of an award for the largest specimen take a Cypraea fultoni to jar one of them loose. So, who is next with a big Tiger cowry shown in any of the five following: Charonia they want to dispose of. tritonia, Cassis cornuta, , primary object was to see that the Shell Cypraea tigris and Terebra maculata. RECENT FINDS Fair paid its way, and that any surplus (Continued from page 2) Judges tentatively decided upon: Dr. would be turned over to the Treasury of Alison Kay, Honolulu. Dr. Harald A. Reh- the Society as a further guarantee of the ing the week end of March 12, 1961 the der, Washington, D.C., Dr. Alan J. Kohn, continuance of the publication of the results were so startling that he made a Tallahasse, Florida. Society's paper the Hawaiian Shell News. special trip to the Children's Museum to Admission fees were decided on as The Society owns some 50 or more 18x30 have some of his latest acquisitions meas- follows: general admission adults, 50 cents; inch exhibit cases. Some upkeep will be ured. First there was a Conus striatus teenagers, juveniles, (some discussion on necessary on these and it was decided taken off Waimanalo on the windward side this), 25 cents; children (ambulatory) 10 that each exhibitor would be charged a of Oahu. It measured 125.3 mm. in length cents; groups, school classes with teacher, fee of $1 for the use of a case for ex- by 61.4 mm wide. Reference to the records scouts, other organizations with leader, hibit purposes. A few larger cases will be showed that the longest one up to that time 10 cents each. Season tickets, good for available at proportionate rates. The was 120 mm. in length by 53 mm. in width one admission any time $1.00. treasurer's off i c e will provide printed and was also owned by Mr. Weaver. The forms for daily reports in order to make Children's Museum and Dr. Burgess also A location for the Fair has not been the accounting easier. definitely decided on as yet. The Ala Wai have large specimens, but first place goes Club House, where two of the last three Insurance will be provided, as in the to the one just measured. fairs have been held, has been reserved past, for all exhibits and night watchman Next he produced, taken on the same and it may be held there but also under service will be provided if necessary. It trip, a Conus retifer taken live in 25 feet consideration with the final details to would not be required at the Ala Moana off Rabbit Island, also on the windward be worked out yet. is the Ala Moana Shop- Shopping Center. The question of volun- side and not far from where tne striatus ping Center, and also the exhibit rooms teer workers during the fair was mentioned, was taken. The retifer measured 69.4 x at the U. S. Armed Services Recreation but will be taken up at a later date. 39.6 mm. and it also went to the head of Center at Fort DeRussy. the class. Previously the best record was Now that you have read this far we will held by the Children's Museum with a shell Sales of shells will be a prominent fea- tell you that the Fourth Shell Fair of the collected alive in Haleiwa Bay by George ture. All shells must be donated. There will Hawaiian Malacological Society will be Bromley which measured 64 x 34 mm. be no sales on commission this year. All held July 1st to 9th inc. 1961 immediately Next Cliff produced a Conus chaldeus prices will be plainly marked, and the following the meeting of the American collected at Kahuku on a prior trip. This booth will be staffed at all times that the Malacological U n i on , (Pacific Division) shell measured 49.4 x 26.6 also a record fair is open. The Society's booklet "Help- which meets at Goleta, Calif starting on for this species. This shell was almost fill Hints for Shell Collectors" will also June 28th. a freak because of its abnormally high be available. And don't forget the permanent address . Comparative figures show it to On the subject of finances it was pointed of the local society is 2777 Kalakaua be 10.4 mm. longer but only 2 mm. wider out by Chairman Tom Shields that the Ave.. Honolulu 15. Hawaii. than the next bigerest one on the record. Page 4 HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS -- April, 1961

