|
The most usual shells are cassis madascariensis, cassis rufa, strombus giga. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Cassis Madagascariensis: ca 12 inches. Chestnut brown at bottom, and perfectly white on the surface for engraving. |
Cassis Rufa: ca 6 inches. Has an interior reddish layer; the exterior for engraving is pale flesh-coloured. |
Strombus Gigas: ca 11 inches. Its white and pink layers are not always perfectly distinct from each other; also used for necklaces and buttons, fished in the Bahamas. |
Cypraea Tigris: ca 2-4 inches. Has seven different layers of colour. In order: tiger brown on the surface. Then white-yellonwish, grey-blue, two tones of purple and finally a slightly blueish white. Fished in Indo-Pacific. |
 |
 |
 |
 |