It is a moon snail egg case (here in the Northwest from Pollinices). The eggs are not laid in the center like a bird nests, but are mixed in with the sand and mucus. > ---------- > From: Leslie Shattuck[SMTP:[log in to unmask]] > Reply To: Conchologists of America List > Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 1998 1:16 PM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Sharks nest > > Hi shellers, I am looking for the "parent" of what we used to call a > "sharks > nest" found around Newport Beach bays, in calm ,shallow water. It is > a collar > of sand cemented togeather with some sort of mucus, with a hole in the > middle. > As kids, we used to think sand sharks made them for their eggs. But I > have > heard that the moon snail really makes them for their eggs. Does > anyone know > about this curios little nest? Thanks ,Leslie >