78 
NAUTILUS. 
ant of the Nautilus, as the shape of the shell will 
indicate, possesses the power of floating on the sur- 
face of the sea, but is more frequently found re- 
versed, and bearing his boat upon his back. The 
animal of the Nautilus spirula possesses a con- 
formation analogous to that of the Cuttle-fish, and 
in the posterior extremity of his body he bears the 
shell, which is only partially uncovered. This ani- 
mal was brought from New Holland by M. Peron. 
It has been presumed that other concamerated 
shells are similarly situated, and that they serve 
merely to protect a small portion of the animal 
with their exterior chamber. 
No exemplification is given of the division C., 
because all the shells which it contains are either 
minute or fossil, neither of which come within 
the design of a work merely elementary, and con- 
fined to recent subjects. Fossil conchology, though 
subject to the same arrangement, is well worthy 
of a separate consideration. 
To vauTiXog, a sailor, this genus evidently owes 
its appellation. 
