Queries and Answers. 397 



but insects of other kinds as well. We believe our querist's 

 desire to be not peculiar; and have, in consequence, sought 

 an answer to his questions : and insert these, that they may 

 avail others who may have a like desire. 



On Shells we have not asked counsel ; though, indeed, it 

 would have been better to do so. For the land and fresh- 

 water species, Turton's Manual of them has been repeatedly 

 commended by correspondents: it is reviewed in V. 175. 

 Swainson's Elements of Modern Conchology, noticed in VIII. 

 127. j contains characteristics of genera, marine ones as well 

 as land and freshwater ones. Brown's Conchologisfs Text 

 Book, noticed in VI. 355., must avail to the same end. It 

 appears to be shown, in II. 40., that Wood's Index Testa- 

 ceologicus enumerates 2893 species of testaceous Mollusca. 

 Notices of Sowerby's Genera of Recent and. Fossil Shells are 

 in I. 56, 57.; VII. 228, 229. Sowerby's General Conchology 

 is named with commendation in IV. 555. In this Magazine, 

 information on certain species of shells is given here and 

 there; see I. 424—429., II. 292. 303., VIII. 350. 379. 493. 



The late Rev. Lansdown Guilding had written the follow- 

 ing note in connexion with the notice of Sowerby's Genera of 

 Recent and Fossil Shells, which is made in I. 56, 57. : — 



" Nothing can exceed the value of this interesting work, or 

 the general accuracy of the remarks made by the zealous 

 author on the inhabitants of the shells he has noticed. One 

 can only lament that the numbers are not more regular in 

 their appearance. My residence in the tropics has enabled 

 me to draw and describe the animals of very many genera 

 which could not be known to Mr. Sowerby, or but imper- 

 fectly described from individuals preserved in spirit. Among 

 his genera which need further illustration, I have lately fully 

 investigated the genus CKvuium (a little egg), of which he has 

 given so full an account in the Zoological Journal. The draw- 

 ing which represents a West Indian species in various posi- 

 tions, I shall send immediately to Mr. Wilson of Edinburgh, 

 who has promised to engrave, in his splendid work, my 

 drawings of the more interesting subjects of the Antilles and 

 Caribbean Sea. The conchologist must look forward with 

 great anxiety for the appearance of Mr. Sowerby's Species 

 Conchyliorum. No artist in Europe is better qualified for the 

 task of engraving shells : from his intimate knowledge of the 

 subject, and his talents as an engraver, it will doubtless be a 

 production unrivalled in its kind, and well worthy of the sup- 

 port of the learned and wealthy patrons of the sciences; with- 

 out whose liberal aid, an undertaking of such extent, cost, 

 and labour can never be carried on. I purpose, in some 



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