CHAP. V. 



CONINE, OB CONES. 



14? 



16 



of their animals, nothing, we believe, is yet known. 

 The true cones, from their beauty, are the favourite 

 shells of conchologists. Nearly all are natives of tro- 

 pical climates, where they constitute one of the most 

 extensive races of the carnivorous shell-fish. The mouth 

 is a short proboscis (fig. 16. a), 

 which in one genus (Coronaxis 

 Sw.) has the margin simply cir- 

 cular, while in the other (Conus 

 Linn.) it is laciniated, or divided in to 

 a circular fringe of little points, 

 analogous to the lips of the Trochi- 

 dce. In both these genera, the ten- 

 tacula (&) are short, cylindrical, and 

 nearly obtuse, with the eyes small, 

 and but slightly developed, placed 

 half way on their external side : 

 the foot is small, rather broad, trun- 

 cate in front, and rounded behind, 

 where it bears a small oblong oper- 

 culum, sufficient only to close the 

 detached part of the top of the outer 

 lip. The respiratory siphon (c) is well developed, but 

 its form seems to vary in the sub -genera : in some, it is 

 thickest at the base (as in C. bandanus*} ; in others 

 (C. arenatus), it is uniformly cylindrical. t Lamarck 

 describes no less than 181 species, besides nine fossil; 

 but we question if there are not more than 230, or 

 perhaps 250, species already in collections. Such an 

 immense assemblage of mere species, as they now stand, 

 fully justifies us in giving patronymic names to the 

 sub-genera, and arranging them in distinct groups; a 

 plan long ago recommended J, but never yet acted upon. 

 By separating the coronated from the smooth species, 

 nothing material is gained ; for although they constitute, 

 in reality, two genera, the internal relations subsisting 

 between them are passed over ; and these, in our opinion, 



* Voy. d' Astrolabe, pi. 52. fig. 7., here copied ./fc. 16. 

 t Ibid. pi. 52. fig. 8. I Sow. Genera of Shells, article Conus. 



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