A word in your shell-like...
Did you know there are more than 200 identified species of the
marine snails that are known as Cowries? The shells of these
animals are highly polished and have distinctive patterns. They are
mostly to be found in tropical waters, hiding during the day in
rocks and crevices, emerging at night to feed. These shells have
been prized for centuries, and have been used as money, food,
decoration, for divination, games and charms. The images below show
only a small part of the extensive collection of Cowries that are
part of the collections of the National Museums of Scotland.
Find out how to
request a loan and see other collections available here.