INTRODUCTION. 3 



oceanic shells, still we experience a more exalted 

 sensation, an inexpressible feeling of surprise and 

 wonder, when we reflect upon the apparently in- 

 adequate and helpless agents by which these regu- 

 lar confoimations and highly penciled domiciles are 

 wrought. We perceive, at once, that one part, per- 

 haps the chief object, of their destiny is to teach 

 mankind how far superior the humblest worm, when 

 directed in its instinct by infinite and eternal Wis- 

 dom, can rise above the boasted ingenuity of that 

 proud and self-sufficient creature, who is permitted 

 to have dominion over the works of nature. 



The names will be given, in the Catalogue of 

 Authors, of those who have particularly devoted 

 themselves to the study of the animals, and to their 

 anatomical construction. Some have endeavoured 

 to found a system of Conchology upon the inha- 

 bitant rather than upon the shell. This plan 

 has indeed generally been acknowledged as theo- 

 retically just, but as uniformly discovered to be 

 defective in the execution, on account of the utter 

 impossibility of procuring, from the unfathom- 

 able recesses in which many, if not the majority, 



