Fanciful Ideas for a Museum of Shells. -29 



fortune. The shell of this interesting creature is, as we are in- 

 formed, exceedingly thin and fragile, and divided into as many 

 as forty chambers or compartments {fg. 7. m), through every 

 one of which a portion of its body passes, connected, as it were, 

 by a thread. Thus situated, it has many enemies ; and among 

 others the Zrochus {frochus, a boy's top ; resemblance in some 

 of the species) {fg. 8. a) who makes war upon it with un- 

 relenting fury. Pursued by this cruel foe, it ascends to 

 the top of the water, spreads its little sail to catch the flying 

 breeze, and rowing with all its might, scuds along, like a gal- 

 ley in miniature, and, by the exertion of its nautical talents, 

 endeavours to escape its more cumbrous pursuer. Some- 

 times, however, all will not do, the Tiochus nears and nears, 

 and escape appears impossible; but then the little animal, 

 with inexplicable ingenuity, suddenly and secretly extricates 

 itself from its tortuous and fragile dwelling, and which, when 

 the Ti'ochus perceives, he immediately turns to other prey. 

 The A^autilus then returns to tenant and repair its little bark ; 

 but it too often happens that before it can regain it, it is by a 

 species of shipwreck dashed to pieces on the shore. Thus 

 wretchedly situated, this hero of the testaceous tribe seeks 

 some obscure corner " where to die," but which, nevertheless, 

 seldom, if ever, happens, until after he has made extraordi- 

 nary efforts to establish himself anew. 



Some shells, and among them some of the most beautiful, 

 have an outward covering or veil called an epidermis {fg. 

 8. abed), and of these would I select largely for the por- 

 traiture which I should be inclined to give of female excel- 

 lence ; for this puts me in mind'of the veil of modesty, through 

 which every charm comes doubled to the beholder's eye. 



a, Trbchus. 

 bed. Veiled shells.^ 

 ef. Cockles. 

 g. Pinna frdgilis. 

 h, Carin&ria vitrea. 

 i, V^nus Chione. 

 k, A^erita canr^na. 

 /, L^pas anatifera. 



d h g k 



Otherwise 1 would borrow largely from the genus Cardium 

 {kardia, the heart; form). ' {fig. S. ef.) 1 hope my fair 

 countrywomen will forgive me for finding nothing better for 

 the occasion than the heart-shaped cockle {fg. S.f); but, in 



