THE CONCHOLOGY OF NOTTINGHAM. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Conchology, iu the idea of the million, is connected 

 with the sea, for there are but few persons, compara- 

 tively speaking, who are aware of the great number of 

 shells which are to be found inland. 



Every river and lake has its conchological inhabi- 

 tants, and even the ditches swarm with molluscous 

 animals, some clinging to aquatic plants, others upon 

 and under stones, buried more or less deeply in water, 

 floating on the surface of the stream, crawling on the 

 ground, or buried in the mud and gravel; these are the 

 fresh- water species. Land shells are equally abundant ; 

 we meet with them under stones, decaying leaves, at 

 grass-roots, in our cellars, under the bark of trees, 

 amongst the stunted grass on the barren moor, mosses 

 in the woods, and on the debris left by floods along the 

 banks of rivers and dikes. 



Molluscs are very diversified in form, colour, trans- 

 parency, and magnitude j it is therefore surprising this 

 interesting branch of natural history is so little known, 

 as it would form a pleasing study in our walks and 



