178 Dr. Maton's and Mr. Rackett's 
valves, and the aperture, or mouth, of univalves, as it was a 
permanent character, so was it also less multiform than any other 
that could have been chosen. The general outline, however, was 
not wholly neglected. Tt served to form an uniting character for 
such as may be called natural families of shells, which were dis- 
tributed into suitable divisions, subordinately to the artificial 
genus, so as to become an assistance instead of an embarrassment 
in the investigation of species. Thus, the terms truncati, pyri- 
formes, elongati, and laxi, became useful demarcations in the 
genus Conus, without creating the confusion which must always 
be incident to too great a number of regular genera, especially 
when those genera are formed (as was the practice of the genera- 
lity of preceding authors) from external figure only. In a few 
genera it was necessary to deviate a little from these principles, 
(and what system can be free from anomalies ?) yet they are too 
few to affect the general simplicity, and we ought to be surprised 
only at the characters holding good so far as they do. But our 
great author was not wholly inattentive to the creatures for which 
the beautiful and endlessly diversified receptacles that he had 
characterized were designed. Among the generic marks was in- 
cluded the name of the molluscous inhabitant; or, where the ani- 
mal differed from any which had a place in other parts of his 
system, he described it at length. Thus was a method established, 
which, though not speculatively regular, possesses so much prac- 
tical utility that we cannot hesitate to prefer it to any hitherto 
made known to the world. Whatever improvements it may un- 
dergo (and of improvements all human systems must necessarily 
be susceptible), there is in our minds no doubt that the general 
foundations will stand the test of scientific application for ages ; 
a sentiment which will appear the less bold, if we quote in aid of 
our assertions those of a very distinguished naturalist of a neigh- 
bouring 
