GASTROPODA. 15 



PllOSOBRANCHIATA. 



The Conida, or Cones, form one of the most beautiful portions of [Case 1, 

 the collection of Shells. This family, of which about 400 distinct 

 kinds are known, is a great favourite with collectors on account of 

 the brilliant colours and various patterns of the shells. Some, 





The " Glory-of-tke-Sea " Cone (Cbttws ghria-maru). 

 (From the Philippine Islands.) 



owing to their beauty and rarity, have been sold at very high prices, 

 as much as £o0 having been paid for a single shell. The Cones 

 are found in all tropical seas, but are rare in cold or temperate lati- 

 tudes. None are met with on our own shores, one species alone 

 being known from the Mediterranean. They occur fossil in the 

 Chalk and Tertiary strata. These animals are all carnivorous, 



