218 CLEANING SHELLS. 



minute's application often has the desired effect. It should 

 then be immersed in cold water, and the parts well scrubbed 

 with a nail-brush and soap. Should the crust not be entirely 

 removed, this process may be repeated, but the greatest care 

 is to be used not to allow the acid to touch the inside, as 

 it will instantly remove the fine enamelled surface. Some 

 are so cautious as to melt bees' wax, and coat the parts of 

 the shell they do not wish touched with the acid. 



When water is used too hot in the first process, it often 

 makes the fine polished surface crack in a thousand direc- 

 tions. 



After the process of corrosion, some make use of flannel or 

 a brush, and emery or tripoly, to polish the shell. This may 

 be done in cases where the polished insides happen to be 

 touched with the corrosive fluid; but in all instances where 

 the places cleared by the acid are of a white or chalky appear- 

 ance, they should be washed over with Florence oil, and then 

 rubbed hard with flannel or a nail-brush. This mode gives 

 the shell the appearance of nature, and at the same time 

 stops the action of the acid, should any remain in the shell, 

 while it is also of great use in preserving it from decay. It 

 is of great advantage in preserving the epidermis, which 

 often, when it becomes dry from lying long in a cabinet, 

 cracks and quits the external surface of the shell. It would 

 not be amiss to rub shells over with oil once a-year. 



This practice of oiling shells I believe I was the first who 

 thought of. I have communicated 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 common practice 

 of collectors is, when they obtain a specimen which is ^ 

 little worn, to coat it over with a solution of gum arable 

 which certainly heightens 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 cabi- 

 nets daubed over with gum arable, so that they all shine with 



