Given the multitudinous creative ways folks have found to make
dead-collected Cypraea appear live, i have been finding myself stumped
on several occasions recently.  One thing i'd like to know is: can
calcareous deposits such as are often seen on the tips of dead cowries,
ever occur on live ones?  And, do little worms sometimes live underneath
the mantle of live Cypraea, and burrow into the shell?

Thanks, from the still-chilly (getting up to 16 tomorrow however!) North,
Ross.