144 Dr. Maton's and Mr. Rackett's 



OLTGER JACOB.EUS, 



drew up an elaborate A'olume, under the title of " Museum Re- 

 gium." It is a very handsome work, but contains no attempt at 

 system, and the tenth plate is the only one relative to Testaceo- 

 logy : indeed this represents only an ornamental fabric composed 

 of shells. In the new edition published by LAUERENTZEN 

 a few species are added, though in a very indifferent style, and 

 there is not much augmentation of the descriptive part. An al- 

 phabetical index, in two parts, one of which relates to the artifi- 

 cial, and the other to the natural subjects, was published in 1726. 



SIBBALD, 



though best known by his " Scotia illustrata," ought to be men- 

 tioned here, as having been the author of a general Testaceologi- 

 cal work, bearing the title of '■^ Auctarium Muscei Balfouriani." This 

 work, however, does not treat of Testacea exclusively, but com- 

 prehends a variety of subjects, both of art and nature, which were 

 contained in the collection of Sir Andrew Balfour, Knight, M.D. 

 — a collection presented to the University of Edinburgh, and 

 considerably augmented by the intimate friend of the donor, Avho 

 described the whole in the work above mentioned. Unfortu- 

 nately for the reputation of this University among naturalists, a 

 very small part of the collection is now remaining. " Such," says 

 Mr. Pennant, " has been the negligence of past times, that scarce 

 a specimen of the noble collection deposited in it by Sir Andrew 

 Balfour is to be met with, any more than the great additions 

 made to it by Sir Robert Sibbald." {Scotch Tour, 1776'. p. 2A6.) 

 Such is too often the fate of public collections ; and so slight 

 or so transient is any respect for the laudable intentions of gene- 

 rous 