This venom extract formula was varied. A SHELLING HOLIDAY A Report On Preliminary Sometimes only the venom bulb was used. TO ZANIBAR Studies On The Venom In Sometimes the venom duct and sometimes only the radula was used. The results on The So-called Poison Cones various gastropods from the various types A reprint of an article that appeared in of venom from a were tabu- Samuel Hirschmann the Annals of the New York Academy of lated in the report. Briefly the duct extract Science, Vol. 90, Article 3, Pages 706 to was the most lethal, the venom bulb was CONCLUDING INSTALLMENT 725, published Nov. 17th, 1960, has been believed to be the muscular organ of the received by the HSN from Dr. Alan J. stinging act, and neither the extract from Another day we selected a muddy area Kohn, one of the authors. This article the bulb or the radular sheath produced at Bungi to seek the elusive onyx adusta. is entitled "Preliminary Studies on the death. At a minus tide these can be found feeding Venom of the Marine Snail Conus". With Other phases of the investigation in- on vegetable growth on the muddy bottom. context, photographs, drawings and tabular cluded administering varying amounts of I had been told by my friends Mr. and Mrs. work it occupies 20 pages, and is a sum- the different extracts to determine the Knight of Zanzibar, avid and knowledgeable marizing of the researchefforts of the three lethal amount. All symptoms were care- collectors of cones and cowries, that under authors, who are Dr. Alan J. Kohn, now fully observed. Venom extracts were boiled, favorable circumstances they have foundas with the Department of Biological Sciences cooled to body temperature and used, and many as 40 to 50 onyxadusta in one morning. of Florida State University, Tallahasse, boiled extracts were frozen, then thawed These molluscs, as well as many of the Florida, Paul R. Saunders, with the Depart- other rarer Cowries like stolida etc. seem and used, and the results noted. ment of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, used in the experiments were to gather in what has been described as U.C.L.A. at Los Angeles, and S. Wiener, suitable ecological habitat, and once the Conus californicus, several species of nas- of Prince Henry's Hospital, Melbourne, sarius and white mice. The mice were spots are discovered these same little . areas seem to continue to yield the same subjected to three types of injections, brain, The poison cones are a common topic vein and muscle. type of mollusc life. But, like most things with the HSN, and the fact that experimental in the ever-changing mighty ocean, such a studies were being conducted concerning Similar extracts of Conus striatus were area is not a permanent treasure chest the venom has also been referred to. tried on fish and . The results are and can suddenly turn completely barren. That the work is still in its infancy is tabulated. Lethal results were achieved The life has moved elsewhere - something indicated by the use of the words "prelimi- with both venum duct and venom bulb has changed - the environment is no longer nary studies". However, the thoroughness extracts which leads to the remark that ideal. My shell friend in Mombasa, Mr. with which the problem was attacked is there is some toxic material in the bulb. Metcalfe, and Police Officer Benton of amazing. Below in layman's language is The Australian experiments in addition Nairobi (the latter recently spent a 6- some of the things we learned. to C. textile and C. Striatus, also included months holiday on the coast) en- The poison apparatus of a cone consists C. aulicus and C. marmoreus. Venom thusiastically expound, from personal ex- of a venom bulb, the venom duct and the extracts from the two last named were perience, the theory of these little sanc- radula, and its sheath. The venom bulb is prepared and the results definitely show that tuaries - ideal environments providing a sausage shaped muscular organ in the aulicus and marmoreus are in the poison just the right food, shelter, protection, etc. upper front part of the shell. It is con- cone list. which can be relied upon to produce regu- nected to the venom duct, a long irregularly However venom extracts were made larly special species of Cypraea in par- coiled tube about five times as long as the from both the bulb and duct of C. flavidus, ticular. shell, which connects with the radular C. leopardus and C. maldivus, and to quote One day we travelled 33 miles north sheath. This is a Y shaped affair with the the report: "No toxic effects were observed to Bweju and there sought out and found two branches of the Y of unequal length. from any of these extracts". the local native shell hunter who regularly In the longer fork or branch are held the Material expressed from theevenom sends his wares to Mr. Virjee. His house, reserve supply of poison barbs in various ducts of all species examined is usually a neat mud-coated single-roomed abode, has stages of development. The shorter branch white or pale yellow. Its consistency is a large helmet shell built into the door of the Y contains the matured poison barb viscous, and it appears granular under lintel as a sign of his trade. He agreed to and leads into the proboscis, or pharynx the microscope. take us out to the reef (he spoke no English as it is called in the report. A conclusion in the report says: "The and we had to use sign language). We Not knowing which of the three organs toxic manifestations suggest the main action started to walk, but the reef was a long mentioned above produced the poison, or of the venom is interference with neuro- way out and I tired rapidly, especially most of it, and since they all had a part muscular transmission, although the PoS- as we were up to our thighs in water. in it, the scientists ground up all three sibility of an action on the central nervous We hailed two tiny out-riggers. The single separately either in sterile water or sea system cannot be excluded". occupant of the one put me in his boat, water, and either injected it immediately, Some attempts at chemical analysis of and my two boys and our guide went in or froze it for future use. the venom have been made which the report the other slightly larger one. The agreed sums up in this sentence: "Thepreliminary fare was one shilling for each craft. It into a deep rock-hole! The tug-of-war studies suggest the possibility that the took over half an hour to reach the reef, that ensued was something to watch! The venom of Conus may contain several active and I hurriedly suggested that the two octopus lost! principles, including protein, quaternary miniature "Queen Marys" wait for us to Many were our other expeditions, in- ammonium c om o o u n d s and possibly take us back at double the forward fare! cluding a visit to Turtle Island with its amines". We found this reef rewarding. We found huge and ancient turtles basking in the The report closes with the remark that at least 50 Conus miliaris, some Conus sun. The three of us stood on one large H. T. Ward, S. W. Tinker, C. S. Weaver, textile, Conus multi panctatus and litteratus, fellow's back, and he unconcernedly ambled Jean Kauanui and Mr. and Mrs. D. Hiatt several small , two Conus ermineus on. We found the waters clear and in- contributed many of the specimens used (previously known as lithoglyphus), one teresting around this island. Huge antler in this study. pulchra lineatus, etc. In five feet of water corals and many other forms, made the And just for the record's sake we wish on the inside of the reef lagoon, we found area fascinating. We dived for over one and to contribute this thoughtÑConu geogra- a considerable number of Cowries, some a half hours, and found ourselves too far phus isn't mentioned in the report, and it large helmets, and many other shells. We from shore for comfort but slowly wemade is one of the really bad actors. Killed a encountered many vicious morays hiding our way back to the island. The water man in two hours. (See HSN Dec. 1960). submerged under stones and rocks. We was fairly deep, but we recovered some Conus tulipa should also be included, so laboriously turned over some of these large frog and other shells. it is said. Any one of our Pacific Ocean rocks, which of course we replaced in Zanzibar is surrounded by many reefs area members who collects either geogra- every instance. Twice morays darted out rich in shell life. In different places we phus or tulipa should save both shell and like express trains and slithered at speed found some Conus iodostoma (formerly animal and notify any one of the three into the deeper protected pools around us. named acutimarginatus), several speci- authors of this report. Dr. Kohn will be Our guide captured a fairly large octopus, mens of Terebra, some common Olives in Honolulu all summer. Just 2777 Kala- and in this nrocess had to out his arm (Continued on mee 61 kaua Ave., Honolulu will get it to him. THE A. M. U. AND PACIFIC DIVISION (1960) REPORT The American Malacological Union's 27th annual report, with wbich has been combined the 13th annual report of the Pacific Division bas been received, and as usnal we spent most of the forenoon with it. The convention was held last August 9th to 12tb, at MaGill University, Montreal, Canada. Earlier, 22nd to 25th of June, the Pacific Division bad held its sessions at Asilomar, California. Ordinarily any news that old would be considered ancient history, but we found a number of things that interested us even at this late date. Unfortunately neither organization has a press agent, who works after the conven- tions, although advance publicity (before the meetings) is adequate. Consequently one must wait until theperpetualsecretary, Margaret Teskey, issues her annual report, unless, indeed, you wereoneof thefortunate Above are shown two views of an unidentified cone. It belongs to Mrs. Mary Eleanor ones in attendance. King who knows very little about it but would like to know more. Mrs. King bought it a In her opening