Historical Account of Testaceological Writers. 121 



With respect to the general execution of our task, it is incumbent 

 on us to sohcit the indulgence of this learned Society, by whom 

 we hope those deficiencies will be pardoned which have not pro- 

 ceeded from neo;lect of means of information within our reach. 



ARISTOTLE, 



the illustrious father of system in general, seems to have been 

 also the first writer, and the inventor of method, in Testaceology. 

 In his History of Animals (book iv. ch. 4.) we find a copious de- 

 scription of thattribeto which he has afiixed the term 0(rPOLKoS?p^x^ 

 a term apparently intended to include all such animals as are con- 

 tained in a shelly covering. It is remarkable enough, that the very 

 first attempt to reduce the species of this tribe under a regular 

 system Avas so far successful that its outline stood the test of sub- 

 sequent discoveries, and was retained in Testaceology to a late 

 period. It was Aristotle Avho formed the divisions of 



1. Univalves, 



2. Bivalves, and 



3. Turbinated Shells; 



and the terms which he applied to several subdivisions, or genera^ 

 remain, as well as the genera themselves, in all modern systems. 

 The terms Lepas, Solen, Pinna, and Nerita, may serve as exam- 

 ples. Of the animals themselves, distinctly from the shells, this 

 philosopher (as might naturally be supposed) possessed but a 

 very imperfect knowledge ; yet he saAv the necessity of connect- 

 ing the structure and habits of them, as 'far as was possible, Avith 

 the form of their coverings, in the framing of a scientific system. 

 Thus, in his genera of Cocalia, Purpura; and Buccina, he expressly 

 describes the head and fiesh of the included reptiles. Aristotle's 

 merit, however, Avas only that of having established some philo- 

 sophical and permanent distinctions. The number of shells knoAvn 

 VOL. VII. II in 



