The United States Service Magazine, vol 3. June, 1865. p. 539. "A Word About Slang." "'Spondulix' is suggestive. It recalls the wampum of the poor Indian, the cowrie of the Ethiopian, and resuscitates the ancient blackmail man, who, as his kinsman, the dun, does today, called upon his victim to 'shell out.' For 'Spondulix' is conchological. The spondylus (from Greek spondulos,) is a shell inequivalve ..."
