THE NAUTILUS. 



VOL. XXVI. DECEMBER, 1912. No. 8 



CONCHOLOGIC4L CHAT FEOM LONDON. 



BY CHARLES HEDLET. 



Like so many kindred institutions the Natural History Museum 

 at South Kensington has suffered from its architect. Space and 

 funds have been lavished on fantastic decoration which would have 

 gone far to improve laboratory accommodation. Our subject has 

 suffered with others, perhaps more than others, from cramped space 

 and poor illumination. 



The hall devoted to conchology is about a hundred and forty feet 

 long and forty broad, and is lit by windows in the roof. From the 

 ceiling hangs two huge American models of Cephalopoda with out- 

 stretched tentacles. These fearsome things are the principal attrac- 

 tion for the casual visitor. 



Around the walls special series are displayed. The wants of the 

 local students are satisfied by an excellent exhibition of British 

 Mollusca; the slugs and minute shells being shown by drawings. 



General morphology is admirably illustrated by models, figures 

 and specimens, both whole, sectioned and dissected. The operculum 

 for instance is traced through various modifications. Branchiae and 

 other organs are shown in large models. There are micro-photo- 

 graphs of lingual ribbons. A movable frame imitates the torsion 

 of the prosobranchiate viscera. Monstrosities have a case to them- 

 selves. Application of shells to arts and industries, to wit, ostreacul- 

 ture, cameo cutting and the pearling industry are appropriately 