remarks, Dr. Katherine couple of years ago in London. She was wandering through the Porto Bello market on the Palmer, president, said the A. M. U. now day of the week it is open (Friday)when she saw a small basket of shells displayed by one bad 719 members as compared with 213 of the merchants. This was the only cone in the basket and these were the only shells she when they last met in Canada, 20 years saw in the entire market. Thedealer could give her no inkling as to its origin or history. ago at Toronto. The membership list is Anyway she bought the shell. printed in the back of the report, and It measures 43.6 mm. in length and 31.8in width., wbich is greatest slightly below the represents the high point in membership. shoulder. The basic color is a shiny wbite overlaid by generous splotcbs of light chest- As we looked over this list, we foundmany, nut brown with a few dots of the same color along the ridges at the base and very sparsely many names of persons who may read this elsewhere, This color is continuous over the shoulder and forms eight ragged but con- article but for the benefit of those who will tinuous streaks on the low spire, cutting through both spiral and suture to the last not see the A. M. U. report, we will two whorls whicb form a raised but not too sharp an apex of bone colored white. The continue with a few items, especially since base is definitely ridged. These ridges gradually become less prominent as they ascend only ten out of the membership of 719 the , but are still evident under a glass as they approach the shoulder. There have Honolulu addresses. is a wbite banded effect about the middle of the body whorl although interrupted by the The report contains letters from 16 brown color in places. The base is white both inside and out, and the interior is white. shell clubs which are members, and it The shell can best be characterized as medium heavy. It has the appearance of having is also noted that at the convention session been alive when collected. If you have any ideas on the subject, the HSN and incidentally ten persons representing as many different Mrs. King will appreciate bearing from you. shell clubs were recognized at delegates from their organizations. Also in notes The first paper (read by Dr. Albert Carpenter was presentedby Vincent Conde , at the end of the Report, Mrs. Teskey Mead) had been prepared by the California of the Redpath Museum of Maglll Unlver- in speaking of the increased interest in Academy of Sciences, at Golden Gate Park, sity. It was to Redpath Museum that Car- malacology mentioned eight different shell San Francisco to whicb institution Carpenter penter bad bequeathed his own collection, clubs organized in the past twelve months. had been elected a corresponding member wbich according to Dr. Conde has now To whicb we can add the Fiji Shell Club, in February, 1863. In 1848 and 49, a Bel- been systematically arranged and placed apparently not mentioned because not with- gian by the name of Reigen had gathered in modern cabinets constructed for that in the jurisdiction .of the A. M. U. a very large collection of shells from purpose. As is usnal with all altruistic and non- Mazatlan, Mexico, which Carpenter and All other papers read, are either ab- profit organizations, there were rather his brother-in-law bought in 1855. Car- stracted or referred to by title, included extensive discussions of finances at the penter also had access to the Hugh Cnming among whicb we find Dr. Albert Mead's business sessions of both conventions. The collection of Western American shells. annual report bringing up to date his in- Pacific Division even raised its dues to Carpenter's publications as a result of vestigations on the giant African snail, . $2.50, of whicb $2 will go to the A. M. U. his studies of these collections accounts from wbich we learn that "to date,nineteen as always, 'but the 50 cents will stay in for the California Academy being asked different invertebrate 'enemies' of the giant California. to handle this phase of his work. snail have been introduced into Hawaii". The registration at the Montreal con- The second in the series bad been Two excellent group pictures with ac- , vention was 97 while only 96 registered prepared by scientists in the British Mu- companying numbered diagram are included

