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Topic 48 of 69: Shells

Sun, Oct 31, 1999 (20:57) | Wolf (wolf)
What's in your collection and how do you display them?
81 responses total. 

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 1 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Sun, Oct 31, 1999 (21:02) * 3 lines
i make a point to collect sea shells whenever i'm at a beach. my faves are scallops, welks, and sand dollars. of course, the sand dollars are always broken up so i call them fifty cent or quarter pieces!

the larger shells are in my curio cabinet. i recently made a wreath with a bunch of smaller shells. used a grapevine wreath with spanish moss covering 3/4's of it and then hot glued shells onto it. left it that way and hung it up. note: shells are heavy so use a heavy type glue and a strong hanger. i glued a piece of coat hangar onto the back. it turned out really nice for its simplicity.

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 2 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Sun, Oct 31, 1999 (21:07) * 6 lines
another note:

it is important to remove any remaining parts of the critter that lived in the shell (esp. welks) as they will stink very badly! i used a q-tip because i could bend it to fit into the spirals. also, soaking them in bleach will kill any remaining bacteria and the smell. i mix bleach with water (kinda like when doing the wash). let them soak for a few days, then rinse, and let them dry. you can take some varnish (clear, matte or glossy) and coat your favorites if you like. i leave mine in their natural st
te but out of the sun (due to bleaching).

there are lots of books out there for quick identification but i haven't actually purchased one yet. will get some links to post here as soon as i can.

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 3 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Sun, Oct 31, 1999 (21:59) * 2 lines
OOoh, Wolf, May I link this to Geo as well? I ama malacologist from way back and have an extensive collection which are kept is several plastic cases with clear drawers (which crafters use and in which men keep their screws and other widgets) Mine are all catalogued and labelled and the log kept in a book. I have lovely spider whelks from Kwajalein Island in the Solomons and fun things like that which students used to bring back to butter up the professor via his wife. It worked for me!!! I put a wir
cage of hardware cloth over my shells to be cleaned and our carnivorous ants pick them clean. Then I soak them in a dilution of bleach ( no stronger than 1/3 bleach to 2/3 water or your will etch the calcium of the shell.) Then dry them in the sun and that is it!

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 4 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Sun, Oct 31, 1999 (22:00) * 1 lines
I have lots of field guides to shells - one of the best being in the Peterson series. I highly recommend it.

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 5 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Sun, Oct 31, 1999 (22:07) * 1 lines
Ah Wolfie, I couldn't wait - so we are linked for our third time ...yippee!

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 6 of 81: Alexander  (aschuth) * Mon, Nov  1, 1999 (11:47) * 1 lines
And Marcia is a malawhat?

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 7 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Mon, Nov  1, 1999 (12:51) * 1 lines
Was es das?

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 8 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Mon, Nov  1, 1999 (12:52) * 1 lines
Malacologist - seashell studier rather than just a collector.

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 9 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Mon, Nov  1, 1999 (17:02) * 5 lines
cool! i like being linked.

so i have a question, ms malacologist: are shells of a certain type all marked the same (i.e., rusty stripes against a white background) or are they individualized?

and exactly what kinda critter can squeeze into a sand dollar?

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 10 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Mon, Nov  1, 1999 (18:26) * 1 lines
Just as plants have family, genus and species, so do shells. The gastropods include the whelks and conches, and under these are individual species which differ quite widely. Bivalves are the clams, musssel and oyster families and there are many genera under each classification. Snd so on...*grin* 

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 11 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Mon, Nov  1, 1999 (18:31) * 3 lines
Links are cool and edgy. I like'um!

Sand dollars (of which I have no specimen in my collection since I have never been where they live) are related to sea urchins, and the critter who lives in it is pretty simple and very flat. They have mouth parts extending out of the central aperture of the flat side of the "shell" and when they are live, there is varying amounts of "felt" covering it depending on the species.

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 12 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Mon, Nov  1, 1999 (18:37) * 3 lines
cool!

i found various sites for shells and all of theirs were shiny and pretty. mine are rather dull. i'm afraid to take anything to them (like my drummel buffer bit)....have learned that i own 4 sundials! i have a ton of scallops with varying patterns. and have a couple of really ugly shells that i think are oysters. is there a way for me to buff it up to find the beauty?

