260 Prof. C. B. Adams on the 



we neither intend to give the shell the monopoly of its name, 

 nor to say that the mammoth never had any " soft parts." 

 In organic nature, individuality resides in the whole being 

 only, and is the specific individuality to which the name be- 

 longs. 



That conchologists do not regard the soft parts of the ani- 

 mal, is partly untrue and partly excusable. 



In the case of amateur collectors, who value the shells for 

 their beauty or rarity only, it is obvious that " the animals " 

 have no other means of gaining the attention of this class of 

 persons, except as their shells commend them to notice. The 

 tendency, therefore, of amateur collections, in this, as in other 

 branches of natural history, is favourable. Many who begin 

 as amateurs, become scientific- If they do not, we yet find 

 them availing themselves more or less of the results of Ma- 

 lacology for the arrangement of their shells, and in various 

 ways encouraging the progress of investigations, in which 

 inclination or circumstances do not permit them to engage. 

 We protest, therefore, against the application to such col- 

 lectors of any terms of disparagement, but would honour 

 those whose hours of recreation, after the fatigues of busi- 

 ness, are occupied with the enjoyment and study of the beau- 

 ties of nature. 



With the conchologists, properly so called, there is no 

 ground for any imputation. Either by personal examination 

 of the soft parts, or by availing themselves of observations 

 made by others, every possible use is made of the anatomy 

 of the animals, while their habits and geological distribution 

 are probably as well known as those of any invertebrated 

 animals, unless, perhaps, insects should be excepted. If a 

 conchologist should in these days classify shells as univalves, 

 bivalves, and multivalves, and separate the Testacea from 

 the naked Mollusca, he would indicate a contempt for the 

 animal. If he should suppose that the position in which shells 

 were once placed for description, upside down, and sideways, 

 is that in which locomotion is effected, it might be said that 

 he had much to learn. So far, however, is conchology from 

 disregarding the soft parts, that there is in some quarter 

 even a tendency to undervalue the shell. 



