by William Swainson

“ To attempt a natural arrangement of the higher groups, on such considerations alone, would be manifestly absurd. On the other hand, we think both principles may be carried too far: and that a system founded exclusively upon the animal would, in our present state of knowledge, be little less artificial than another taken merely from the shell. We see, on every side, throughout Nature, the most beautiful and perfect adaptation of structure to use. ”

“ We are here met by certain fossil shells, preserving the form of Rostellaria, but with the outer lip entire, and sometimes considerably expanded: in these the spiral canal sometimes extends to the summit of the shell: finally the distinct sinus again appears in such species as S. cancellatus, canalus, &c., all which have been classed by conchologists with Strombus. ”

“ In our last number we defined what appear to be the leading forms among the Strombii, from such characters as are exhibited by their shells. This mode of classification, we admit, is always attended with hazard ”