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 13 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Mon, Nov  1, 1999 (20:54) * 1 lines
Aha! No, get the cheapest colorless nail polish you can find and thin it to about 1/2. Lacquer your shells and they will be lovely and shiney, too! Works for beach pebbles as well, if you like the "wet" look!

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 14 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Mon, Nov  1, 1999 (20:57) * 3 lines
Oysters can be wire-brushed if you are talking about the outside. Otherwise, try them wet and see if that improves the color. If so, lacquer them as well.

I have some wee teeny sundials and one about the size of a nickel. Flattened gastropods and Really pretty!

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 15 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Mon, Nov  1, 1999 (20:58) * 1 lines
what do i thin it with? (ok, i'll hush and go now *grin*)

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 16 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Mon, Nov  1, 1999 (21:00) * 1 lines
and about the oysters, are they supposed to be pretty underneath all that dark stuff? 

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 17 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Mon, Nov  1, 1999 (21:05) * 1 lines
Don't go...I forgot to tell you acetone or the cheapest polish remover you can find. Make that dilution 1/3 acetone and 2/3 polish for shells. For stones use 1/2 to 1/2.

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 18 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Mon, Nov  1, 1999 (21:07) * 1 lines
Nah - Oyster shells are only pretty inside if they are pretty at all, and after they have been cooked, forget it! The insides of oyster shells are what the animal secretes to make pearls so it is pretty soft. If it has been in the surf it is almost beyond salvaging except as an example of an oyster shell.

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 19 of 81: Isabel  (Isabel) * Tue, Nov  2, 1999 (10:58) * 13 lines
Yummy!











oh, eh...sorry!

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 20 of 81: Alexander  (aschuth) * Tue, Nov  2, 1999 (11:47) * 1 lines
Malaco-, eh, cool! I only knew "mala-djusted"... ;=}

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 21 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Tue, Nov  2, 1999 (18:04) * 1 lines
i think mine were in the water awhile so they must be hopeless. i'll try scrubbing them and see what happens!

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 22 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Tue, Nov  2, 1999 (20:14) * 1 lines
Next time AM takes you for seafood, save one of the raw shells - the prettiest one inside (the outsides are a total loss anyway!)

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 23 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Tue, Nov  2, 1999 (20:19) * 3 lines
he doesn't do oysters, at least that i know of. the AM is into clams! and those shells aren't very pretty (and have been cooked!)....

(and look at that forget button *grin*!!!)

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 24 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Tue, Nov  2, 1999 (20:27) * 3 lines
Bummer - someone is Looziana must eat'um raw...

Isn't it Purty?! *smiling broadly* We dood it!!! Mahalo plenty, Dear!

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 25 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Tue, Nov  2, 1999 (20:38) * 3 lines
not a problem!! sorry about the white border...will keep at it though.

i shall go and dream of shells and rocks! maybe this weekend i'll scan a few more rocks and start on some shells. it'd be neat to have some eye candy! (but i promise, terry, i'll keep em small, or post them somewhere else to save space *smile*)

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 26 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Tue, Nov  2, 1999 (21:02) * 1 lines
Keep 'um small or send them as files and we can discuss them. Those you have done so far don't amount to much at all - bet there is junk email in boxes unread and undeleted amounting to far more than that! It is surprising how much I could tell about that glass pebble from your descriptions and analysis when I could see it. The boot remains unknown to me. Cannot find anything like it. Does it feel heavy enough to be stone?

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 27 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Tue, Nov  2, 1999 (21:05) * 1 lines
Yaknow, even with the white borders, now that Visto is red, and my horzibars are white, it looks very nice...with the complete set up there. I am all happy and content with the elegant new look along with the most endearing original look...

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 28 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Thu, Nov  4, 1999 (20:17) * 7 lines
here's an interesting link:

http://www.ma.iup.edu/MathDept/Projects/CalcDEMma/SeaShellCode.html

and here's another:

http://www.susqu.edu/facstaff/b/brakke/complexity/LAVELLA/seashell.htm

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 29 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Thu, Nov  4, 1999 (20:26) * 1 lines
Susquehanna University?! Near Penn State (relatively, that is) for the second one. Thanks, Wolfie, and more *hugs* for using the Geo link...it looks better if there is traffic in here. And, you can admire your buttons *grin*

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 30 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Sun, Nov  7, 1999 (16:14) * 3 lines
and another link:

http://www.seashellworld.com/seashells.htm

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 31 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Sun, Nov  7, 1999 (16:23) * 1 lines
Ooooh, Splendid. I can ID shells as well as rocks. Have you found one you cannot identify?

