IV INTKODUCTION. 



surly, snappish, peevish person called a crusty fellow; they will 

 now understand what is meant by a crustacean and crustaceology, 

 that part of Zooloo^y which treats of crustaceous animals. They 

 constitute quite a large family, these ologies, and have a strange 

 way of twisting themselves about, and exchanging limbs and 

 features, so that one is puzzled at times to tell which is which. 

 But here atc have fixed two of them, called Testaceology and 

 Crustaceology, twin brothers, and very mucli alike in their char- 

 acteristics. Let us have a good look at them, so that we may 

 know them again if we should lose sight of them for awhile. 

 Now we will spell over the name of the first — 



CONCHOLOGY. 



Why, it is changed already! Has this science of shells then 

 another name? Yes, and this is it, pronounced Jcong-hol-o-gy, and 

 derived from the Latin concha, which means properly a shell-fish 

 with two shells, joined by a hinge, as the oyster, the cockle, etc. 

 This present volume theu is a work on Cunchology, the subject 

 of it is Conchiferous, and whoever studies it will be doing some- 

 thing towards becoming a ConcJiologlst. 



So much for mimes and titles; but still we have the question 

 to answer, What are shells? In a learned work called a Cyclo- 

 pedia, we find it stated that "shell is the hard calcareous (that is 

 chalky) substance which protects, either partially or entirely, the 

 testaceous mollusks externally, or supports certain of them inter- 

 nally." All this you will understand, except perhaps the word 

 'moilusks;' this is a term applied to soft-bodied animals, such as 

 sliell-fish, snails, etc., about which we shall have more to say as 

 we proceed. By this we learn that all shells are not external or 

 outer coverings, some are internal or inner supports for the soft, 

 jell3^-like bodies to which they belong, thus performing the duty 

 of bones. An example of this is seen in the shell of the Cuttle 

 Fish, called by naturalists Sepia, a description of which will be 

 found further on in the book. 



Shells are either Crydalline or Granular. Now look at those 

 two words, they almost explain their own meaning. Crystalline 

 shells are those which have more or less of clearness, transparency 

 ns we say, so that if held against the light it shews through 

 them ; they are sometimes called Porcellaneous shells, from their 

 resemblance in this respect to porcelain, or chinaware; the Common 

 Cowry, (Ct/prcBa Tigris.) is a shell of this description. 



Granidar, or, as they are sometimes called. Concretionary shells, 

 are the most hard and compact; it is in these that the substance 



