OF CONCHOLOGY. 137 



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who thought of it, and have comtnuni- 

 cated it to all my friends who collect 

 shells ; and it has been generally 

 approved. Indeed one friend, who 

 had a very large collection, was so 

 pleased with the effect it produced, 

 that he washed off the gum from all 

 his shells, and oiled them. The com- 

 mon practise of collectors is, when 

 they obtain a specimen which is a little 

 worn, to coat it over with a solution 

 of gum arabic, which certainly height- 

 ens the colours ; but the gloss is by 

 no means natural, and a judge may in 

 a moment discover the deception. 

 This varnishing system is carried to a 

 great length by some, who have almost 

 every shell in their cabinets daubed 

 over with gum arabic, and they all 

 shine with great lustre, even although 

 many of the shells should themselves 

 be dim in a natural state. 



T 



