CONUS* 



more numerous divisions might much facilitate the exa* 

 mination of species. We have not met with any author 

 who mentions the notch in the upper extremity of the 

 outer lip so common to Cones, and on which account it 

 is sometimes so difficult to distinguish the species from 

 Pleurotomse ; neither are we quite satisfied that the 

 animal inhabitant of the Cones, is furnished with an 

 operculum : for Lamarck appears only to give it one on 

 the authority of Adanson's figure, and collectors have 

 never taken the pains to preserve these animals, common 

 as they are, in spirits. We have, however, one reason 

 for believing them to have an operculum : it is, that close 

 to the upper extremity of the linear aperture, and on the 

 body whorl there is generally a small indentation, which 

 has the appearance of having been produced by the attri- 

 tion of some hard substance frequently passing in and 

 out of the aperture ; and which, moreover, is never co- 

 vered with epidermis. 



In general shape the Cones, as their name imports, 

 may be described as inversely conical, turbinate, some- 

 times, though seldom, rather ventricose convolute shells, 

 whose spire is generally very short, though in a few species 

 rather elongated. The longitudinal aperture is, in most 

 instances, as long as the shell, generally narrow, spread- 

 ing a little towards the base where it is rather effuse. 

 The outer lip is mostly very straight^ seldom a little 

 arched, and always without teeth ; nor are there ever any 

 teeth on the Columella: the superior extremity of this 

 external lip is very commonly emarginate, or notched 

 close to the last volution. We believe the Cones are 

 always covered with a more or less thick epidermis when 

 living ; but as very little interest has hitherto been at- 

 tached to these or any other shells, except on account of 

 their beauty, when deprived of their natural characters, 

 %e are not, indeed, surprised that this unsightly covering 

 should generally have disappeared, before they find a 

 place in the drawers of collectors : yet, as we ourselves 

 are admirers of nature in her own garb and unadorned 

 by art, we must be allowed to regret, that the practice 

 oi what is commonly termed shell cleaning, should be so 

 very general. That the brilliancy of their colours is 

 enhanced by this practice we readily admit, but their 

 real charactei's are too often lost by this artificial 



