Notes on the Collection 



In attempting to convey an impression of this |collec- 

 tion, it is impossible not to dwell upon numbers, — in 

 fact, one is constantly surprised that so many species 

 of shells exist. Yet, Mrs. Williams says she has "cared 

 less to increase the number of species in the collection, 

 than to get numerous specimens showing all the vari- 

 ations of form and coloring found in each species, and 

 to be sure that each new specimen was the best obtain- 

 able." It is testimony then to her patient industry 

 that even the number of species so constantly challenges 

 our admiration. There are one hundred and eighty- 

 four kinds of the elusive little Nassidae! Contempt 

 for their diminutiveness vanishes when we look closer 

 at Nassa (and its subgenera), with such noteworthy 

 things as N. hy folia from Japan, and the two deep- 

 water species N. analogica and N. desmoulinoides 

 from South Africa. There are Northia, Truncaria, 

 Bullia, Desmoulea and Cyclops (Neritula). 



Turbinella and Vasum, constituting the Tur- 

 binellidae, small genera but of large stature, are 

 quite completely represented. The Volutidae again 

 rejoice in numbers and in beauty. They are so charm- 

 ing that no praise can do them justice, and it would be 

 difficult to duplicate them in a lifetime. These are 

 aristocratic shells, — scarcely one of them to be called 

 common, and almost any Voluta might well be the 

 boast of a collector. But here they all are, a gathering 

 of notables to furnish a week's revel for the ardent 

 shell-lover. 



