CONCHOLOGY. 



offered to our view, we may class the Triplex Foliatus, so 

 named from the leafy divisions and branches, forming its 

 spines and covering its whole surface. Not indeed that 

 there is much variety in the colours or marking of the 

 Shell, as there are many which arc more magnificently 

 painted, but because of the elegant and taper character 

 which it every where exhibits. The plan or structure of 

 the Shell is three-fold, from hence its distinctive name is 

 derived, and the folds or divisions being placed longi- 

 tudinally, are spread out into branching extremities, most 

 gracefully divided and inverted back upon the body. The 

 mouth is embossed with a fringed edge ; the rostrum ox 

 beak richly ornamented with spines of different sizes and 

 directions, divided and pointed at the extremities. This 

 Shell has received the common name of the Rosebush, 

 though we cannot perceive any striking resemblance in such 

 a comparison ; the extremities of the spines are, however, 

 often tinged with a slight shade of rose colour, which may 

 be one cause of its receiving that name. 



Several instances have occurred in specimens of this 

 Shell, of the animal having added a fourth fold to the other 

 three before mentioned, in which case the mouth of the Shell 

 becomes almost closed up. This additional inclosure is 

 very common in Shells of the Triplex kind, and is to be 

 considered as a monstrous or unnatural accretion in the 

 growth of the Shell, in the same manner as cows and other 

 animals are sometimes found to have more horns than usual, 

 and which are to be considered as deviations from the gene- 

 ral laws of Nature. 



