55 
tilus, if the plate in Shaw’s Zoological Lectures be 
correct, and many actiniz, shew that such graphic 
decoration has been extended to the mollusca. It is 
not denied to, though less conspicuous in, the crus- 
tacea. Several species of crabs and crayfish are ele- 
gantly spotted, barred, and tinted. But in no de- 
partment of nature is such regularity of delineation 
more strikingly and beautifully diversified than in 
the shells of those multivalves, bivalves, and uni- 
valves, the pholades, tellina, veneres, nautili, coni, 
volute, trochi, helices, &c. which enrich the cabinets 
of the conchologists. The blossoms and leaves of 
numerous plants exhibit similar instances of lines, 
resembling, but surpassing, the most delicate works 
of the pencil or the graver. Many geraniums, heart’s- 
eases, tulips, ophrys apifera and arachnitis, carna- 
tions and poppies, sufficiently exemplify the proposi- 
tion amongst blossoms: and the common striped 
grass, and the carduus benedictus, and the vernal 
orchis amongst leaves. 
It yet remains to observe, that in every class of 
plants and animals some are as remarkable for their 
dark and gloomy covering as others for their gaudy 
colour. The instances are too familiar and numerous 
to need much trouble in selection. The hippopota- . 
mus may be contrasted with the leopard, the black 
gibbon with the variegated baboon, the crow and 
shag with the parrot and kingfisher, black snakes 
and lizards with the blue, red, and yellow species 
of the same races. So amongst fish we may con- 
trast the dark grey eel with the golden lampern, the 
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