Historical Account of Tentaccological JJ riters. 16? 



surely there are few tribes of animals whieli, by delighting the 

 eye and engaging the attention, seem more likely to dispose the 

 mind to sublime meditations, and to form a never-failing source 

 of Monder and admiration, than the testaceous inhabitants of the 

 deep. The title of this work might give rise to the supposition 

 that it is calculated solely for popular use, and that the informa- 

 tion is of that general and discursive kmd which becomes subser- 

 vient only to the exercises of piety; but it will be found to be no 

 less suited to the study of the man of science. It contains a more 

 full account of testaceolooical Avriters than occurs in most other 

 treatises of this nature; it abounds with anatomical and physio- 

 logical knowledge ; the descriptions are conformable to a scien- 

 tific arrangement of species; and by tlie notes and synonyms the 

 author discovers himself to have been conversant with all the 

 best productions of his predecessors in this department of natural 

 history. It is also embellished with 137 figures of shells, which, 

 tliough somewhat roughly engraved, are not unworthy of being 

 consulted. A second edition was printed in 1756', preserving the 

 octavo form like the first; it is only to be lamented that it did 

 not undergo conversion from the German into some more current 

 language. 



At this period the natural history of our sister kingdom began 

 to be investigated by men well qualified to do full justice to the 

 subject. The first of these who committed his researches to the 



press was 



DR. CHARLES SMITH: 



but this gentleman limited them to the counties ofWaterford, 

 Cork, and Kerry, which counties he described successively, and 

 in separate works, under the patronage and with the assistance 

 of the Physico-IIistorical Society of Dublin. It may not be su- 

 perfluous to remark, that the express purpose of this institution 



was 



