

yew YORK SHELL CLUB NOTES No. 252 May 1 Page 
the following correspondence refers to Robert Jan : 
DISCORD IN PARADISE, or Where Angels Fear to Pa a os ne iat 
crocatus), which appeared in NYSC NOTES No. 248, pp. 5-7. Bob 
jmowsky gives us this introduction to Bob da Motta: (-ed.) 
Lea (Bob) da Motta is a world-renowned collector of j 
ig in possession of one of the most complete Conus eet ons as 
sembled to date. He is the author of six new species of Conus from 
Thailand which appeared in the publication of "The Centre of Thai 
Natural Study," undated, but copyrighted in April 1978. 
We do not see eye to eye as to matters taxonomic, as evidenced by 
our correspondence below, but I am pleased to call him a friend. 
* x RHJ 
January 9, 1979 
Mr. Robert H. Janowsky 
c/o The New York Shell Club Inc. 
Dear Bob, 
A friend of mine sent me a copy of your Shell Club's Bulletin No. 
248 of Jan. 1979, and I am wondering if you will allow me to explain 
that, when the new cones were named, it was not a frivolous attempt 
to describe new species just for the hell of it, (as you seem to 
have that impression), but is the result of very intensive research 
work justifying the conclusions ultimately reached. It has taken 
me 8 years to put together one of the most comprehensive Conidae 
reference collections you will find in private hands. My library 
also possesses most of the relevant literature on Conidae. To 
achieve this successfully, one has to have a very intimate knowledge 
of the subject. I have always consulted and exchanged views with 
several recognized authorities and other knowledgeable collectors 
specializing in cones. I mention all this so that you can realize 
the serious and scientific interest I have been devoting to the 
subject. 
Now, to explain about the two species you queried. Other dissent- 
ing opinions I have been hearing do at least recognize that chusaki 
is not striatus, but is allegedly the rose-colored for thereof 
which Sowerby named floridus. Few people Lh ee aa: a! af- 
ter listing f id anaer "Species 345 striatus made a subse- 
‘ae - aurus Gonchliorum with an 
quent correction on page 47 of his Thes 
amended entry as follows:- 
"545 FLORIDUS, Sowb. - C. C. striato similis, sed vix straitus, 
lateribus magis ventricosis, Spira magis angustata, anfractibus 
rosaceus, floccis albis et maculis fuscis 
sparsi i ntispiece)- - Besides the smooth 
fe canine (290 is shell, it is distinguished 
from C. striatus by its less cylindrical form and the comparative 
narrowness of the AES which is also less deeply grooved." 
No doubt after further study Sowerby decided to reclassify floridus 
(what at first he thought to be only 4 colored variety) s distinct 
from striatus. My continued research has enabled me to locate 
