22 Natural History of Mollmcous Animals : — 



Centrotus margiiiatus Fab, {Jig, 6, b) StolPs Cigales, pi. 

 11. f.53. 



Centrotus c\k\\gev Fab, (Jlg,6,c) Stoll's Cigales, pi. 21. 

 f. 1 1 5. I am, Sir, yours, &c. 



Barham, October 15. 1828. William Kirby. 



Art. VI. The Natural History of MolltLSCOus Animals, 

 In a Series of Letters. By G. J. 



Letter 1. Introduction, 

 Sir, 



I AM not surprised at the pleasure you express having 

 received from the sight of the rich cabinet of Lady Con- 

 chylia. Shells, from the ease with which they can be pre- 

 served, from their elegance and beauty, have, at all times, been 

 favourite objects with collectors ; and as show was in general 

 the main object, so various methods were devised to heighten 

 their gloss, and unveil their hidden colours. Much of the 

 effect produced by Her Ladyship's splendid specimens is the 

 result of these artifices : but this childish amusement has 

 gradually given way to a more rational pursuit ; and while 

 shells are collected with greater eagerness than ever, it is with 

 the view of unfolding a page in the volume of creation; of 

 enlarging our knowledge of the structure and functions of 

 animated beings ; of satisfying a blameless curiosity concern- 

 ing the habits and purposes of creatures whom their Author 

 has pronounced to be all "very good;" of improving our 

 taste by the contemplation of the most beautiful and elegant 

 forms; and for the very interesting end of illustrating the 

 striicture of the earth, and chronicling its revolutions. 



Naturalists, however, have now agreed that shells form no 

 isolated class of natural objects ; but that there are many ani- 

 mals destitute of a shell, which yet cannot be disjoined from 

 them without the grossest violation of nature. These, then, 

 we must not omit ; and, instead of the " History of Shells '' 

 you request, I shall attempt to give you that of the Mol- 

 Lu'scA, the name by which this class is now designated. 



Molluscous animals have no internal articulated bones, nor 

 are their bodies divided into segments by any external fis- 

 sures. They are soft and fleshy ; either naked, or, more com- 

 monly, covered with a shell of one or more pieces. They have 

 no legs nor articulated members of any kind ; and they either 

 crawl on the earth, or swim in the water, by means of extended 

 portions of their skin, which can rarely claim a title to be 



