VSB Dr. Maton's and Mr: Rackett's 



in those ages was very confined ; many of the mere appendages- 

 of testaceous animals, such as opercula and detached valves, were 

 mistaken for distinct species ; and a variety of families were con- 

 stituted on the most absurd principles. Yet, with all these 

 defects, Testaceology experienced no improvement from the great 

 Roman naturalist 



PLINY, 



who is chargeable with a greater fault than that of having left 

 no better an arrangement than he found, for he seems scarcely 

 to have adopted any arrangement at all. In the 9th book of his 

 Natural History he gives a pretty diffuse description of Testa- 

 ceous animals, but in a very vague and unmethodical manner. In 

 Pliny's time the Komans must have had considerable opportuni- 

 ties of increasing their knowledge of shells, for their navigation 

 had been much extended; and with respect to the Mediterra- 

 nean in particular, their augmented acquaintance with its coasts 

 must have been the means of importing into the capital of the 

 world a great variety of new species. The manner in which this 

 diligent naturalist alludes to the diversified form, colour, and 

 magnitude of these beautiful objects, sufficiently shows that he 

 had viewed no small number, and that he found in them ample 

 sources of interest and admiration. 



It ought to be remarked, that there are commentators who have 

 bestowed particular attention on that part of Pliny's works of 

 which we have been treating, and whom the curious scholar may 

 do well to consult. Among these L. Gronovius, Franciscus Mas- 

 sari us*, and Klein, deserve respectful mention. There are also 

 some annotations in the Leipsic Commentaries for 1773 f, illustra- 

 tive of the Roman naturalist's terminology. 



* Basil, 1537, 4to. t Fischer, p. 487. 



LILIAN 



