Jim,

Can't help with your Chank operc, but I have also had one of my three dogs
scarf up an operc.  In my case it hit the ground while cleaning the little
thing was gone before I even noticed it hadn't fallen on the table.  And
here I thought the dogs were hanging around because they liked me!!

In my mis-spent youth I did a lot of work with horses and found that dogs
also love the trimmings from a horses hoof.  Pretty much the same material I
would guess.  Now if you really need that operc and are at all handy with a
knife.....  I mean after all, if someone can turn out beautiful and record
size Epitoniums - then why not opercs?  By the way, I actually have a fair
share of "fake" opercs in many nerites.  These are serious fakes that have
been ground down to more perfectly fit the aperture.  Usually they are
opercs from the very common Vittina (or Neritina if you still prefer)
coromandeliana or waigiensis (syn. communis).  This is some serious work as
I have found these doctored opercs in shells not 10mm in length.  That is a
lot of work  for an inexpensive shell.  Because of this I seldom now ask
"for an operc."  I just order the shell and take what comes - overjoyed if
the operc, the correct operc, is there.

Tom Eichhorst in New Mexico, USA


Greetings Conch-Lers,

How about this for an unusual request? Umm, first off, let me point out
that if you didn't know, dogs love operculums. I guess they're the snail
equivalent of rawhide chewsticks. Okay, so I had this big chank from
Eleuthera with the operculum set in all nicely, but then as I walked past
the cabinet where the shell is on display, I noticed that oh-so-familar
odor of "eau de notso clean." Hmm, I had obviously left a bit of snail
inside. I carefully removed the operculum and placed it on the kitchen
counter, then took the shell outside to flush with a power nozzle. Sure
enough, out popped a last smelly bit of Turbinella angulata -- success! I
carried the shell back inside to dry it and replace the 'perc but wait:
Where did that 'perc go? It was here ten minutes ago. I looked to see where
our three dogs were, only to see one of them (I won't name names here)
spitting out a mouthful of cotton.

Se here's my request/question: Anybody out there got an extra operculum
from a big chank laying around? I know it won't be the correct "door" for
this shell, but I figure it's just on display for my viewing pleasure and
not going into a museum somewhere. If anyone might have one, I am willing
to send them a nice Scaphella junonia in exchange. You have to agree, this
is one of the more unusual postings lately.

Operculum-less in Tallahassee (where it's still in the 20s tonight),
Jim

Jim Miller
Tallahassee, Florida
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