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 32 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Sun, Nov  7, 1999 (16:46) * 1 lines
they do rocks there too? didn't notice that. clicked on sundials but only one kind was shown. will do more looking though!

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 33 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Sun, Nov  7, 1999 (17:51) * 1 lines
No, but I do *grin*

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 34 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Tue, Mar  7, 2000 (19:03) * 1 lines
i finally got a shell identification book. it's one of those eyewitness handbooks and it has lots of info. there's are all shiny and pretty and mine are, well, they're glued to a grapevine wreath *grin* (which fell down and still hasn't been fixed).....

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 35 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Tue, Mar  7, 2000 (19:29) * 2 lines
Hey, there's a good excuse to go back to the seashore to look for goodies. Winter throws the best ones up on the beaches - I miss beach combing...!
I know how to make your old matte-finished finds look all shiney, too!

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 36 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Tue, Mar  7, 2000 (19:32) * 1 lines
we've talked about the nail polish and stuff, but how do they polish it?

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 37 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Tue, Mar  7, 2000 (19:50) * 1 lines
It dries shiny. Not all that different from what the snail secretes - at least in the old days before plastics and epoxies. There is no other way that I know of to bring back the polish from an sand-abraded sea shell.

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 38 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Tue, Mar  7, 2000 (20:02) * 1 lines
well, you could wax them or oil them but they get sticky with oil....

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 39 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Tue, Mar  7, 2000 (20:05) * 1 lines
i dunno....maybe i'll just leave them alone for now.....

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 40 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Tue, Mar  7, 2000 (20:11) * 1 lines
That or flock them up one side and down the other - if we're still talking wreath, here! (Where is that Crafts conference?!)

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 41 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Tue, Mar  7, 2000 (20:12) * 1 lines
...or paint 'um green for St Patrick's Day or red, white and blue for just about any reason... Or, of course, just leave 'um alone for now...

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 42 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Tue, Mar  7, 2000 (20:12) * 1 lines
i know, right! gotta run, have that big test in the am.....*HUGS*

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 43 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Tue, Mar  7, 2000 (20:15) * 1 lines
*Hugs* wolfie - knock 'um dead!!!

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 44 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Sat, Dec 29, 2001 (23:06) * 1 lines
well, this place has been empty. marcia, my shells are still unvarnished. and i found a snail shell this past week while putting down my daffodil bulbs and it has been added to my collection.

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 45 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Sat, Dec 29, 2001 (23:19) * 1 lines
Wow!!! All I get this far inland is slugs and african parasitic snails. Occasionally I have seen a Giant African snail and they are the size of a dinner plate! Absolutely frightening! I'll have to get some photos of my more rare Hawaiian shells. Some are quite beautiful.

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 46 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Sun, Dec 30, 2001 (12:14) * 1 lines
that african snail sounds terrible! it would scare me half to death to see something like that on my back porch. mine are common shells. this one is about an inch across, typical brown color. whomever lived in it has moved on to bigger and better things (unless a bird or something got him) but the shell is completely clean. the shell is the consistency of a fingernail (what a comparison).

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 47 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Sun, Dec 30, 2001 (23:13) * 1 lines
That is exactly like our parasitic snails. Keep them safe - they are highly beneficial! Ours were imported to eat the Giant ones. They are carnivors (the little pinkish-brown ones whose shell you found)

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 48 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Mon, Dec 31, 2001 (18:34) * 1 lines
you're kidding me!!! carnivorous snails? that sounds so unreal!!!!!!! *LAUGH* will have to take a moment and scan a few of mine in for you guys to see (as soon as terry figures out why FTP won't let me transfer any of my files)

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 49 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Mon, Dec 31, 2001 (19:24) * 1 lines
*sigh* Yes, Please. I have a scanner a year and a half old I have not even unpacked. I need space for it! As soon as I take down my little trees... Move a stack of books, then move a little teak chest... *sigh*

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 50 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Mon, Dec 31, 2001 (23:25) * 1 lines
*SIGH* i know the feeling sweetie! *HUGS* i just spent 2 hours cleaning out my daughter's room and we're still not done unpacking (2 more rubbermaid boxes to go)

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 51 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Tue, Jan  1, 2002 (15:12) * 1 lines
Oh Wolfie, if you ever figure out how to get rid of a pack rat and his packings, let me know! I am so frustrated and disgusted. He has felt my contempt and general unhappiness with the situation...

