80 CONUS. 



an epidermis, and under it, when in good preser- 

 vation, bear the most brilliant polish. This fine 

 surface contributes much to heighten the delicate 

 and glowing tints which are diffused over some of 

 the finer species in an infinite variety of undula- 

 tions, clouds, spots, bands, and reticulated figures. 



In enumerating the divisions of this genus, as 

 they stand in Gmelin's edition of Linnaeus's Sys- 

 tema, the comparative length of the spire, with 

 that of the body, has been suppressed ; because no 

 two species answer exactly to the same measure- 

 ment, and even in the same species the proportion 

 will be found to differ. The character, therefore, 

 can only create confusion. The division D. con- 

 tains but one species, C. Sinensis, which is not 

 figured, because the author has not been able to 

 procure an inspection of the shell itself; and he is 

 unwilling to deviate from his purpose, of offering 

 none but original drawings. 



The Greek xuvog expresses the peculiar form to 

 which the genus is indebted for its name. 



