PLATE XLIIL 



tip iS'Straight, and the edge acute, while in the cyHnder, instead of 

 being straight, there is a shght inflection of the Hp inwards, about the 

 middle of the shell ; the spire is conical, as in the olive, so that the 

 mouth, though long, does not extend througliout the whole length 

 of the shell as they do very nearly in the cornets : and the mouth 

 becomes more open in descending from the spire towards the base : 

 the pillar lip is also distinguished by having a long fold or plait at the 

 base : neither in this the cylinder, nor in the Rollus genus, to which 

 it is closely allied, has De Montfort been followed by other authors, 

 we have however been induced to repeat his character, because, 

 although we should not adopt it, as it now stands, we may consider 

 it entitled to some consideration. 



The skilful conchologist must be perfectly well aware that the 

 two species of the Cone tribe to which we have just adverted, the 

 Conus aulicus and textile, are nearly analogous, and that their varieties 

 so closely approximate and intermingle with each other as sometimes 

 to afford no very certain means to the less experienced naturalist of 

 distinguishing one species from the other. This difficulty of drawing 

 a line of definition between the species was confessed by Linnaeus, and 

 has been acknowledged by later naturalists : Gmehn himself has ex- 

 pressed a doubt whether they may not be the same. To obviate this 

 difficulty, the continental amateurs have been accustomed to divide 

 the shells of this kind into several families or sections, distinguishing 

 each according to the particular pattern or figure of their colours, 

 spots, and lines, and hence arise the various appellations of La Bru- 

 nettCf Brunette perlee, and I'omaria, assigned by them to different 

 varieties of the Conus aulicus ; and le drap d'or, le drap d'or orange, 

 le drap d'or orange rayey and their correspondent names in other 

 European languages to the varieties of Conus textile. Several dis- 



