134 



C O N V A L L A R I A. 



case with the Conus generalis ; the second, such 

 as have a spire salient or projecting, but with its 

 whorls coronated, projecting, or flat, as in the 

 Conus imperialis. In these examples we may 

 point out the reasons why we differ with such an 

 arrangement ; taking as our guide the formation of the 

 spire, it is obvious that the animal constructing the 

 C. generalis has an organised portion of its body imme- 

 diately under, and upon which the spire was formed, 

 different from that which exists in a similar position 

 in the C. imperialis, where the knobs or coronated 

 processes are so distinctly defined, and can only arise 

 from corresponding elevations of the animal's body ; 

 on this account, therefore, we would suggest the sepa- 

 ration of all species having a distinction so clearly 

 marked : it cannot, it is true, in any way change the 

 classification of the inhabitants, since they remain 

 precisely the same in all their organs, though those 

 organs differ in form, length, and particularly in size, 

 it is, therefore, from the modifications of these at the 

 posterior part of the animal's body that the spire 

 exhibits its various characters. The substance of the 

 animal's body, that is, its being of an uniform thick- 

 ness throughout its whole length, or its being in some 

 parts thicker than in others, constitutes the difference 

 that exists in the external form of the cone, by which 

 it is rendered more or less perfectly conical, globose, 

 elongated, or compressed, and the peculiar manner 

 in which the animal's flat riband-like body is rolled 

 up distinguishes the length of the spire. This may 

 be easily understood by the familiar illustration of a 

 narrow roll of paper, one end of which is more or less 

 drawn out, so if we imagine that roll to possess at one 

 end convex portions at stated intervals, these would 

 form the corononated or tuberculated spire ; and were 

 the roll of paper more or less convex throughout the 

 whole of its breadth, the loosely formed cone made 

 from it, would be rendered globuse in proportion to 

 that convexity, whether in one part of its folds, or 

 uniformly in every part. Many cones are also granu- 

 lated on their exterior, some grooved, and others 

 variously sculptured ; these variations are easily 

 understood, as corresponding with similarily formed 

 portions of the animal's body. See CONCHOLOGY. 

 They, we also think, should tend to point out the 

 natural association and progressive links of the species. 

 The third division made by the French naturalists is, 

 that in which the species are but little elongated, 

 more oval, the spire rather projecting, pointed, and 

 not coronated, as in the Conus textile; the fourth, such 

 species as have the spire apparently coronated, and the 

 form of the body sub-cylindrical, as in the C. geo- 

 graphus ; the fifth includes the species much elongated, 

 cylindrical, a salient spire, the aperture resembling 

 that of the genus Terebellum, that is, angular at its 

 posterior portion this is exemplified in C. mitratus, 

 C. nussatella, and others. 



In these subdivisions it must again be pointed out 

 that they are to be considered with reference only to 

 the classification of the shells themselves, the animal 

 itself always remaining one and the same species in 

 all. It belongs to the second class Paracephalophora ; 

 first order Siphonobranchiata ; third family Angyosto- 

 mata. 



Lamarck ennumerates 181 recent species, more 

 are, however, now described ; they are the most 

 abundantly found in tropical climates, and like many 

 other molluscs become more rare as they approach 

 the northern hemisphere, where none exist, and only 



four, or perhaps five, species are to be found in the 

 Mediterranean. Fossil remains of the genus are not 

 uncommon, and are widely distributed, never being 

 found in masses, as frequently occurs with other 

 genera of molluscs. 



These shells are unquestionably the most elegant 

 of all the various known genera ; their form is always 

 graceful ; they present, in their coloured portions, 

 every possible shade, including that of green, so rarely 

 found in other molluscs, and the diversity of marking 

 in the different species baffles description or correct 

 imitation. 



Though it forms no part of this work, properly 

 speaking, to point out present, or former rarities of 

 the species of molluscs, we cannot, however, avoid 

 trespassing upon the space allotted to our subject, by 

 briefly pointing out some of those which, from their 

 extreme beauty, will ever retain a marked preference. 

 At the head of which must stand the well-named 

 cone (Contis cedonulli), in all its varieties; the C. 

 aurisiacus, and the varieties of the Conus ammiralis are, 

 nevertheless, scarcely inferior in beauty. One species 

 has long preserved a reputation it probably merits 

 more from its great rarity than its extreme beauty 

 it is the Conus gloria maris, for though it is a most 

 elegant mollusc, there are some varieties of the Conus 

 textile which approximate it so closely, that we onlj 

 consider it a variety of that species. We have 

 named these cones as a few of the mo>Jt rare 

 and beautiful known, but amongst the most common 

 numbers exist, which, if equally rare, would rival them 

 in elegance of form, colouring, and pencilling. 



In the records of conchological extravagance, it is 

 stated that some examples of rare cones have been so 

 strongly competed for by amateur collectors, that one 

 hundred pounds have been given for them ; it is, 

 indeed, within our own knowledge, that twenty 

 pounds have been paid for a fine specimen of the 

 cedonulli and aurisiacus cones ; and even at the present 

 period they could not probably be bought under half 

 that amount. Th somewhat trite adage of a " fool 

 and his money being soon parted," does not, how- 

 ever, in this instance, more particularly apply, than in 

 a thousand others ; from the earliest ages of history 

 mankind have been often known to sacrifice, not only 

 immense sums, but every moral duty towards their 

 fellow creatures, to acquire possession of an object not 

 attainable to others on the score of riches or vanity. 

 To a certain extent, wealth must ever command 

 an indulgence of this or any other bad passion ; but, 

 happily, the satisfaction of doing good so much pre- 

 ponderates, that instances of selfish extravagance are 

 hourly becoming less conspicuous. The blind gifts 

 of fortune are dispensed with a liberal, discriminating 

 judgment, by those who enjoy a superfluity of them, 

 and are blessed with minds so constituted, as to 

 appreciate the sacred duties which rank or wealth 

 impose upon them, by alleviating the sufferings of 

 beings less fortunately placed in the scale of worldly 

 enjoyment than themselves. 



CONVALLARIA (Linnaeus). The C. majali* 

 is a British plant, and one of the most valued of the 

 British flora, under the name of Lily of the Valley. 

 Linnsean class and order, Hcxandria Monogynia; and 

 natural order Smilacete. Generic character : corolla 

 tubular, limb six-cleft ; stamens joined to the tube ; 

 filaments awl-shaped ; anthers erect, and somewhat 

 egg or heart-shaped ; style columnar ; stigma headed. 

 Berry of three cells, each containing several seeds. 



