88 
VOLUTA. 
margin of the aperture. The plaits are usually 
longitudinally inclined, and not horizontally, as in 
the plaited division of the Murices. 
It has been objected to this genus, that it con- 
tains shells not only differing extremely in form, 
but inhabited by animals generically distinct. The 
first objection, if it be valid, would apply to several 
other genera, confessedly the work of the same 
description of worm ; the second is only an addi- 
tional proof of a fact universally admitted, that, 
if it were possible to obtain it, a natural system 
would be better than an artificial one. Until this 
desirable method of arrangement be perfected, we 
must condescend to adopt some one or two strong 
characters of the style of architecture for the clas- 
sification of testaceous edifices, and leave the fame 
and family of the architect to the care of future 
generations. 
The cognomen of the genus, signifying rolled 
up cylindrieally f is j ustly applied, and sufficiently 
authorises the separation of Conus by Linnaeus, 
the shells of the latter being conically convolute. 
