CONUS CONE. 65 



LESSON XII. 



Teacher. If any one were now to speak to 

 you of a Conus, what idea would the name call 

 up to your mind ? 



Child. The name Conus would recall the idea 

 of a univalve shell, whose form is inversely 

 conical and turbinate ; the spire retuse ; whorls 

 spirally convoluted, aperture linear, longitu- 

 dinal, entire, effuse at the base ; its columellar 

 lip smooth, having sometimes a few oblique 

 rugose striae towards its base. 



Teacher. Yes, all the shells before us posses- 

 these qualities, or they would not be Cones : 

 but are they alike in all respects ? 



Child. No ; they differ very much in their 

 colours and patterns, and also in their size. 



Teacher. On account of this variety in the 

 shells possessing the same generic marks, the 

 different genera have been subdivided into 

 species, the characters of which are determined 

 by -the circumstances of colour, markings, size, 



own expressions, and follow their own arrangement of the 

 subject. When they have learnt to express themselves readily, 

 they should be taught to seek for appropriate language, and to 

 correct the inaccurate and inelegant expressions in their com- 

 positions. They should also be instructed to consider their 

 subject well, before they begin to write on it, that they may 

 arrange the matter in the best order. 

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