THE ARGONAUT. 53 



de\^ces ; having first removed the outer coating, and thus 

 rendered visible the pearly substance of the shell beneath. 

 An exquisite specimen was exhibited among the curiosities 

 of Fonthill. The decorations were executed in the first 

 style by HHlican ; the subject was the triumph of Neptune 

 and Ampliitrite. It was elegantly mounted in silver gilt, 

 embossed, and decorated with finely-engraved shells, with 

 masques and Cupids, and a coat-of-arms and helmet, beau- 

 tifully pierced and worked in gold. 



Shells of the Paper Nautilus are equally curious and 

 interesting as those of their relative the Pearly Nautilus ; 

 but although the occupants of both belong to the same 

 class, their habitations are very different. That of the 

 Pearly Nautilus presents a somewhat elaborate structure ; 

 it forms a strong protection to the soft parts of the animal, 

 and is partitioned into chambers, — a simple mechanical 

 construction, yet wonderfully adapted to assist the specific 

 gravity of its inhabitant. That of the Paper Nautilus, on 

 the contrary, is merely a light elastic case, constructed by 

 the female of a shell-less Cephalopod for the reception of 

 her eggs, — a marine cradle, which presents a beautiful 

 adaptation of means to a desired end. 



This marine cradle is not moulded on the body of its 



