CYPft^A COWRY. 71 



GENUS. CYPR^A.* 



COWRY. 



Generic character.^ Shell univalve, invo- 

 luted,J smooth; form, suboval, resembling a 

 coffee berry, obtuse at both ends ; aperture 

 linear, longitudinal, extending the length of the 

 shell, effuse at each end ; lips curved inwards 

 and toothed ; the spire in some species just per- 

 ceptible, in others not obvious, but it* position 

 marked by an umbilicus. 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE SHELL AND' ITS 

 INHABITANT. 



The Cypraeae, of which there are numerous 

 species, display a high natural polish r uniformity 

 of shape, delicate and distinct markings, with 

 great beauty and variety of colours. They are 

 readily distinguished from all other shells by 

 their lips being rolled inwards, and both of them 

 being toothed. The history of the genus is very 



Plate II, fig. 2, 4, 5. 



t The proposed manned of imparting instruction upon Natural 

 History, so as at the same time to develop the faculties of children, 

 having been fully shown in the preceding pages, the substance 

 only of the lessons will now be given for the use of the Teacher, 

 who, it is supposed, will analyse it and arrange it in questions ac- 

 cording to the plan of the foregoing lessons. A frequent repetition 

 of the generic character is recommended, and also that the chil- 

 dren be. required occasionally to give a list of the parts of a shell, 

 and definitions of the terms they use^ 



\ Involuted. Boiled inwards, the first whorls being rolled within 

 the body whorl, from the Latin invofut us, rolled up in. 



Umbilicus. A small hollow: this term was appliedby the 

 ancients to the centre of the shield;, 



