INTRODUCTION. 6 



milies of oceanic shells, still we experience a more 

 exalted sensation, an inexpressible feeling of sur- 

 prise and wonder, when we reflect upon the ap- 

 parently inadequate and helpless agents by which 

 these regular conformations and highly penciled 

 domicils are wrought. We perceive, at once, 

 that one part, perhaps the chief object, of their 

 destiny is to teach mankind how far superior the 

 humblest worm, when directed in its instinct, by 

 infinite and eternal Wisdom, can rise above the 

 boasted ingenuity of that proud and self-sufficient 

 creature, who is permitted to have dominion over 

 the works of nature. 



The names will be given, in the Catalogue of 

 Authors, of those who have particularly devoted 

 themselves to the study of the animals, and to their 

 anatomical construction. Some have endeavour- 

 ed to found a system of Conchology upon the in- 

 habitant rather than upon the shell. This plan 

 has indeed generally been acknowledged as theo- 

 retically just, but as uniformly discovered to be 

 defective in the execution, on account of the utter 

 impossibility of procuring, from the unfathomable 

 c2 



