6 



estimated worth one hundred guineas. The Cyprae Aurantium or Orange 

 Cowry, perfect, has been sold for fifty guineas, and the Voluta Aulica, forty 

 pounds ; this with the Conus Gloria Maris, at fifty four pounds, at this period 

 keep their prices, but all the others noticed are considerably (under the influ- 

 ence of several coming to market,) reduced in their value. 



It has been estimated that a complete collection of British Shells (alone) is 

 worth its weight in pure silver. 



But to view Shells merely as objects of beauty, without attending to the 

 animals of which they form a part, would be to overlook by far the most im- 

 portant branch of the science ; and like the Florist to take notice of color, 

 and shape, and neglect to attend to those functions, which, while they excite 

 our astonishment, exhibit marks of design. The examination of the inhabit- 

 ants, enlarges our knowledge of the laws of animal life, and teaches us that 

 each Shell, however insignificant it may seem to be, possesses faculties, 

 suited to the supply of its wants, and to the situation it is destined to occupy. 



As objects of Utility to man, Shells are eminently worthy of our notice. 

 To the savage, Shells furnish some of his most important instruments. They 

 often answer all the purposes of a knife, and are extensively employed, as a 

 substitute for iron ; with pieces of their most solid bivalves, he points his ar- 

 rows and forms his fish-hooks. The blue and white bells of the Indians of 

 this country, are used as tokens or symbals of peace and amity, in opposition 

 to the war hatchet, and by which the fate of nations has been so often decided 

 are made of the Venus Mercenaria ; and the gorget of the chieftains war-dress, 

 is formed of the Pearl bearing muscle (Mytilus Margaratiferus.) The mili- 

 tary horn of many African tribes, is the Murex Tritonis ; the rare variety 

 of which, with the volutions reversed, is held sacred, and is used only by 

 their High Priests. The highest order of dignity, among the Friendly Is- 

 lands is the permission to wear the Cyprasa Aurantium, or Orange Cowry. 

 Lister relates that the inhabitants of Nicaragua fasten the Ostraea'Virginica 

 to a handle of wood, and use it as a spade to dig up the ground. Even 

 when further advanced in civilization the canaliculated univalves sometimes 

 constitute the rustic lamp, while the larger scallops are employed by the dairy 

 maid to skim her milk, and slice her butter. From the mother of pearl shell, 

 many useful and ornamental articles are fabricated, and calcined shells were 

 formerly esteemed by Physicians as absorbents, and are still regarded by the 

 farmer, as furnishing a valuable manure. The greater part of the lime used in 



