18 SHELLS AND SHELL-FISH. PART I. 



in their zeal for describing new species, and too little 

 known to the scientific world, from being scattered in 

 detached papers, or unpublished, are all incorporated 

 and acknowledged in this volume.* To this accom- 

 plished zoologist and exquisite artist are we indebted, 

 among many other things, for the discovery of the 

 extraordinary genus Herpa ; and for cbawings of 

 the animals of Oliva, Volutella, Marginella, Triton, 

 and Trochella; as also of several other groups, originally 

 characterised from the shells alone, but now confirmed 

 by the difference of their animals. The name of 

 Mr. Lowe, the natural historian of Madeira, deserves 

 honourable mention in this place, as connected with 

 the illustration of many interesting facts on the Mollusca 

 of that island. A most magnificent, but extravagantly 

 expensive, work on the land and freshwater shells, was 

 commenced, several years ago, by the late baron de 

 Ferussac.t As it was patronised by Royalty, some hopes 

 were entertained of its completion, notwithstanding the 

 grand scale it set out upon ; but the undertaking was 

 evidently too vast for the very moderate abilities of its 

 projector ; the parts came out less and less regularly, 

 until, after it had cost the subscribers near 50/., it 

 was (virtually) given up, and the author died. This 

 striking example is surely sufficient to convince any 

 sober judging person of the utter impracticability of 

 completing a General Conchology, or of carrying it 

 on beyond a few numbers. It is, in fact, a physical 

 impossibility for any one or five men to accomplish 

 such a work in the ordinary term of human life ; and 

 even if brought to a termination, unless conducted on 

 the most economic scale, would involve an outlay to 

 the projectors, and an expense to the public, which 

 the latter, at least, would never incur. We are, in 

 truth, heartily set against all these magnificent under- 

 takings : they are absolutely detrimental to science ; 



* A large collection of highly finished drawings, and several MSS., are 

 DOW in the possession of Mr. Guilding's late widow. 



t Ferussac Hist. Nat. gen«^rale et particuliere des Mollusques Ter- 

 restres et Fluviatiles, 27 parts, published, Paris, 1819—33. 



