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PREFACE. 



In offering to the public a work on so interesting a subject as the science of 

 Conchology, my desire is to assist a discerning community in the study of 

 nature in all her variety of marine and earthborn shells. To attain this object, 

 it has been my study to compile a work, in as ample a form as possible, from 

 the best, most copious and approved translations at present extant, of Linn^us 

 and Lamarck, and from the more modern productions of Wood, Shaw, Dillwyn, 

 Mawe, &c, as well as remarks from Aristotle and Pliny, of ancient date, 

 in order to arrange the system adopted. 



To enumerate the many kind acts of friendship in the assistance rendered to 

 this work, is a grateful task. Should I forget to name any such individual, I 

 trust it will be imputed to the treachery of my memory, rather than to the want 

 of a sense of the obligation which I feel. 



George William Pratt, Esq. I am bound in duty to acknowledge as my patron. 

 From the Rev. Francis William Pitt Greenwood, I have received much infor- 

 mation, and am greatly indebted. To Dr. Storer, Dr. Gould, Elijah Clark, Esq. 

 and the ladies Barnard, Smith and Coffin, my thanks are due. To a young 

 friend, whose modesty forbids the mention of his name, I am greatly obliged, as 

 well as to Mr. James J. Jarvis, a young man of great talents, and one who bids 

 fair to be a shining character, and an ornament to society and his country. 



But I must not forget Seth Bass, Esq. M. D. from whose urbanity, kindness 

 and attention, I have profited much. The use of his private library, papers and 

 information, has been, in a great measure, my sheet anchor. It is entirely to 

 him I am indebted for the list of Unio. This obligation I feel sensibly. 



The Linnaean System, being by far the least complex, I have considered in 

 the First Part; being only thirty-six genera, with their divisions and families. 



The Second Part is entirely confined to the Lamarchian. 



To study nature in every science is beautiful, but in this it is both gratifying, 

 edifying and sublime. If it gives pleasure and leads the mind to higher objects, 

 my end is answered. 



John Warren. 

 Boston, Jan. 1, 1834. 



