UNIVALVES. 



PLATE XXV. 



Genus. CONUS. 



Character. Shell spiral ; the body and spire pointed and cone-shaped ; the spire 

 short ; the body having no beak, or rostrum ; mouth long, and very narrow, straight, 

 and lineal ; the sides of the spire sometimes convex and sometimes concave. 



Species. 



No. 1. Conus gloria maris. Shell spiral, richly veined with green, brown, and 

 olive marks ; the spire tapering beautifully to a point, with rounded folds ; 

 the mouth white, and curved at the base. This curious and striking shell 

 has been denominated the Glory of the Sea, from its magnificent form and 

 colours, which are sufficient to attract the regard of every admirer of nature. 

 Its graceful outline and contour, and the splendour and contrast of its shades, 

 have given it a remarkable celebrity amongst Collectors. It is found in the 

 South Seas, and is here delineated from a fine specimen in the British 

 Museum. 



No. 2. Conus vitifera. Shell pale yellow, marked with curious veins like the 

 branching of a vine ; the mouth brown, and the veins reticulated of the 

 same colour. 



No. 3. Conus marmoreus. Shell pale lemon colour, richly marbled with veins of 

 purple, having strong bands of red placed alternately across the body ; 

 the mouth of a pale brown colour. A native of the Asiatic Seas. 



No. 4. Conus bandatus. Shell white, and banded with red and blue streaks 

 placed transversely and alternately ; the mouth white. 



No. 5. Conus rete aureum. Shell yellow, covered with a pattern of gold net, 

 joined to which is a still darker shade, alternately placed, and giving a rich 

 gold appearance to the whole. This shell is found in the African Seas, and 

 has been called the Gold Brocade. 



No. 6. Conus coealloides. Shell pale red, striped and variegated with a rich 

 pattern of coral, represented by neat bands, and diversified with stripes of 

 the same colour and with spots of red ; mouth of a pale red colour. A 

 native of Sumatra and Ceylon. 



REMARKS. 



The variety and splendour of the colours which predominate in the Conus genus are such as 

 recommend them eminently to the painter and designer, as from these the most beautiful 

 patterns may be derived. The forms of the spire vary very considerably in the different 

 species, being sometimes flat, or pointed, or elongated ; yet the general form of the cone is 

 always strictly preserved. The genus which comes the nearest to this in similitude is the 

 Oliva, which is distinguished from the Cone by a thicker base, and a fluted body and colu- 

 mella, also by the manner of its summit. Nature has in the formation of the Cones admirably 

 varied the simplicity of their shape by the sweet and agreeable interchange of colours, and 

 the banded ornaments which surround them;' nor can the most inexperienced eye pass them 

 over without that share of attention and regard to which their curious formation so well 

 entitles them. They are chiefly found in the equatorial regions of the globe, consequently 

 very few species have hitherto been discovered in the English Seas. 



