4 Lamarck's system. 



the study of shells. One can brmg them out or 

 remove them so easily, that they can cause little 

 inconvenience, which garden-pots often do in 

 town ; and then the plants are almost sure to die, 

 whatever care I take of them." 



" Collections of shells are frequently to be seen 

 in London," said Mr. Elliot, " which are in- 

 tended for sale. There are now many places 

 where shells are sold at moderate prices, and 

 young collectors like yourselves can easily avail 

 themselves of the means thus afforded, to obtain 

 even a single specimen. While we remain in town 

 you may visit the British Museum, and become 

 familiar with the rare species of each genus, of 

 which there are many costly specimens. The 

 arrangement adopted for that collection is La- 

 marck's. You will find the work of this celebrated 

 naturalist on my shelves ; it is entitled, ' Histoire 

 Naturelle des Animau.v sans Vertehres.'' The 

 three last volumes contain the Conch ology." 



" It is in French and Latin !" exclaimed Lucy, 

 as she opened a volume. 



" Why do you both look so serious .^" asked 

 their father. ^' Are you not students in those 

 useful languages ? To what purpose do you learn 

 a language if it be not with a view to reading the 

 works of learned men, whose labours have opened 

 a wide field of knowledge ?''' 



" But so many works on science are written in 



