CHAP. I. SYSTEMS AND ARRANGEMENTS. IQ 



for they confine the materials of knowledge and of 

 study within the narrow limits of the select few (gene- 

 rally wealthy amateurs), to the exclusion of all who 

 cannot expend 400/. or 500/. upon a zoological library. 

 We cannot but admire the zeal of their projectors, — 

 for such works never produce profit, and generally bring 

 a heavy loss, — but we think it a zeal misplaced. What 

 is now most wanted, is a collection of plates of shells, 

 to supply the deficiencies of the series in the Tableau 

 Encyclopedique et Methodique *, and printed uniformly. 

 The series in question contains nearly 300 plates, and 

 is the very best which the naturalist can possess. We 

 have constantly referred to it, as being more within the 

 pecuniary reach of the student, and as being far more 

 accurate in the figures, although uncoloured, than that 

 of Martini and Chemnitz ; and these latter are there- 

 fore only quoted for species not contained in the other. 

 The figures in Wood's Catalogue are often very good ; 

 but the arrangement is so confused, and often so erro- 

 neous, that the nomenclature, in its present state, can 

 seldom be quoted as an authority. 



(l6.) In regard to systems and arrangements of 

 the testaceous animals, the only attempt that has ever 

 yet been made towards the natural disposition of this 

 extensive class, is that indicated in the HorcE Ento- 

 mologies. The ingenious author, however, candidly 

 acknowledges his inability even to point out the primary 

 divisions; although he has ventured, and, as we think, 

 has partially succeeded, in tracing the links of affinity 

 by which the testaceous Mollusca are connected, on one 

 side, to the Acrita, or polypes, and, on the other, to 

 the vertebrated animals, by means of the Cephalopoda. 

 Of arrangements made without any ulterior object of 

 illustrating the general harmonies of nature, and there- 

 fore artificial t, there are several ; the best being those 



* With these plates, and Lamarck's volumes of the Hist. Nat. des Am- 

 maujc sans Vertlbres, the conchologist will be at no loss to arrange an 

 ordinary collection of shells, and name by far the greater portion of the 

 species. The excellent Manuel de I'Hist. Nat. des Mollusqnes of M. Sander 

 Rang should also be procured, on account of the valuable notices it con- 

 tains on the structure of the animals. 



t See Geography and Classification of Animals, p. 125. 



c 2 



