UNIVALVES, CON US. 53 



CONUS.-CoNE. 



Animal — a Limax: Shell wvuraZiT, convolute, turlinate; 

 apertirre effuse, longitudinal, linear, icithout teeth, entire 

 at the base; pillar smooth. 



Of this beautiful and valuable genus there are but eighty- 

 three described as distinct species; however, that num- 

 ber is certainly very much under the real amount. The 

 general form of Cones is very similar, their principal dif- 

 ferences consisting in the coloring, marking, and band- 

 ing, though form sometimes assists their arrangement in 

 classes; as for instance, those shaped like the Conus 

 Marmoreus and Imperialis, make one division. Ano- 

 ther division is formed of those species which are similar 

 to the Conus Betulinus or Butter-firkin, Conus Glaucus, 

 &c. all of which are of very broad and thick structure, 

 quite the reverse to the Conus Generalis or Flambeau 

 Cone, which is very long and narrow, having its spire 

 very acute and prominent. 



The Conus Textile (the embroidered or cloth of gold 

 Cone), and Conus Aulicus or Courtier Cone, have their 

 shapes something like a cylinder, contracted at each end, 

 and nearly resembling the three following species, viz. 

 Conus Tulipa, Geographicus, and Bullatus; though they 

 are distinguished by their wide mouths, and inflated or 

 bellied sides. 



There perhaps is no genus throughout the whole of the 

 shell tribes, which holds so important a station in collec- 

 tions as the Cones; and it is difficult to decide whether 

 they are most to be valued for their rarity or beauty. 



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