at the Pacific Division meeting. seum. London.~~~~-~~~~, and~~ was read bv Miss showing- those inattendanceat eacbmeeting.. During 1960 the HSN ran a series on Ruth Turner. Carpentex in working up William Harper Pease, and those of you the Reigen collection had prepared several Mr. and Mrs. J. Lockwood Aibrigbt, who read these articles will recall that identical sets, one of whicb he presented of 4401 Haskell Ave., Encino, California, were March visitors in the Islands. To Pease in his letters to Andrew Garrett to the British Museum and which was the prove they were shell collectors they par- frequently mentioned Philip Pearsall Car- basis of one of his most used books, entitled penter. At first the references to Carpenter a Catalogue of the Mazatlan Shells in the ticipated in several collecting tours while were very praiseworthy, because Carpenter British Museum. here. As a matter of fact Mr. Albrigbt was then in London and cooperating with Carpenter had presented one of his iden- ~articioatedin the hunt whicb resulted in Pease in Honolulu in their shell work. Later tical sets to the Smithsonian institution at one live taken Strombus hawaiicnsis, which Pease became incensed at Carpenter, and Washington, D. C., and had spent several a discussed elsewhere in this issue. in some of his last letters (1870) was very months in Washington during 1859 and 1860. Mavbe it was ~artlvbusiness. mavbe bitter, principally because as appears now While there be had devoted himself to the the shell faircommittee meetingshad Carpenter elected to goto Montreal, Canada collections he and others bad Presented. something to do with it, but Harold Hall, to live in 1865. so No. 3 in this Memorial ~iibutewas an enthusiastic collector from bhaina, The first four speakers on the A, M. U. presented by Dr. Harald A.Rehder, curator Mani, attended one of the Fair committee's program were presented as a Memorial of the Division of Mollusks in the U. S. Na- Wednesday meetings early in March. He Tribute to Philip Pearsall Carpenter each tional Museum. promised Maul will be well represented, representing a phase in Carpenter's life. The fourth and last of the Tributes to and watch for the black coral tree exhibit. Page 6 HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS --- -- April, 1961 THE LINE ISLANDS WITH RELATION TO HAWAII CYPRAEA SEMIPLOTA (MAP Page 1) AND MAP OF JARVIS ISLAND (Page 7) IS STILL ENDEMIC In our January, 1961 issue, page 6 BY under the heading "Recent Finds" we quoted John H. Roberts, Jr., now at Eniwetok, Harold G. Jewell, Jr. in the Marshall Islands, as stating that he had collected semiplota in two feet of (Continued) water in Sept., 1959, on a little island in the Rongelap atoll. At the moment we had Author's Note -- Mr. Edwin H. Bryan, of arc) are one nautical mile (or 6080 overlooked the fact that semiplota is sup- Jr., curator of collections, Bishop Museum, feet) apart. posed to be one of Hawaii's endemic cowries, has very kindly put me in touch with some Close inspection of the topography of but it did not take our readers long to of the original colonists who were on Jarvis Jarvis seems to indicate that the island remind us of the fact. So we wrote to Island prior to World War II. He has also was once horseshoe shaped with a lagoon Johnny asking if he could forward the granted permission to use any of the in- opening toward the east. The lagoon Rongelap shells to Honolulu for examina- teresting and valuable data from his book gradually filled in and a low rim has built tion in order to settle the matter. He "American Polynesia and the Hawaiian up on the east shore. wrote back that the shells were in his Chain". During my stay in the Line Islands, Gravity - metric measurements made collection at his home in Hilo on the big I found this book a gold mine of history, on Jarvis during I.G.Y. indicate a mound island, but that he had had a discussion natural history, geology, geography and or peak, underlying the island, of dense with John Beck, about them and he would human interest, complete with photographs, mass, probably volcanic basalt. If this is authorize Rev. Beck to go to his home, get maps and charts of the Line Islands as well so, then Jarvis is a relatively thin overlay them and send them to Honolulu. as the islands of the northwest Hawaiian of coral limestone on a submerged, extinct In due time we heard from Mr. Beck. chain, the Phoenix, , Tokelau and volcanic formation. The surrounding ocean He referred to the discussion he had with othe island groups of the tropical pacific. bottom drops abruptly to a fairly even Johnny in December in the following lan- Copies of this excellent book are available ocean bottom at about 2800 fathoms (16,800 guage, "There was a small, dark, spotted at the Bishop Museum Bookshop. feet), in all directions except to the east shell which looked very much like a live- I am also indebted to Mr. Paul Gordon where the depth increases more gradually. taken C. semiplota. John insisted that Phillips, who was on Jarvis at the start Mr. Paul Gordon Phillips of Kailua, he had taken this shell in the Marshalls. of World War 11. Mr. Phillips