88 VOLUTA. 



margin of the aperture. The plaits are usually 

 longitudinally inclined, and not horizontally, as in 

 the plaited division of the Murices. 



It has been objected to this genus, that it con- 

 tains shells not only differing extremely in form, 

 but inhabited by animals generically distinct. The 

 first objection, if it be valid, would apply to several 

 other genera, confessedly the work of the same 

 description of worm ; the second is only an addi- 

 tional proof of a fact universally admitted, that, 

 if it were possible to obtain it, a natural system 

 would be better than an artificial one. Until this 

 desirable method of arrangement be perfected, we 

 must condescend to adopt some one or two strong 

 characters of the style of architecture for the clas- 

 sification of testaceous edifices, and leave the fame 

 and family of the architect to the care of future 

 generations. 



The cognomen of the genus, signifying " rolled 

 up cylindrically " is justly applied, and sufficiently 

 authorises the separation of Con us by Linnaeus, 

 the shells of the latter being conkally convolute. 



