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



after a system somewhat similar to Buonanni's, and in the Italian 

 language. These different tribes are distributed into three cor- 

 respondent treatises, the first of which is accompanied by thirty- 

 one plates, the second b}^ four, and the third by three only. The 

 engraving is slight; but there is a correctness of design in most of 

 the figures, and several new species are contained among them. 

 A like character may be given of those which accompany the 

 other work, descriptive of the museum formed by his uncle Count 

 Francis Ginanni, for which he had prepared most of the mate- 

 rials, though its publication did not take place until five years 

 after the former. It is illustrated by two plates of Testacea, which, 

 under the head of " Corpi che stanno in Mart," are described 

 agreeably to the system contained in the Opere Postume. There 

 are pretty numerous references to preceding writers, which con- 

 siderably assist readers unacquainted with the Italian language. 



In the same year with the re-publication of the fine work of 

 DArgenville, the French had to boast of another author of their 

 nation rendering singular service to the study of the Testacea; this 



was 



ADANSON, 



who, in his " Histoire Naturelle du Senegal," has presented us with 

 an accurate description of shells figured in sixteen plates. It is 

 prefaced by an account of the author's travels in the years 1749, 

 1750, 1751, 1752, and 1753. There is also a general history of 

 Testaceology, and an arrangement of species invented by himself. 

 This arrangement rests principally on circumstances connected 

 with the structure and habits of the animals ; on which subject 

 Adanson is more diffuse and particular than almost any person who 

 preceded him. His general divisions of Testacea are Limacons and 

 Conques; the first of these comprehending his Univalves and Opercu- 

 lees, the second Bivalves and Multivalves. His species are only 185 



in 



