163 



especially as most of the species v\eiglied are solely 

 from specimens procui-ed in the neighbourhood of 

 Nottingham. 



CONCLUSION. 



Haviog brought the history of the land and fresh 

 water shells of the county of Nottingham to a termina- 

 tion, it has been thought desirable to say a few words 

 in conclusion. 



Whatever branch of the created world we examine 

 and reflect upon, whether it be animate or inanimate, 

 there is something in the construction to wonder at 

 and to admire, some grand law of nature which displays 

 the wisdom of the Almighty. 



If we turn to the inanimate world we observe various 

 strata of rocks owing their existence either to fire or 

 water. The plutonic and voJcanic are produced by the 

 action of tire, and in this series the granite rocks must 

 be familiar to every one. Charnwood forest is the ex- 

 ample in our neighbourhood. A volcano has been ages 

 ago raging deep in the earth in that part of Leicester- 

 shire : let us hope that it will not burst forth from 

 its slumbers to activity of life, In this series all animal 

 form is destroyed, no fossils are to be found, the rocks 

 have once been liquid, and it must not be forgotten that 

 we are even now but living on a crust of land : a few 

 miles beneath us are immense oceans or lakes of liquid 

 fire. Wonderful have been the changes which have 

 occurred before this earth assumed its present calm and 

 beautiful form. Endless have been the animal and 

 vegetable life which have lived and perished to give place 

 to others, which in their turn have perished also; until 



