DIRECTIONS 



FOR 



COLLECraG, CLEANING, AND AREANGING 



SHELLS. 



Shells can only be expected perfect when they are found 

 with the animal alive in them, or taken by the dredge or 

 trawling-net from their native beds. Fine specimens, how- 

 ever, are sometimes found adhering to fishermen's lines or 

 nets. After violent storms many shells are often found on 

 the beach, driven from their beds by the agitation of the 

 waters ; on such occasions perfect specimens are frequently 

 to be met with. The Conchologist ought, therefore, to 

 avail himself of every opportunity of walking along the 

 beach, immediately after the tide begins to recede. Most 

 of the shells seen in collections, have been picked up dead 

 on the beach, and are therefore seldom very perfect, as they 

 have been tossed to and fro by the waves, and either worn 

 or broken. Should they even be driven beyond the reach 

 of the tide, in this situation they are exposed to the con- 

 tinual heat of the sun, by which their colours become faded. 



River and land shells are mostly thinner than those of 

 the sea : though this is by no means a general rule, as the 

 Paper Nautilus, some Placunae, and Pinnae, which are marine 

 shells, are extremely thin and brittle. 



Several of the Land Shells are very beautifully coloured, 

 and elegant in their form, particularly those found in tropi- 

 cal climates. Tn Africa, they grow to an amazing size, and 

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