PROSPECTUS 



OF 



ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE CONCHOLOGY 



OF 



GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. 



DRAWN FROM NATURE BY 



CAPTAIN THOMAS BROWN, F.L.S M.W.S M.K.S. 



PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL PHYSICAL SOCIETY, ETC. 



SECOND EDITION, GREATLY ENLARGED. 



I. Each Number will contain Four Coloured Plates, with Descriptions, price %s.4Q, or^s. §£, 

 uncoloured. A fasciculus will appear regularly on the first day of every month until {he 

 whole is completed. 

 II. The Work will extend to exactly Sixteen Numbers, containing in all 58 Plates, with about 

 1200 figures of Shells; being representations of every species which has been discovered up 

 to the present time, including Marine, Land, and Fresh Water ; together with Illustrations 

 of the Animals of nearly the whole Genera, — a department which has never before been 

 introduced into any work on the British Testacea. The whole of the Plates are already En- 

 graved by Lizars, in the best line manner; and therefore the Proprietors can pledge 

 themselves that the work will appear with the utmost regularity, and be completed in 

 about twelve months. 



III. The accompanying Letter-press is a specimen of the manner in which the descriptive part of 



the Work will be completed; but, at present, the quantity cannot be specified; and it is 

 expected to be comprised within 10 or 11 sheets. 



IV. The Genera are principally according to the System of Lamarck. All the larger Shells are 



represented the size of Nature — and the minute species have been magnified, so as to ren- 

 der their characters distinct. 



V. This is the only work which contains representations of ALL the species, and at about a third 

 of the price of any other work on British Conchology, while the Plates are executed in a 

 higher style of art. 

 VI. The present edition has been reduced to the lowest possible price, the former being published 

 at 10s. 6d. each number, containing Four Plates, so that the entire work cost L.6, 16s. T)d., 

 whereas the present will be obtained for L.l, 17s. 6d., with the addition of many new species, 

 and the Animals of nearlv the whole Genera. 



Opinions of the Press on the First Edition. 



" The work is now completed, and forms a very handsome volume, alike creditable to the facile pencil of Captain Brown, and the 

 matchless burin of Lizars. The volume contains no less than 53 plates, embracing 135 new species, and in all 1156 figures. Of 

 the exquisite manner in which the Shells are finished, we feel it impossible to convey an adequate idea; could we transport one of these 

 splendid delineations to our columns, we should require no words to enhance its value." — Observer. 



" While there are talent and accuracy in the Drawings, we need hardly say that Mr Lizars has executed the engraving department 

 in a tasteful and able manner. The colouring is here so much elaborated, and so judiciously managed, that the specimens have manv 

 of the beauties of painting; and this work, we imagine, will go far to make the public think more highly of the Shells of the British 

 Isles." — Scotsman. 



" A slight glance at other works on the same subject, will he the best mode of showing the superior claims to attention which the 

 present volume possesses. 



" The two best works which we have on our native Conchology are, first, ' Montagu's Testacea Britannica,' quarto, published 

 in 1803. It only contains 205 species, drawn and etched by a lady, and very indifferently executed; the price of this work is L.6, 6s. 

 The Shells represented are mostly minute species. The second work is, ' Donovan's British Shells,' in octavo, published also in 1803, 

 containing only 184 species, principally the large shells — engraved in a stiff and slight manner; price L.7, 15s. So that it requires 



both these works to be possessed of all the Shells known even in their time — the joint price amounting to L.14, Is and then you 



have only the small number of 389 species, and these very indifferently done. 



" Brown's Illustrations are sold at L.6, 16s. 6d. The Engravings are highly finished, and. as we have said, beautifully coloured. 

 The volume consists of 53 elegant quarto plates, containing 1 156 figures of Shells, 135 of which are entirely new, and never before 

 published; besides 148, which have only appeared in the Transactions of different learned Societies." Edinburgh Evening Post. 