has very who was a member of the last colonist The entire drawer was under heavy glass kindly furnished data to fill gaps in what group on Jarvis, tells me the reef sur- and we did not take the shells out". was available 'ti1 now. Mr. Manuel Pires, rounding Jarvis and particularly the reef Continuing Mr. Beck wrote, "Today, past president and Mr. Marvel Smith, on the north shore abounded with tens Mrs. Roberts removed the glass and I president of the "Hui Panalaau"; the society of hundreds of living tridacna clams, a picked up the 'semiplota' and found that of former Line Island colonists, have both good portion 18 to 24 inches long. In it was rough on the surface as a semiplota been very helpful with information. contrast, during my stay on Jarvis, I should not have been. The underside didn't Figure 1, page 1, the chart "The Line walked over and searched for shells on look like it should either. It didn't take Islands and Their Relation to the Hawaiian every foot of the reef around the island too much figuring to come up with the fact Island Chain" is reduced in size to fit the and I saw only four live specimens, these that we had a small, dark Staphlea staphlea format of H.S.N., the 3 degree grids are being on the south reef. I collected two Linne. The dark color, shape and size of 207 statute miles apart (180 nautical miles). specimens and left the other two un- the shell under the glass had fooled us. I Distance to Honolulu from the various is- disturbed. All four were only 12 to 14 am afraid this is not a semiplota from the lands is given in statute miles. inches long. Marshalls, but a Staphlea staphlea Linne Figure 2, page 7, "Jarvis Island". The Mr. Marvel Smith and Mr. Phillips that looks like a semiplota. Well', I have unspecified figures offshore are depths in both report many reef octopi in the mid- the shells packed. Shall I send them over 7" fathoms. Note that I have marked theloca- 19307s, yet in 1941 Mr. Phillips saw only We told him he need not send them and tion of some of the remaining shell holes one and I saw none. What caused these we will keep semiplota on the Hawaiian (not sea shells). These were made at the changes 7 (To be continued) endemic list. Incidentally in looking up beginning of World War Il by a Japanese -- the species in Schilder, he warns against submarine that surfaced off the west shore A SHELLING HOLIDAY confusing the two species. Also he says of Jarvis. The four colonists on the that Staphlea is very rare in the Marshalls. island thinking this was a U. S. Navy (Continued f run page 4) See also HSN Vol. VIE, #3, Jan., 1960. submarine that had come to remove them, and Cymatium. We found several Conus "The Endemic Cypraea semiplota". rushed down the beach joyously waving quercinus and Conus nemocanus, as well * . .UL -- > their arms. The sub unlimbered its deck as Conus catus. We bagged three quaint that Mrs. Mehta prepared for us. The gun and commensed to fire upon the com- distorsio anus. I was proud to make a atmosphere in this little flat was tranquil pletely defenseless unarmed colonists. personal discovery of the little heart cockle, and peaceful. I have rarely enjoyed any- Fortunately, due to poor marksmanship, no Hemicardium cardissa, which some local thing quite as wonderful as these evenings. one was hurt. The colonists scattered collectors had never seen In Zanzibar It was through the Mehtas that we dis- and ran, hiding inland on the island. before. We encountered many types of covered a bank of fossiliferous rock from Prior to the January, 1958 storm, I coral. including Globulus coral (Galaxea the Pleistocene age, enbedded with fas- counted 13 shell holes on Jarvis, most clams) in large brownish banks which cinating shell fossils and casts. Our of these were eradicated by the storm. do not appear to be attached to the sea three long visits to this area resulted in Judging from the size of the craters. bed. One finds little shells, including in- nearly one hundred good specimens of approximately 12 to 18 in. diameter and teresting Cowries, attached to this coral Pleistocene Cowries, Clams ana Pectens! five to eight feet deep, it appears that fairly low down. We left Zanzibar after several weeks, they were made by a shell of at least I could go on mentioning many other with heavy hearts. My wife and baby son 5 to 6 inch caliber. shell families, but I think this is enough were waiting for us several thousand miles On the north shore reef there are coral to indicate the great shell wealth that away, and of course we had missed them incrusted metal ship fittings cemented fast exists in this fascinating area. greatly. But in Zanzibar we had seen to the reef. These appear much older We met a gentle and gracious couple, how people of different colors and different than their counter parts on the south shore. