Búzio

The shell of a gastropod mollusc of the genus Triton, often caught on shallow bottoms with drag nets. It is the largest of the univalve shells of our seas. Coastal boatmen use it as a sounding horn to announce the departure or arrival of boats, the receiving of cargo, etc. Peasants also use it on certain occasions to call their companions to revolt. In a general sense, the word is used for any shell of the genus Triton, however small, and also for any univalve whose shape resembles that genus.

On Porto Santo (‘holy harbour’) small búzios of the genera Columbella, Murex and Ranella are found, Columbella rustica being extremely abundant on the beach. On Madeira Purpura hoemmastoma, 4 to 5 centimetres long, Mitra cornicula, Murex corallinus, Bittium reticulatum, Rissoa violacea, Mitra zebrina and Cypraea spurca are not rare.