THE NAUTILUS. Ill 



A WORD TO NEW COLLECTORS. 



A gentleman who has recently interested himself in 

 the study of shells and has commenced to form a collec- 

 tion, desires some suggestions as to the best course in 

 purchasing shells. Doubtless many others are asking the 

 same question, and a few general hints to the readers of 

 THE NAUTILUS may not be out of place. First, last, and 

 always, buy only from a reliable dealer. Nothing is more 

 important to the collector whose library or experience is 

 limited than the accuracy of the labels accompanying his 

 specimens. A misnamed or carelessly named shell is a 

 positive nuisance in a cabinet. Second only to the identi- 

 fication comes the quality of the specimen. Last of all is 

 the price. It is far better to be sure of authentic and first- 

 class shells than to run risks with "cheap" tradesmen. 

 And the rarer species may invariably be obtained of the 

 reliable dealer at much more reasonable prices, without 

 the danger of fraud. Only the expert conchologist can 

 safely buy from the so-called "shell-dealers." The less 

 experienced should avoid all risk of error or fraud by 

 making their purchases at Ward's Natural Science Estab- 

 lishment, Rochester, N. Y., the largest and most reliable 

 dealers in America. 



