For the discovery of this extremely beautiful shell, like many other acquisitions of importance in the cabinet of the Conchologist, we stand indebted to the assiduities of that eminent Naturalist Sir Joseph Banks, and those who accompanied him in the celebrated voyage of Captain Cook round the world. They observed it among the ornaments with which the natives of Otaheite had decorated their dresses, which were composed of feathers, and the barks of trees. To these garments they were attached by means of a string passing through a hole perforated for the purpose on one side of the shell. The natives were not so easily induced to part with these shells as the other decorations of their clothing, appreciating them at a much higher value. Our navigators were at first led to imagine these shells to be inhabitants of the seas surrounding Otaheite, in which particular they were at length undeceived by the natives who informed them to the contrary: they said the shells were found near an island at a great distance from Otaheite, and from the direction of the spot toward which they pointed, it was conjectured they meant the Fegee or Fidgi Islands, which are inhabited by the most ferocious cannibals throughout those seas.[24] Our navigators were therefore able only to procure such specimens as were attached to the dresses of the natives, and these being almost constantly perforated for the better convenience of fastening them on safely, at once explains the reason of the Orange Cowry being so rarely met with undisfigured by such perforation.