276 ZOOLOGY. 



washed with a soft brush and soap, if the purpose is not 

 eflfected, it: may be placed in the acid again till the epidermis 

 is removed ; but it would be well for all collectors to retain 

 one specimen of each shell in its natural state. 



When the shell is quite clean, it should be rubbed with 

 flannel or a brush, with a little fine emery to polish the 

 parts cleaned, or where the acid has accidentally suffered to 

 get on the uncoated parts ; some persons use oil to rub over 

 those shells that haye been placed in the acid, and then ruU 

 them with flannel ; olive oil is also frequently used to rub 

 OTer such shells as have a thin flakey epidermis, which pre- 

 vent* its peeling off, a circumstance that often happens to 

 shells that have been long kept in cabinets. 



Numbers of shells whose exterior is rough and unsightly, 

 possess a great variety of rich colouring beneath the outside 

 layers of the shell; from which circumstance numerous im- 

 positions are practized on the young conchologist by dealers ; 

 to guard against which it requires much skill, as damaged 

 specimens are daily exposed for sale, so altered in form, as to 

 appear belonging to different genera, by having their lips or 

 hinges filed away or notched ; the young collector would do 

 well first to possess himself of some well defined species of 

 each genus, which will serve him to refer to in all difficult 

 cases either of arrangement or in purchase. These may be 

 obtained on reasonable terms of Mr. Mawe, in the Strand, 

 whose collection-abounds in rare and valuable specimens ; and 

 where the young Concologist will be sure to meet with useful 

 information relating to this and the science of Mineralogy. 



In collecting the next order in this class, the only caution 

 accessary to be observed, is to procure the specimen* a? 



