CONCHOLOGICAL 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



The Cypraeadae being completed in the 131st part of the Concho- 

 logical Illustrations, G. B, Sowerby, Jun. gladly avails himself 

 of the opportiiiiity to return thanks to his subscribing friends for 

 tlie encouragement hitherto afforded to his laborious undertaking; 

 and also to take a retrospective view of the progress of the work, 

 from its commencement up to the present time. 



The design of the work being to facilitate the knowledge of 

 species hitherto unknown, or known only by description, we com- 

 menced with the Cypraeadae ; our first 8 parts containing 70 pre- 

 viously unfigured species of that interesting and highly appre- 

 ciated family, with a complete catalogue, prepared by Mr. G. 

 B. Sowerby, Sen., in which all the new species are described. 



In reference to the genus Cypraea, however, we have departed 

 from our prescribed course, by giving, in the later parts, repre- 

 sentations of all the remaining species, whether previously 

 figured or not. A complete illustrated monograph is thus formed 

 in parts 1 to 8, and 101 to 131, consisting of about 182 species 

 and varieties, and obviating the necessity of refering to a dozen 

 or so of large and expensive publications, which do not come 

 within the reach of all who desire to possess a knowledge of the 

 subject. Parts 9 to 13 contain 42 Cancellariae, some of the 

 most beautiful of which were among the late imports of the inde- 

 fatigable Mr. Cuming, on whose return from a second collecting 

 expedition, we anticipate a rich harvest of new discoveries. This 

 genus is also published with a catalogue. Parts 14 and 16, con- 

 tain 24 new species of Nucula. In parts 17 to 19, are repre- 

 sented 10 species of Amphidesma, which are not in the Species 

 Conchyliorum, although that important publication contains more 

 than are to be found in any other. A catalogue is given with 

 this genus; and another of Eburnaa, in part 20, with 4 new 

 species. Parts 24, 25, 28, 29, 32, 33, 36, 37, 54, 55, 56, 57, contain 

 73 species of the much valued genus, Conus ; and the intermediate 



