INTEODUCTION. VU 



Not only lias it grace and elegance of form, but it has also 

 richness, and delicacy, and variety of colouring. In some species 

 the tints are intensely vivid as the shifting lights of the aurora 

 borealis, or the glowing hues of an autumnal sunset; in others 

 pale and delicate as the first indications of coming morn, or the 

 scarcely-perceptible tinge of a just expanding flower-bud; in some 

 the colours are arranged in patterns, regidarly disposed; in others, 

 in masses and blotches, of varying shapes and degrees of intensity; 

 in some again they seem to change and melt one into the other, 

 like the prismatic hues of the rainbow. In all, whether distinct 

 and unconnected, or intimately blended, whether regular or irregular, 

 they are beautiful exceedingly. Nor is their beauty of an evanes- 

 cent, that is fading, or vanishing character; unlike plants and 

 animals, which when once dead, are extremely difficult of preser- 

 vation. Shells, being composed of particles already in natural 

 combination, are almost indestructible; unless exposed to the action 

 of fire, or some powerful acid, they will remain the same for ages, 

 requiring no care or attention, beyond occasionally removing the 

 dust, which would collect upon and defile their pearly whiteness, 

 or obscure the brilliancy of their colours. 



So easily collected, arranged, and preserved, and withal so sin- 

 gular and graceful in form, and rich and various of tint, one 

 cannot wonder that Shells have always had a conspicuous place in 

 all museums, and other collections of natural history objects; 

 neither can we feel surprised that a high value should have been 

 set upon rare specimens; as much as a thousand pounds it is 

 said has been given for the first discovered specimen of the Venus 

 Dione; another shell called the Conus cedo nulli, is valued at three 

 hundred pounds; and the Turbo scaloris, if large and perfect, is 

 worth one hundred guineas; while the Cyprma aurantium, or 

 Orange Cowry, if it has not a hole beaten through it, will fetch 

 fifty guineas. It has been calculated that a complete collection of 

 British Conchology is worth its weight in silver. 



The following quotation is from "The Young Conchologist," by 

 Miss Roberts; — our readers will do well to peruse it attentively: 

 — "We admit that shells are beautiful, and that they are admirably 

 adapted to the exigencies of the wearers; but how shall we account 

 for the endless diversity of shades and colours, varying from the 

 sober coating of the garden snail, to the delicate and glowing tints 

 which are diffused over some of the finer species, in the infinite 

 profusion of undulations, clouds and spots, bands and reticulated 

 figures, with which these admirable architects enrich the walls of 

 their beautiful receptacles. The means of producing them must 

 be sought for in the animals themselves. Theu* necks are fur- 

 jiished with pores replete with colouring fluid, which blends 