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 52 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Mon, Apr  1, 2002 (13:01) * 3 lines
picked up a whole mess of scallops at the Bolsa something beach in Huntington Beach on Sat. it was really cold but all four of us combed the beach in bare feet! actually found a couple that were 3 inches across. scallops are my fave to collect (besides the spirally ones). will have to take a pic and post them for you to see. have just removed them from their bath and am waiting for them to dry.

oh, and found some really neat rocks too (a couple will house small bromeliads)

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 53 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Mon, May 27, 2002 (19:39) * 1 lines
we have made a few more expeditions to the bolsa chica state beach and found more scallops, those the last couple of times, we didn't find much. though i must say that yesterday, after passing by some sea weed that washed ashore, we found two cowries--haven't meastured them yet but they're over 2 inches. cowries are not native to the beaches of california so they've really made a long trip over here. from one of my shell books, they're found mostly in the indo-pacific. just goes to show what the currents can do! if you have any good websites or reference books to help me identify them, please recommend away!!!

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 54 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Sat, Jan  8, 2005 (12:20) * 1 lines
Haven't been in here inawhile! All my shells made it to Texas in good shape. Despite some concerns with the packers. I've made my powder room the display area but there's just not enough room (yet! I've got plans). A student in one of my classes said that in Ohio, it is bad luck to keep seashells indoors. It's OK to keep them but not inside. Anyone else hear that? I'm not a believer, just want to know if this is a true superstition or something this girl's mom made up to keep those shells outside.

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 55 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Mon, Oct  3, 2005 (14:01) * 1 lines
I packed most of mine and have NO idea how they survived since they are still packed in boxes along with my rock collection and books.

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 56 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Mon, Oct  3, 2005 (14:02) * 1 lines
NO rocks in the shell boxes. It was either abandon them or bring them. If they are crushed, I would have lost them in any case. I do want the Pele's Murex though.

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 57 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Mon, Oct  3, 2005 (19:24) * 1 lines
Murex is a neat shell!

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 58 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Mon, Oct  3, 2005 (23:12) * 1 lines
They really are, and the Pele's murex has very long pointy side spikes which are so fragile they are often broken when found. Mine was harvested by another (against my wishes but grateful for the gift) and is perfect or was when I packed it for shipping. What would we do without bubble wrap?!

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 59 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Mon, Oct  3, 2005 (23:13) * 1 lines
http://www.coralreefnetwork.com/stender/marine/mollusks/gastropods/drupes/drupes.htm shows you what a Pele's murex is.

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 60 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Tue, Oct  4, 2005 (21:01) * 1 lines
yes indeed, didn't find anything like it in california.....we did find stuff that must've drifted on the currents because they weren't native to CA....now i have to go through my shells and my books to tell you which ones they were....

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 61 of 81: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Tue, Oct  4, 2005 (23:29) * 1 lines
Pele's Murex. I like the sound of that.

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 62 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Fri, Oct  7, 2005 (18:20) * 1 lines
There are deep sea murex shells that are so fanciful one wonders how they survived intact. In one or the other of those 28 boxes downstairs there is my malachology collection. *sigh* there is no place to put it.

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 63 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Fri, Oct  7, 2005 (20:15) * 3 lines
a lot of them lose those fancy "fingers" in the current. you usually have to dive to find intact specimens but that means you have to kick out the inhabitant.

yes there is, you just have to put the display cases in the middle of the floor in any room.....are your hallways filled with books too? my sister-in-law has a collection of toys and stuff from McDonald's (little Smurfs and stuff) and had a case made just for them (shadowbox, nothing really fancy at all---actually, it kinda looked like those used for shot glasses). last time i was at her house, it was hanging in the hallway. pretty neat and was giving me an idea for another AM project.

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 64 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Fri, Oct  7, 2005 (21:02) * 1 lines
How about a corner cabinet for the landings of your stairs? I have two of them. I wanted to electrify one to put a tree on since it can be seen thru the glass front door. I need a secure case for these shells. Some were brought to me by my ex's students from Kwajalein atoll, and some were taken on deep sea dives of Hawaii. I made a point of never evicting a native. If I had to evict a hermit crab I tried to help locate a similar residence. Can't you just imagine someone fancying your mansion so carefully groomed and pristine and having them take it and replace it with some chipped house with bad paint and a few windows missing?!

