CONUS CONE. 69 



are to point out ; you must now omit the generic 

 marks, as you have already determined them, 

 and they are implied in the name Conus. First, 

 what is the size of this Cone?* 



Child. It is rather more than two inches long. 



Teacher. Yes, in length it generally varies 

 from two to three inches. What is the colour 

 of the shell, and that of its markings ? 



Child. The ground is a dark chestnut brown, 

 approaching to black, and the markings are 

 white. 



Teacher. What form do the spots most nearly 

 resemble ? 



Child. They are nearly triangular. 



Teacher. You may denominate them white 

 subtriangular spots ; sub means under, and when 

 prefixed to an adjective, implies that the quality 

 spoken of exists in the object in an inferior de- 

 gree. Examine the substance of the shell. 



Child. It is heavy and thick. 



Teacher. It is a ponderous shell ; now look 

 at the spire, and tell me what you remark in it. 



Child. It has little swellings placed regularly 

 at the edges of the whorls. 



Teacher. These swellings are called tuber- 

 cles, and a spire marked with such inequalities 

 is said to be coronated. 



Child. I suppose that means crowned. 



* The children should have the length of an inch given to them, 

 and by degrees they will learn to determine the dimensions of the 

 specimens without measuring them. They should also be prac- 

 tised in deciding colours and their various shades, by referring at 

 first to some standard. Werner's Nomenclature of colours is a use- 

 ful work for this purpose. 



