S E C T I O N 1. 19 



I therefore hold, that the arrangement 

 of Teftaceous animals fhould be made 

 only from their Shells, as the inofl: ob- 

 vious and ftrong charadlers, and not from 

 the fifh : for the efpecial colours and 

 forms of the Shells do not the lefs give 

 a diftrlbution or order, and proper cha- 

 radlers to go by, than does the mecha- 

 nlfm of the very fifh themfelves. How- 

 ever, I do not by this deny all affift- 

 ance from the fifhes to aid the iyflem ; 

 the knowledge of them will undoubt- 

 edly be of help) but then they are 

 meer fecondary and not primary charac* 

 ters. I do not adhere to this opinion, 

 from the fole difficulty of human powers 

 ever attaining compleat obfervations on 

 thefe animals of the deep, but alfo for 

 the following reafons. 



Though Shells are of fuch different 

 appearances in their different growths, 

 I will venture to eftablifh an axiom as 

 inconteftable ; by which the accurate and 



C 2 judicious 



