XVlll TREFACE. 



his system and his fame, we are indebted, 

 according to the judgement of a large ma- 

 jority, for the most perspicuous arrangement 

 of testaceous animals which has hitherto 

 been offered to the public. His system has 

 been followed in the present treatise, not 

 because it is considered faultless, or inca- 

 pable of great improvement, but because, 

 upon the whole, it is 7nore simple and in- 

 telligible, and less likely to deter beginners, 

 than any other with which we are acquaint- 

 ed. At the same time it would be blame- 

 able servility to adhere to the very letter of 

 the Linn?ean law ; — some of the terms are 

 decidedly objectionable, and are therefore 

 totally discarded ; some few subdivisions of 

 genera are added, which appear requisite in 

 order to preclude the necessity of forming 



