Trod His. 59 



convex, squamose, radiate at the margin." This 

 is quite a simple affair to some descriptions, and 

 simple in fact it is to one, who, by attentive study, 

 has become familiarized with the meaning of the 

 terms. To one also who is acquainted with the 

 Greek and Latin tongues, they will be sufficiently 

 plain, although he has never seen them applied 

 before, for they are all derived from those dead 

 languages, as they are called, and so convey their 

 own meaning to every educated naturalist, no 

 matter of what nation he may be ; and hence their 

 chief value. It is not necessary for our readers to 

 trouble themselves about the meaning of such terms 

 at present ; by and by it will be necessary for them 

 to do so, if they wish to prosecute the study of 

 any natural science. 



But about the Imperial Trochus, with its " orbi- 

 cularly conical" shell — that term we may explain 

 as round and cone-like; a reference to Fig. 4, 

 Plate IV., will show what is meant by this more 

 clearly than words can, and likewise exhibit the 

 beautiful markings of this species, with its ground 

 tint of rich violet-brown. This beauty is often 

 obscured by calcareous incrustations and marine 

 plants, showing that the mollusk is sluggish in its 

 habits — a slothful creature. So it is with human 



