Historical Account of Testaceological Writers. 181 



pointed out are of great advantage to the language of science, 

 are not altot^ether reconcilable with the delicacy proper to be 

 observed in ordinary discourse ; nor are they such, perhaps, as 

 should be employed on any occasions, except those when their 

 original signification is immediately implicated. Yet these terms 

 may be exchanged for others without detriment to the Lin- 

 nean phraseology in general ; and though none probably more 

 expressive can be adopted for the respective purposes, they may 

 be abolished without any great disadvantage to those generic de- 

 finitions into which they have been introduced. 



Whilst alluding to the language and terms employed by Lin- 

 naeus in his description of the Testacca, we ought to refer the 

 reader to the Fimdamenta TestuceologiiE, in which they are all sci- 

 entifically explained, and which contains a complete illustration 

 of the principles of arrangement adopted in this part of his 

 works. Though it bears the name of MURRAY, who was re- 

 spondent in this academical dissertation, the performance ought 

 properly to be considered as the President's, Avho, as in all the 

 other papers contained in the Amcenitates Academics, furnished 

 the principal materials for them himself. The paper of which we 

 are speaking contains three plates, explanatory of the generic 

 characters, and of the parts of shells to which the several terms 

 apply. 



In concluding our remarks on the works of Linnaeus, we ought 

 to take some notice of the editor of his Systema, GMELIN, who 

 has increased the number of the Vermes Testacea to 2334. If the 

 whole of this number were founded on unimpeachable authori- 

 ties, and if the writer had in other respects inspired confidence in 

 his correctness, as Avell as in his knowledge of the subject, great 

 indeed would have been the obligation of naturalists to this labo- 

 rious publisher. Unfortunately, however, his errors are innume- 

 rable 