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 65 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Fri, Oct  7, 2005 (22:00) * 5 lines
my stairs don't have a true landing.....it opens up into a square hall with no place to put a corner curio! but, my stairs are open to the entry and there's a half wall at the top, i could put a small curio there (only to be seen by those who go upstairs though).

exactly, the only time i evicted a critter was if i didn't know he was there to begin with and i usually found out AFTER the shell was bleached.

i've seen contraptions that are like tool chests (craftsman, comes to mind) with drawers of varying sizes to keep those treasures safe. mine are in glass mason jars with lids and a few big vases....come to think of it, the movers didn't move them, the AM hand-carried them to me. we had WAY too much fun finding those things to have them all break (especially the giant sea urchin shell and sand dollars). after i found my giant urchin, my girlfriend wanted one too (and she deserved it too, she went on many hunting trips with me)....finally found one for her too and the urchin had been dead long before i found its skeleton).

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 66 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Sat, Oct  8, 2005 (14:24) * 1 lines
You have sea urchin "tests" which are the calcareous shells left behind. A big hole in the bottom and a smaller hole in the top. Does yours have the little "loops" at the bottom inside ? They tend to break off easily. I do appreciate your hand carrrying things. I've done that myself.

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 67 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Sat, Oct  8, 2005 (14:42) * 3 lines
i believe they do (sea urchins).....when i first ran across them, i didn't even know what they were (that those spiny things and this shell belonged to the same animal)....

i have one big 'un all the way down to one that is about 1/2" in diameter.

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 68 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Sat, Oct  8, 2005 (17:34) * 1 lines
remind me how big the BIG one is. Most of mine are about 2-3 inches in diameter and purple!

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 69 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Sat, Oct  8, 2005 (17:34) * 1 lines
I would like to find a sand dollar - yet another kind of sea urchin.

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 70 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Sat, Oct  8, 2005 (21:08) * 3 lines
we have a bunch of sand dollars---have to look them up so i can tell you which kind they are. i was SOOO delighted to find them.

my BIG urchin is about 3 inches in diameter but also about 3 inches in height....will have to go take proper measurements and report back. most of mine are green in color (i think i have a couple that are purplish)...

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 71 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Sat, Oct  8, 2005 (21:41) * 3 lines
the sand dollars we found are called "flat round" for obvious reasons....here's a link:

http://www.seashells.org/identcatagories/sanddollarstypes.htm

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 72 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Sat, Oct  8, 2005 (21:42) * 1 lines
and sea urchins: http://www.seashells.org/identcatagories/seaurchins.htm

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 73 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Sat, Oct  8, 2005 (21:49) * 3 lines
i have a jar full of these (cowries) too (upper left, the brown-colored one) only one of mine came out of the sea shiny, the rest look horrible--how do i clean them up?

http://www.seashell-collector.com/beginners/CYPRAEIDAE.jpg

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 74 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Sun, Oct  9, 2005 (21:33) * 1 lines
marcia, i'm gonna send you some scans i took of my seashells but only a few at a time so i don't clog your system.

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 75 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Tue, Oct 11, 2005 (00:40) * 1 lines
Thanks for the scans, Wolfie. AOL did them just fine. I even have the slate pencil spines from mine = the critter was dead and departed but he left behind every last spine and the test. I was delighted. The make clinky sounds which endears them to wind chime makers.

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 76 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Tue, Oct 11, 2005 (00:41) * 1 lines
Isn't your "thick" sand dollar called a sea biscuit? I know the flat ones are the epitome of what a sand dollar should be.

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 77 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Tue, Oct 11, 2005 (16:35) * 1 lines
you must be thinking of my test--the sand dollars are very flat but missing the holes in the top....

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 78 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Sat, Oct 15, 2005 (17:18) * 1 lines
Ahhhhhh yes ! Thanks for the clarification.

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 79 of 81: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Sun, Oct 16, 2005 (17:22) * 1 lines
Been too long since I been to da seashore.

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 80 of 81: Marcia  (MarciaH) * Mon, Oct 17, 2005 (18:40) * 1 lines
Don't go now. The shore closest to you is under threat of Wilma.

 Topic 48 of 69 [collecting]: Shells
 Response 81 of 81: Wolf  (wolf) * Mon, Oct 17, 2005 (20:35) * 1 lines
not yet, is it?
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