The origin of the epithet “Aurora,” bestowed upon this shell has probably long since been forgotten; it arose from one of those fugitive events not likely to be recorded excepting only in the recollection of collectors; and those in whose immediate knowledge the circumstance occurred have long since passed this transitory scene and are perhaps ere this themselves forgotten. The relation though in some respects trivial, may afford amusement to the amateur: it serves to shew the origin of its name “Aurora” at the same time that it presents a striking illustration of that ardent zeal with which the science of Conchology was cultivated in this country nearly half a century ago; its authenticity may be relied upon. The circumstance as related to us by an old collector some years ago was briefly this; a specimen of the shell had very shortly after the return of the discovery ships been presented by one of the officers to a lady, which coming to the knowledge of a most zealous collector of that period, he solicited the indulgence of seeing it; and waited upon the lady for the purpose, upon an intimation that the favour would be readily granted. Madam, said the enraptured visitor, gazing in admiration upon the Cowry, which he now beheld for the first time, has this shell a price? will twenty guineas purchase this lovely gem? it will not answered the lady. Allow me then said its enthusiastic admirer to clasp it for a moment in my hands, and bending on one knee, at the same time pressing the shell to his lips, pronounced with an emphasis of poetic fervour, “thus do I salute the ‘Morning Dawn’ of the new discovered world!” Let poets reverence Venus the beauty of the Grecian seas: my idol is “Aurora,” this sea-born nymph of surpassing beauty, that rose upon the waves of the Southern deep! Tu quoque cum Dea sis, Divâ formosior illâ Concha per æquoreum quam vasa ducit iter.[25] _Sec. 6. Basium._ Abating somewhat of the romantic warmth with which the ideas of the venerable collector alluded to was expressed, it must be admitted that in point of beautiful simplicity this shell has never been surpassed by any subsequent discoveries in the southern hemisphere; and it is no less singular than certain that the price of twenty guineas, which that collector named upon an imaginary valuation, has become the average standard value of a fine shell of this kind for some years past. At present they are more highly prized, because it is now pretty clearly ascertained that they are no longer to be procured among the natives of Otaheite; and for this reason it is much more likely they will reach a still higher price than that the value of them should diminish. The shell we have represented is to be considered as a very fine specimen in respect to size as well as colour. ----- Footnote 24: