10 SHELLS AND SIIELL-FISH. PART I. 



on the nature of the poor animal which constructed it 

 for its habitation.* A curious arrangement^ as might 

 have been expected, has come of this method of pro- 

 ceeding ; for we have annulose animals i' (or insects) 

 united to true Mollusca, merely because they have shells; 

 and true Molliisca separated from this division_, merely 

 because they have no shells. In some cases, even, as in 

 the genus Limax, it is sufficient for the shell to be 

 small, in order to set it wide asunder from animals of 

 the same family : but it would be endless, as well as 

 useless, to detail the violations of natural order mani- 

 fested by Linnasus in his systematic arrangement of the 

 mollusks, which have so truly constituted his stum- 

 bling block. It cannot, however, be denied, that, could 

 we adopt his notion as to the nature of the animals, the 

 principles upon which he arranged their testaceous co- 

 verings are excellent. To those who admire the splen- 

 dour of the pencilling, the beauty of the enamel, and 

 the variety of sculpture, which exist in shells, it might 

 be depriving them of an innocent amusement, to object 

 the trivial nature of their study as leading to no general 

 results ; but it may be as well to remind them, that, 

 unless they add to their satisfaction and to their know- 

 ledge by studying the structure of the animals them- 

 selves, there is no more science in the disposition of 

 their cabinets, than may appear in the tasteful arrange- 



* A modern compiler, who has been at some pains to draw up what he 

 considers some general observations on the " Principles of Conchology," 

 very properly refrains from bestowing upon it the name of a science. 

 " Conchology," as he observes, " is the art of arranging tiie protecting 

 bodies of testaceous " (and he might have added of annulose) " animals, 

 so as to enable us to recognise them promptly and certainly, without giving 

 any attention to the animals which they have contained, or contain, or, at 

 least, regarding this part as a matter of very minor importance " Inde- 

 pendent of the assistance this " art " bestows to the studies of the geologist, 

 he further observes, " it may almost be regarded as a study nearly idle and 

 useless by all true zoologists." Nay, he cuntinues, "it is really to this 

 cause that conchology, projjerly so called, owes both the continuance of its 

 existence, and the daily increasing efforts of enlightened naturalists, who 

 endeavour to give it sure principles and rules." He omits to inform us, 

 liowever, how these sure prini;ip)es and rules can be attained in an " art " 

 which absolutely rejects that solid foundation for them, upon which their 

 true knowledge depends, — that is, a [irimary regard to the principles of the 

 variation in these animals. 



t The Cirripedes, or barnacles. 



