IG 



in the fossil, there are no striae either represented in the figures of the 

 varieties, or mentioned in the descriptions above or nearer the apex than 

 the row of tubercles, whereas in the figure of the recent shell several 

 striae are represented in that position, and in the description he ex- 

 presily mentions them ; ('■'■ II a quelques stries de plus vers la suture''' J. 

 It is therefore evident that Deshayes' recent is really different in several 

 respects from his fossil shell, whether it is merely another variety (which 

 he asserts it to be) or a distinct species is a question upon the considera- 

 tion of which I shall presently enter. But I must first observe, in rela- 

 tion to his description of the recent shell, that he commences with a 

 new character of the species, evidently for the alone purpose of bring- 

 ing in this shell ; which he moreover asserts to be " une variete a 

 ajouter a celles qui sent connues." In effect Deshayes proves by his 

 own descriptions and figures that his recent is different from his fossil 

 species and he is at variance with himself, for notwithstanding he has 

 given us a figure which any oae may easily compare with the figures 

 of the fossil which he has given in his other work, I would ask, how is 

 it possible that any one who may take this trouble will be assured of the 

 identity of the recent and fossil individuals since he tells us that the 

 I'ecent one is a variety — if it be a variety it is not identical. This is 

 too much in accordance with Lamarck's absurd dictum, conveyed in the 

 following words which are to be found in the 245th. page of the 7th. 

 volume of his Histoire naturelle des Animaux sans vertfebres, " a 

 Vegard des produits de la Mature, tons sont varietes les uns des autres, 

 ce que constate partout I' observation des avoisinans'^; I have neither time 

 nor talent for entering upon so large a field of enquiry, I would only 

 ask one question ; If this be true ; if the Lion, the Eagle, the Crocodile, 

 the Snake, the Flying Fish, the Beetle, the Polyp, the Molluscum, &c. &c. 

 be merely varieties one of another, why do Naturalists labour upon 

 systems and endeavour to ascertain the natural affinities, and to found 

 upon them classes and orders and families and genera and species? Here 

 is the ready answer to all their researches " Thev are all varieties, 



ONE OF another." 



But I think I shall be able to show by a compaialive examination of 

 the recent and fossil shells thcmselces that they ought to be regarded as 



