144 Dr. Maton's and Mr. Rackett's 



OLTGER JACOB^US, 



drew up an elaborate volume, under the title of " Museum Re- 

 gium." It is a very handsome work, but contains no attempt at 

 system, and the tenth plate is the only one relative to Testaceo- 

 logy : indeed this represents only an ornamental fabric composed 

 of shells. In the new edition published by LAUERENTZEN 

 a few species are added, though in a very indifferent style, and 

 there is not much augmentation of the descriptive part. An al- 

 phabetical index, in two parts, one of which relates to the artifi- 

 cial, and the other to the natural subjects, Avas published in 172(5. 



SIBBALD, 



though best known by his " Scotia illustrata," ought to be men- 

 tioned here, as having been the author of a general Testaceologi- 

 cal work, bearing the title of " Auctarium Muscei Balfouriani." This 

 work, however, does not treat of Testacea exclusively, but com- 

 prehends a variety of subjects, both of art and nature, which were 

 contained in the collection of Sir Andrew Balfour, Knight, M.D. 

 ■ — a collection presented to the University of Edinburgh, and 

 considerably augmented by the intimate friend of the donor, who 

 described the whole in the work above mentioned. Unfortu- 

 nately for the reputation of this University among naturalists, a 

 very small part of the collection is now remaining, " Such," says 

 Mr. Pennant, " has been the negligence of past times, that scarce 

 a specimen of the noble collection deposited in it by Sir Andrew 

 Balfour is to be met with, any more than the great additions 

 made to it by Sir Robert Sibbald." (Scotch Tour, 1776'. p. 246.) 

 Such is too often the fate of public collections ; and so slight 

 or so transient is any respect for the laudable intentions of gene- 

 rous 



