XIV INTKODUCTION. 



•vrith the means of tlie collector. Perhaps for a beginner just a 

 nest of shallow drapers in a deal or other case, may be quite 

 sufficient; these drawers should be divided into compartments, on 

 the front side of each of 'uhicli should be pasted a neatly written 

 label, with the common and scientific name of the species of shell 

 contained in it, together with brief mention of the date when, 

 and the place where, it was taken; and any observations relating 

 to it N^hich can be comprised in a few words, and may seem to 

 the collector of sufficient interest to warrant their insertion. This 

 would be a good beginning; by and by, when the collection is 

 large, the knowledge more ample, and the outlay can be spared, 

 it will be time to think of something ornamental — mahogany and 

 glass, and carved or inlaid work, such a Cabinet as would properly 

 display and enhance the beauties of your testaceous treasures, which 

 are too often stowed away, with other natural curiosities, in a 

 very disorderly, higgledy-piggledy sort of manner, like the collec- 

 tion described by Dry den. 



"He furnishes his closet first, and fills 

 The crowded shelves •with rarities of shells; 

 Adds orient pearls, -which from the wave he drew, 

 And all the sparkling stones of various hue." 



AVhen live shells, as they are called, that is having the living 

 fish in them, are obtained, the best plan is to place them in 

 spirits of wine, this at once deprives the inhabitant of life, with- 

 out injuring the shell, which should then be placed in hot water 

 for a time, the body of the mollusk is thus rendered firm, and 

 may be removed by means of some pointed instrument; care should 

 be taken to leave no portion of animal matter within, or after a 

 while it will become putrid and give out a stain, which will show 

 through and injure the delicate markings of the shell ; the surest, 

 most expeditious, and least troublesome mode of cleansing a shell, 

 is to place it in an ant heap for a day or two; the busy 

 little insects will penetrate into its inmost cavities, and remove 

 hence all offisndiug matter. There will be no difficulty in this 

 respect with the multivalve and bivalve kinds, which are only 

 kept closed by means of a set of muscles, which can be tightened 

 or relaxed at the pleasure of the animal within, and become 

 powerless to keep the shell closed as soon as that is dead. Great 

 care must be taken to preserve unbroken the smaller parts of these 

 shells, such as the hinges or teeth, as on the structure of these 

 the scientific arrangement into genera chiefly depends; the beard 

 also, as it is called, an 1 silky threads, must not be removed, as 

 these have much to do in determining the particular species. 



Kiver and land shells are generally very thin and brittle, and 

 must be carefully handled; their colours are not usually so brilhant 



