80 C O N u s. 



an epidermis, nnd under it, when in good preser- 

 vation, bear the most brilhant pohsh. This fine 

 snrfacc contributes much to heigliten the delicate 

 and glowing tints which are diffused over some of 

 the finer species in an infinite variety of undula- 

 tions, clouds, spots, bands, and reticulated figures. 



In enumerating the divisions of this genus, as 

 they stand in Gmelin's edition of Linnccus's Sys- 

 tema, the comparative length of the ■'>pire, v.ith 

 that of the body, has been suppressed ; because no 

 two species answer exactly to the same measure- 

 ment, and even in the same species the proportion 

 will be found to differ. The character, therefore, 

 can only create confusion. The division D con- 

 tains but one species, C. Sinensis, which is not 

 figured, because the author has not been able to 

 procure an inspection of the shell itself; and lie is 

 unwilling to deviate from his purpose, of offering 

 none bu^^priginal drawings. 



The Greek xu>voi expresses the peculiar form to 

 which the genus is indebted for its name. 



