Marine-shell trumpet (Fr.: conquetrompette; Ger.: Muschelhorn; Sp.: caracola), marine shell, often a conch, blown as a trumpet. Originally used as a voice distorter, it has served as a signal instr. since ancient times. It may be end-blown, in which case a hole is pierced at the tip, or side-blown, in which case one is pierced in the spira. The end-blown form is the older of the 2, side-blown shells not having been used until the end of the pre-Christian era. In some regions a mouthpiece is…