NAUTILUS.
CONUS.
"Nautilus, pearly sailor, has several characteristics of Argonauta; but the former is concamerate, the latter without chambers in the shell. The generic characters of Nautilus are, shell univalve, divided into several compartments, communicating with each other by an aperture. Nautilus pompilius is often cut through, or bisected, to display the chambers of the shell. In the East, the shells are formed into drinking-cups. Sometimes the outer coat of the shell is removed, and the pearly surface finely carved. This genus, according to Linnæus, consists of fifty-eight species, some of which are fossil. ([Plate 6.])
"In the following genera we must pay particular attention to the aperture of the shell, which is a generic distinction in most univalves.
Plate 6.
To Face Page 4.
"The first is Conus, a large and beautiful genus, including many rare and valuable species. Shell univalve, turbinate, aperture effuse, or having the lips separated by a sinus, linear, without teeth, pillar smooth. In their natural state the shells are usually covered with an epidermis; but will bear a brilliant polish. C. textilis, cloth of gold, is valuable. C. generalis is sometimes sold for twenty guineas. The example on the table is C. Ebræus, or Hebrew cone. ([Plate 6.]) Species one hundred and fifty-five; not one British. The greater number are brought from the Indian Ocean; some from the seas of Africa and from the South Sea.