COLLECTING ANT) CLEANING SHELLS. 161 



greatest indifference ; for exannple, the Helices, Pomatia, Av- 

 bustorum, and Nemoralis. 



Some authors affirm, that the Cyprsea tribe abandon their 

 shells every year, to form new ones of a larger size ; but this 

 seems rather a doubtful circumstance, and has not yet been satis- 

 factorily explained. 



When shells are found with the animal alive, hot water should 

 be poured upon them, when the creature may be easily taken 

 from bivalve shells ; but caution is required in the univalves; as 

 should part of the animal be left in the volutions, it will be almost 

 impossible to extract it; and the smell becomes very offensive. 



Marine Shells are to be met with, on almost every shore in 

 the known world, but those of warm climates have in general a 

 finer polish, and exceed all others in point of colouring. 



The instruments used in procuring marine shells are three, 

 namely, the Dredge, Gangui, and the Rake. The latter two are, 

 however, not so important as the former, which we shall first 

 describe. It ought to be in the possession of all travellers, and 

 by using it in foreign coasts, many beautiful and unknown shells 

 might be obtained ; and these in the most perfect condition. 



OF THE DREDGE. 



Tiiere is no instrument like the dredge, in point of general 

 utility. It is much used for fishing oysters, and acts upon the 

 bottom of the sea almost like the rake. No naturalist, who lives 

 on the sea-coast, should be without a dredge ; and to those 

 travelling in foreign countries, in search of natural objects, it 

 will be found of the utmost utility. It is to be much deplored 

 that so few naturalists think of possessing themselves of this 

 very useful instrument ; as by its aid many remarkable animals 

 might be discovered, which inhabit the mighty deep. Indeed 

 we may be said not to know any thing of the marine natural 

 history of foreign lands, as few or none of them have been ex- 

 plored by the dredge. The following is a representation of 

 that instrument. 



o3 



