Ross
Interesting observation.  I wouldn't be at all surprised if there wasn't
some merit in it.  I'm not that type of collector but it seems to me that it
would more interesting for collectors of cowries if there were a gazillion
different 'types' to collect.  I don't think it is so much a 'plot' but more
just natural human inclination of really, really, really wanting it to be so
and therefore needing little convincing.

Ross Mayhew wrote:

> Paul's question "why can't we just say that Cyp. arabica growa a bit
> bigger in E. and S. Africa, instead of giving it a form name of its
> own?" (or something similar!) touched a chord in me: As a a dealer, i
> think it's quite wonderful that every cowrie is split up into as many
> "forms" as you would ever want, but i've always wondered if it is truly
> nessessary: if it was - but it HAS been done with Buccinidae, i just
> realized - and they are not known as "collector's pets" copmmanding
> thousands of dollars, so i guess it simply man's nature to split until
> someone says Uncle - any comments??  Are there some splits that are just
> going a bit too far??
> Cheerios,
> Ross.