Shelled Molluscs
In her essay, The Mollusks of Japan, Dr. Stiassny discusses Carl Emil Lischke's (1813-1886) Japanische Meeres-Conchylien. A plate illustrating a Japanese triton sea snail shell, valued since ancient times, is seen above. Dr. Stiassney notes that "the large predatory sea snail that made this beautiful shell was a Saul's Japanese triton (Charonia lampas sauliae). Tritons are active hunters, particularly of starfish, and have been observed actively chasing them." Examples of plates depicting more shells from Lischke's tome, and from other works in the Museum Library's Rare Book Collection are also seen here.
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