coNus. 99 



sometimes very thick ; the spire has various de- 

 grees of elevation, sometimes almost flat ; the 

 operculum very small and horny. They are na- 

 tives of southern and tropical seas : the animal is 

 carnivorous : found in sandy mud, at various 

 depths of the ocean. The species are very nu- 

 merous — Lamarck makes 181 recent. Some 

 new species have lately been discovered. Many 

 of the cones are very beautiful, both in shape and 

 colour, and the genus has been always in estima- 

 tion among collectors. The gloria-maris, cedo- 

 nulli, ammiralis, and some others, have been 

 sold at very high prices, and some of the finest 

 of these are now in England. 



" Lamarck makes two divisions : in the first is 

 comprehended the species with coronated spires ; 

 the second those with simple spires ; the latter di- 

 vision contains far the greater number. 



" Fossil cones occur, in London clay and crag, 

 in England. 



" No recent species are found upon our own 

 coasts. 



" Comes HebrcBus, the Hebrew-cone, is easily 

 known: (Plate 6:) it has a white ground, and 

 square black markings. 



'' Conns virgo is white, with a purple base. 



" C. marmoreus is a fine shell. Numerous 

 species are within reach of your purses, and I do 

 not doubt that you will soon acquire a good col- 



