PREFACE. 



The study of Conchology has, by many, been considered as 

 tritiing •, and tending- to no useful purpose ; but such an opinion 

 could only emanate from persons who were ignorant of its 

 great unportance in a geological point of view, as fossil sliells, 

 coral, and wood, are the only true remaining Medals of Cre- 

 ation — as Bergman elegantly expresses himself. These often 

 retain the exact figure of their primitive state. By their aid 

 therefore, we are enabled to identify strata of the older for- 

 mations, or that which is of antediluvian origin. For none of 

 these fossil species now exist in a living state, having all 

 perished in the wreck of the former world. " By these me- 

 dals,'^ says Parkinson, ''we are taught, that innumerable be* 

 ings have lived, of which not one of the same kind does any 

 longer exist, — that immense beds, composed of the spoils of 

 these animals, extending for many miles under ground, are 

 met with in many parts of the globe, — that enormous chains of 

 mountains, which seem to load the surface of the earth, are 

 vast monuments, in which these remains of former ages are 

 entombed, — that, though lying thus crushed together, in a 

 rude and confused mass, they are hourly suffering these 

 changes, by which, after thousands of years, they become the 

 chief constituent parts of gems ; the limestone, which forms 

 the humble cottage of the peasant; or the marble, which 

 adorns the splendid palace of tlie prince." From the connect- 

 ♦.'d examination of fossils, and of the strata which contain 

 them, much valuable information may be expected to be ob- 

 tained respecting situations in which useful substances may be 

 found. 



To trace the structure, and investigate the uses, of animals 

 which inhabit shells, is not the least amusing and instructive 

 part of the «tudy of Conchology. As the Almiglity has 



