104 C O N G H O L O G Y. 



an ufe, or raiflng any fabrick out of them, 

 might well be reputed very fantaftic and 

 extravagant. And a like cenfure would 

 be his dvTC, who (hould be perpetually 

 heaping up of natural colleftions, without 

 defign of building a ftru6lure of philofo^ 

 phy out of them, or advancing fome pro- 

 pofitions that might turn to the benefit 

 and advantage of the world. This is in 

 reality the true and only proper end of 

 colleflions, of obfervations, and natural 

 hiftory : and they are of no manner of 

 life or value without it. Now, as collec- 

 tions are the materials, it behoves every 

 coUeftor to make obfervations, or give 

 what accounts his capacity or leifure per- 

 mit him, that others, who fhall have more 

 fcience and leifure to purfue the defign, 

 may find land-marks and notices fufficient 

 to conduft themfelves by in that fo ufefu^ 

 a purfuit. 



Few Conchologifls have duly attended 

 to this view ; and what few curious obfer- 

 Vfitions have been made, are fcatter^d or 



difperfec^ 



