fZ 



h PREFACE. 



I was therefore induced to dedicate :ixi 

 attention to the fludy of this particular 

 branch of Zoology ; which produced a 

 work, at firft formed into a courfe of 

 pubhc Ie£lures on Conchology : but, not 

 meeting with the defired encouragement, 

 I have now modelled it into the prefent 

 treatife. 



In regard to the merit of it, in the devia?- 

 tions from other fyftems, I entirely fubmit 

 lo the candid judgement of the learned in 

 this branch of natural hiftorv, either to 

 confirm or reje6l. 



Onefabject however I (hall innfl: upon ;: 

 that is, to explode theLinna^an obfeenity in 

 his charafters of the Bivalves; not only for 

 their licentioufnefs, but alfo that they are 

 in no ways the parts exprefled. Science 

 fhould be chafte and delicate. Ribaldry at 

 times has been pafl'ed for wit; but Linnaeus 

 alone paffes it for terms of fcience. His 

 merit in this part of natural hiflory is, in 



my opinion, much debafed thereby ; and I 



can 



