ADVERTISEMENT. 
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THE present work is submitted with the utmost defer- 
ence to the Reader asa general and very copious eluci- 
dation. of all the larger kinds of Shells found in this 
country. 
At the commencement of this undertaking the Author 
proposed that the five volumes of which this work consists 
should include figures and descriptions of all the British 
Shells; so far at least as they could be correctly ascer- 
tained. The amount of these collectively, he was induced 
to think might be very nearly appreciated from the seve- 
ral works of Lister, Merret, Petiver, Walker, Pennant, 
and Da Costa: from the number of nondescript British 
Shells that came into his possession with the original col- 
lection of the latter writer, together with those in his own 
cabinet independent of them; the whole amount of which 
was far from inconsiderable. 
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