CQNUS CONE. 65 



the genus conus breathes by means of gills ; it 

 has two tentacula bearing eyes, the mouth is a 

 long proboscis, and the foot is furnished with an 

 operculum, by which it closes the entrance to 

 its shell. The section of a cone displays a 

 fact very interesting, as it illustrates the singular 

 habit of its inmate ; it is, that the concealed 

 internal convolutions are of a much thinner 

 substance than the external coating, and it is 

 supposed that this difference is made by the 

 animal's absorbing some of the calcareous matter 

 of these convolutions. The end to be answered 

 by this process is probably, that the weight of 

 the shell may be lessened, without diminishing 

 the solidity and strength of its bulwarks : and 

 if so, it affords a beautiful instance of the 

 superintending providence of God, who, by the 

 instinct he implants, directs the habits of the 

 animal kingdom. The shells of this genus are 

 remarkable for the regularity of their form, the 

 brilliancy of their colours, and the beautiful va- 

 riety and distinctness of their markings. They 

 are usually covered with a thick epidermis,* 

 which preserves the fine polish of the surface. 

 They are all natives of the ocean, and are taken 

 in the seas of hot climates, where they live at a 

 depth of about ten or twelve fathoms.")" They 

 are never found on our coasts. Their name is 

 derived from the Greek, KUVOS (conos) a cone. 

 Now attend and answer the questions I shall 



* Epidermis, an outer skin, from the Greek $j, (epi) upon, and 

 ieppa (derma) a skin, 

 f A fathom is six feet. 



6* 



