Beauty and Value of Shells. 11 
guineas; while the Cyprea aurantium, or Orange 
Cowry, if it has not a hole beaten through it, will 
fetch fifty guineas. It has been calculated that a 
complete collection of British Conchology is worth 
its weight in silver. 
The following quotation is from ‘The Young 
Conchologist,” by Miss Roberts. Our readers will 
do well to peruse it attentively :—‘‘ We admit that 
shells are beautiful, and that they are admirably 
adapted to the exigencies of the wearers; but how 
shall we account for the endless diversity of shades 
and colours, varying from the sober coating of the 
garden snail to the delicate and glowing tints which 
are diffused over some of the finer species, in the 
infinite profusion of undulations, clouds, and spots, 
bands and reticulated figures, with which these 
admirable architects enrich the walls of their 
beautiful receptacles. The means of producing 
them must be sought for in the animals themselves. 
Their necks are furnished with pores replete with 
colouring fluid, which blends insensibly with the 
calcareous exudation already noticed, and thus 
occasions that exquisite variety in their testaceous 
coverings, which art attempts to emulate, but can 
never fully equal. Thus far is the result of obser- 
vation and experiment. It now remains to account 
