Topic 23 of 92: Shells
Sun, Oct 31, 1999 (20:57) |
Wolf (wolf)
What's in your collection and how do you display them?
58 responses total.
Topic 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 1 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 2 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 3 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 4 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 5 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 6 of 58: Alexander (aschuth) * Mon, Nov 1, 1999 (11:47) * 1 lines
And Marcia is a malawhat?
Topic 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 7 of 58: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Nov 1, 1999 (12:51) * 1 lines
Was es das?
Topic 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 8 of 58: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Nov 1, 1999 (12:52) * 1 lines
Malacologist - seashell studier rather than just a collector.
Topic 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 9 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 10 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 11 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 12 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 13 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 14 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 15 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 16 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 17 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 18 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 19 of 58: Isabel (Isabel) * Tue, Nov 2, 1999 (10:58) * 13 lines
Yummy!
oh, eh...sorry!
Topic 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 20 of 58: Alexander (aschuth) * Tue, Nov 2, 1999 (11:47) * 1 lines
Malaco-, eh, cool! I only knew "mala-djusted"... ;=}
Topic 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 21 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 22 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 23 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 24 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 25 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 26 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 27 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 28 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 29 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 30 of 58: Wolf (wolf) * Sun, Nov 7, 1999 (16:14) * 3 lines
and another link:
http://www.seashellworld.com/seashells.htm
Topic 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 31 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 32 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 33 of 58: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sun, Nov 7, 1999 (17:51) * 1 lines
No, but I do *grin*
Topic 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 34 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 35 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 36 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 37 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 38 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 39 of 58: Wolf (wolf) * Tue, Mar 7, 2000 (20:05) * 1 lines
i dunno....maybe i'll just leave them alone for now.....
Topic 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 40 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 41 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 42 of 58: Wolf (wolf) * Tue, Mar 7, 2000 (20:12) * 1 lines
i know, right! gotta run, have that big test in the am.....*HUGS*
Topic 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 43 of 58: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Mar 7, 2000 (20:15) * 1 lines
*Hugs* wolfie - knock 'um dead!!!
Topic 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 44 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 45 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 46 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 47 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 48 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 49 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 50 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 51 of 58: 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 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 52 of 58: Cheryl (CherylB) * Tue, Feb 5, 2002 (17:16) * 1 lines
Marcia, were the giant African snails eating the native Hawaiian varieties of snails. I remember reading something about this. It seems that some of the Hawaiian varieties were extremely rare and their chances for surviving looked really bad with the ravenous giants on the loose.
Topic 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 53 of 58: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Feb 5, 2002 (17:31) * 1 lines
Probably not since the Hawaiian tree snails are at much highter altitudes than the parasitic snails. But don't take this for the definitive answer. I do have a local expert I will ask - he is head of the Hawaii Nature Conservancy.
Topic 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 54 of 58: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Feb 5, 2002 (17:34) * 6 lines
I did find this information:
What is the threat?
Snails of this genus were once found in lowland valleys, coastal plains, and near the sea at Kahuku. Habitat destruction and the introduction of exotic species of plants and animals have drastically reduced most populations and many have become extinct. In 1970, 14 of the 41 recognized species were declared extinct and another 25 were declared rare and endangered. In 1993, 17 species
were presumed extinct and 24 species endangered
http://www.geocities.com/endangeredsp/HawaiiS1.html
Topic 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 55 of 58: Cheryl (CherylB) * Tue, Feb 5, 2002 (17:40) * 3 lines
That does seem to tie into what I read about the native snails. Thanks for such a prompt answer.
Topic 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 56 of 58: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, Feb 6, 2002 (18:36) * 1 lines
I'm afraid it is the lot of just about every native species which has not developed a terrible flavor or lethal qualities. We have lost so many. Despite the usual finger-pointing, the ancient Hawaiians hunted things to extinction, too.
Topic 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 57 of 58: Cheryl (CherylB) * Mon, Feb 11, 2002 (16:42) * 1 lines
Were there any mammals native to Hawaii? I know that the Polynesians who settled Hawaii brought pigs and, I think, small dogs with them. On the subject of New Zealand, I believe there were no indigenous mammals. There was a giant flightless bird called a moa which was hunted to extinction after the arrival of the Moari.
Topic 23 of 92 [Geo]: Shells
Response 58 of 58: Marcia (MarciaH) * Mon, Feb 11, 2002 (20:22) * 3 lines
Not until the Hawaiians brought them - including the Hawaiian rat. Everything not brought by man had to fly here, swim here or be blown here. Seeds, fish, birds and plants were about all there was until the humans changed it all.
Ask Rob about NZ on his topic. He'd love for someone other than me to visit Geo 64. I seem to recall the Moa, also but not about the mammals.
Geo conference 
Main Menu