THE PRESERVATION OF MARINE OBJECTS 83 



MABINE SHELLS &c. 



We have previously dealt with the preservation of the shell-less 

 molluscs, and the soft bodies of the shelled species when such are 

 required, so we will now see what should be done with the 

 shells. 



Numerous shells are often to be found on the sea beach shells 

 that have been washed in by the breakers, and from which the 

 animal contents have disappeared, either by the natural process of 

 decay, aided by the action of the waves, or by the ravages of the 

 voracious or carrion-eating denizens of the sea ; and although these 

 shells are rarely perfect, having been tossed about among the 

 other material of the beach, yet we occasionally find here the 

 most perfect specimens of both univalve and bivalve shells in such 

 a condition that they are ready for the cabinet, and these often 

 include species that are seldom found between the tide-marks, or 

 that are otherwise difficult to obtain. 



However, the shell-collector must not rely on such specimens 

 as these for the purpose of making up his stock, but must search 

 out the living molluscs in their habitats and prepare the shells as 

 required. 



The molluscs collected for this purpose are immersed in boiling 

 water for a short time, and the animal then removed from the 

 shell. In the case of bivalves it will generally be found that the 

 hot water has caused the muscles of the animal to separate from 

 the valves to which they were attached, or, if not, they have been 

 so far softened that they are easily detached, while it does not 

 destroy the ligament by means of which the valves are held 

 together at the hinge ; but the univalve molluscs must be removed 

 from their shells by means of a bent pin or wire. In the latter 

 instance care must be taken to extract the whole of the body of the 

 animal, otherwise the remaining portion will decompose within the 

 shell, giving rise to the noxious products of natural decay. 



The univalves have now simply to be placed mouth downwards 

 on blotting-paper to drain and dry, when they are ready for the 

 cabinet. If, however, they include those species, like the peri- 

 winkles and whelks, that close their shells by means of a horny lid 

 (operculum) when they draw in their bodies, these lids should 

 be removed from the animal and attached to their proper places in 

 the mouth of the shell. The best way to accomplish this is to 