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Mehta. They were cultures live together in a simple and quiet There is located the wreck of the Barkentine the most wonderful hosts and verv knowl- dignity. Arabs, Asians, Goanese, the local "Amaranth", that ran aground on the night edgeable conchologists. They have an natives, and a handful of Europeans, had of August 30, 1913. I can find no record outstanding collection, built up over many learned a lesson which unfortunately is not of the apparent wreck on the north shore. years. In the early eveningamy boys and known universally. Their remote spice is- The scale on the Jarvis charts (Page 7) I would drop into their apartment to re- land in the sun has much to teach. Here is reduced to fit the format of H.S.N., count our exploits and tomunch little three- we had lived for weeks, close to nature, however, the parallel grid lines (minutes cornered curry pies (called "samoosas") and we left enriched by this experience. JARVIS ISLAND Page 8 HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS April, 1961 -\ -

THE MOLLUSCAN "THE COWRYn- A recent letter from Col. Griffiths stated that Sgt. E. L. Fobes, 12320s. 27th Ave., FAMILY A NEW PUBLICATION Omaha 47, Nebr. has been appointed the representative in the dollar area (U. S. and A very informative article in the New "The Cowry" is the name of a new York Shell Club Notes for January, 1961, shell magazine. It is published by Lt-Col. its Possessions) and remittances can be on the family Harpidae by George E. R. J. Griffiths, Smugglers House, Gorran made to him. The price of 6 shillings Jacobs, 1960 president of the club, proved Haven, St. Austell, Cornwall, England. Vol. amounts to about 84 to 85 cents. No annual to be such interesting reading that the 1, No. 1, is dated December, 1960. The subscription rate has been announced, hence following abstract has been made from it. price is six shillings sterling, and your the price is for a single copy. However, The name Harpa was given to these bank will tell you the equivalent in your we understand the second issue is in the shells in 1771 by Walch, and they havebeen local currency. It may be issued monthly. hands of the printer: known by this name ever since. This The functions of the magazine will be two- fold says the editor. "First, it willcontain family has always posed something of a SHELLING IN NADI problem to conchologists as there is no a series of articles written in every day intermediate family to connect them with language, describing the present state of (Continued from page 2) any other group of mollusks. While they our scientific .knowledge of cowries. Sec- 2 inches, the miters will commence to display some relationship to the olive shells ondly, it will suggest lines on which col- show up. At this depth should you find and possibly to the volute, the gap separat- lectors everywhere can work, describing a bulla, mark the spot, and search theneigh- ing them is very wide. Like the olives outstanding problems, and saying what borhood carefully, for there are usually and the cowries, the harp shells keep the information is needed to solve them". several close together. An afternoon spent shell bright and polished by extruding the That printing costs money (Don't we know this way netted one collector one miter, mantle. Both the shell and the animal are it) is emphasized and the editor states four cones, 38 bulla, one cypraea eburnea, conspicuously and richly colored and have that the continuance of the magazine depends they seem to like weedy areas, and 175 been recognized by conchologists of all on how many of the cowry collectors of the world send in their six shillings. bivalves of many types and colors. It's ages as one of the most beautiful shell quite pleasant really sitting in warm water families. A discussion by Col. Griffiths entitled "Names and What They Stand For'' could and doing your collecting at the same time. The foot of the animal is so large and Summing up the situation he says "This muscular that it can not be entirely re- be read by 75% of the shell collectors with profit to themselves, whether they are Nadi Bay is amazing in many ways. This tracted into the shell. Also because of this muddy weedy bottom produces solarium fact, it is said that in times of danger the cowry collectors or not. He starts out by saying that Cypraea helvola, Linnaeus and cypraea, epitonium conus, strombus, ter- animal can divest itself of the outerportion rebellum, mitra, terebra, nassa, many, which it is unable to protect. There is no Erosaria helvola citrinicolor Iredale refer to the same species. Then in five or six many