This day is published, size royal 8vo., 5 Plates, price 3*. 6cl. coloured ; 

 2*. 6d. plain, Part III. of 



ELEMENTS OF CONCHOLOGY, 



BEING 



A SYSTEMATIC CLASSIFICATION OP ALL THE SPECIES OP RECENT SHELLS KNOWN 



UP TO THE TIME OF PUBLICATION, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF THEIR 



FORMATION, GROWTH, DEPOSITION OF COLOURS, 



AND A POPULAR ACCOUNT OP 



THE ORGANIC STRUCTURE, HABITS, AND CALCIFYING FUNCTIONS OF THEIR 

 ANIMAL INHABITANTS. 



By LOVELL REEVE, A.L.S., Etc., 



Author of the 'Conchologia Systematica', * Conchologia Iconica', &c. 



*** To be completed in twelve Monthly Parts, illustrated with forty-eight Plates of Shells, 

 of the natural size, and twelve Plates of Shells, of the same dimensions, with the Animal crawling 

 from each as it appears in a living state. 



The object of the present work is to furnish the ' Collector of Shells ' with 

 a methodical arrangement and enumeration of species, illustrated by a shell- 

 figure of every genus, and several figures of shells with the animal as it appears 

 in a living state, accompanied by a popular summary of those grand truths in 

 the physiological history of the Mollusca, which have been elicited from 

 the investigations of recent travellers ; to demonstrate the habits and organic 

 peculiarities of this mystic tribe of animals by a careful system of generali- 

 zation ; and to lead him to meditate, whilst pondering over the treasures of 

 his cabinet, upon the nature and zoological affinity of those imperishable 

 records of existence he so delights to contemplate. 



It is not the author's intention to treat of the anatomy of the Mollusca in 

 detail, because he cannot boast of sufficient practical acquaintance with the 

 dissecting-knife to enable him to undertake it with satisfaction ; for that de- 

 partment of their natural history he must refer the student to the writings of 

 those authors whose professional skill and education have better fitted them 

 for the task. It is intended to treat of the external form, and of the more 

 prominent features of organization ; and especially such as tend to elucidate 

 peculiarities of habit or the characters selected for their generic arrangement. 



For drawings of the living mollusks the author will have recourse to those 

 invaluable records of zoological discovery executed under the auspices of the 

 French- Government, which, on account of their enormous cost, are as sealed 

 books to the naturalists of this country ; • and he will be mainly indebted for 

 information on their habits and circumstances of existence to the enter- 

 prising exertions of Hugh Cuming, Esq., whose free manner of communi- 

 cating the different incidents which arrested his attention during fourteen 

 years of indefatigable research, cannot be spoken of in too high terms. 



The Elements. of Conchology are addressed exclusively to the ' Collector 

 of Shells'; and the author desires the work to be simply recorded as an 

 effort to induce a more legitimate tone of enquiry amongst amateur concho- 

 logists, into the nature and origin of those beautiful objects which afford 

 them so much intellectual recreation and amusement. 



London : Reeve, Brothers, King William Street, Strand. 



