21 



are the only varieties of this species hitherto 



known. 



Madras presents such a surf-beaten coast, 

 that no perfect shells are found there ; but ma- 

 ny fine varieties, which were sent from Tran- 

 quebar, a Danish settlement, have enriched the 

 cabinets of Europe. 



We now come to-the famed island of Ceylon*, 

 well known to Concholot^ists, for the rare vo- 



« When Ceylon was taken, in the yejir 1735, the collection 

 belonging to the Dutch Governor was purchased for me. It 

 contained some of the finest shells that ever came to Eng- 

 land. During the last ten years, I do not hesitate to say, that 

 i. 10,000 worth of shells have been sent from this island, more 

 than two-thirds of which have passed through my hands. The 

 ■natives who make up colleciions in fine partitioned boxes, 

 scarcely ever put a good shell into them : the best shells they sell 

 alone. A peculiar shell from these seas is held in great estima- 

 tion in China, and is sometimes mounted in pure gold : it is re • 

 puted to add great virtue to medicine administered in it! 