bivalves, spiney murex, bulla and . Although the Harp shells in- hydatba physis". habit tropical waters, there is only one pages of discussion in every day English, specimen, in the western hemisphere, H. he tells why he prefers Cypraea helvola. crenata Swainson, 1822, found from the He quotes Dr. Alison =y of Honolulu in Gulf of California to Panama. The one his argument, and also announces that Dr. FOSSILS specimen found in the Atlantic is H. rosea Kay's article "The Anatomy of Cypraeai- All eras represented but specialize in off Senegal, west Africa. The remainder dae" will be featured in his next issue. Miocene. Free listing with plates available. are found in the Pacific and Indian oceans. Dr. F. A. Schilder contribute^ an article Ferns, fish, vertebrate, invertebrate fos- There are ten generally recognized spe- on "Intraspecific "' and a Section sils. Shark teeth in size up to 6 inches. cies in the Harp family although even in is devoted to "Remarks on Species", which 300 varieties of intact fossil shells. this small number some species are hard is illustrated by black and white photo- MALICKS to identify. Here are the ten, alphaktically graphs. Our reaction--The editor knows 5514 Plymouth Road, Baltimore 14, Md. arranged: what he is talking about and has the ability to explain it in understandable language. Roding 1798. although THE WM. H. WEEKS SHELL COLLECTION not infrequently a 1so called H. minor The publication merits the support of not Lamarck. only Cypraea specialists, but every collec- This famous collection is being offered Harpa conoidalis Lamarck. one of the tor who possesses any specimens of this for sale at periodic intervals, together larger Harps. Apparently no synonym. family. Try a few copies; it's not only with many newly-acquired and rare shells Harpa costata Linnaeus. Also known worth-of support, but you'll get your money's of interest to both new and advanced col- as H. imperialis, Chemnitz, and by Sowerby worth if this first issue is any criterion. lectors. To obtain free Lists, write: in 1839. referred to as H. multicostata, George E. Jacobs and described as very rare and most Harpa doris. The Conchologist's Textbook 853 Riverside Drive, New York 32, N. Y. beautiful. published by John Mawe in 1846 lists Swainson. No synonyms habitat as , and has a steel recorded. Only western American harp plate engraving of the shell on Plate 11. SELMA R. LAWSON Box 482, Pass-A-Grille 41, Fla. shell. John Mawe in 1823 listed the harps Harpa ventricosa Lamarck is the tenth with the family . name listed by Mr. Jacobs and he indicated Fine and Rare Specimen Shells Bought and Sold. Write for Free List Harpa davidis Roding. Synonym is H. that it was sometimes referred to as H. articularis Lamarck under which name it major Roding. appears in Walter Webb's Handbook. Now to consolidate all the Information GEORGE D. ROBINSON Harpa exquisite, no author given. Found we will call attention to the fact that (Successor to Walter Webb] only in Sydney (Aust.) Barbor according Kuroda & Habe in their Japanese check 5347 Dartmouth Ave., St. Petersburg, Fla. to Joyce Allan. list, give Harpa cancellata Rodingas avalid For Sale: Specimen Shells & Shell Books Harpa gracilis Broderip & Sowerby. name, and list H. striata Lamarck as a Send for Free List. No other name. synonym. Also Joyce Allan mentions a Harpa nobilis Rumphius according to Harpa punctata, no author given, which she THE BOOK STORE Mr. Jacob's list, but not all authorities says has been dredged in 20-30 feet of c/o The Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii agree. The Japanese books give Roding water in south Australian waters. Now Books on Hawaii and the Pacific Ocean Area as the author of H. nobilis. while accord- as a final item we add the following: All Current Shell Books at Publishers Prices ing to Julia Rogers revision, The Children's Museum of Honolulu has Children's Books a Specialty Linnaeus is the accepted name, and nobilis a Harpa conoidalis collected in 1940 in -- is a synonym. Joyce Allan also uses Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, by the late Ted Dranga SHELLS COLLECTED TO YOUR ORDER Harpa harpa and says it is found on the which measured 108 mm in length 71 mm Let me know what Hawaiian Shells Great Barrier Reef. Evidently someone in width and lying with the down you want, and I'll endeavor to get them with access to all the authorities should is 56 mm high. It was collected alive. for you (alive) Contact do a revision on this name. So far as is known, it is the largest speci- R. L. SMITH Harpa rosea Lamarck. may be reduced men of this species collected in the Hawaiian 716 Sibley St., Honolulu 18, Hawaii to synonomy by the use of a Roding name-- Islands. -