OF CONCHOLOGY. 131 



bra of Africa, is very frequently found 

 seven inches from the apex to the 

 base. A few of our own land shells 

 are very beautiful ; but from their 

 being familiarized to us, we look on 

 them with the greatest indifference ; 

 for example, the Helices, Pomatia, 

 Arbustorum, and Nemoralis. 



Some authors affirm, that the Cy- 

 prsea tribe abandon their shells every 

 year, to form new ones of a larger 

 size ; but this seems rather a doubtful 

 circumstance. 



When shells are found with the 

 animal in them, hot water should be 

 poured upon the shells, and the ani- 

 mal dies, and may be easily taken from 

 bivalve shells ; but caution is required 

 in the univalves ; as should part of the 

 animal be left in the volutions, it will 

 be almost impossible to extract it ; and 

 the smell becomes very offensive. 



Shells are to be met with, on almost 

 every shore in the known world, but 



