THE 
CABINET OF SHELLS. 
CERTAIN ANIMALS, 
Principally inhabiting the waters of the earth, (having no 
bones,) are furnished with a covering of an indurated and 
variegated substance termed Shell, hence called Testaceous 
Animals, or Shell Fish. 
Of these there are immense varieties. Some are covered 
with many shells, and called MULTIVALVE ; some ex- 
isting between two shells, and are called BIVALVE ; and 
others inhabiting a single shell only, and are called UNI- 
VALVE. 
These Shells seem to serve the double purpose of houses 
of residence and as castles of defence. 
There are, however, two kinds of Shell Fish imhabiting the 
ocean. ‘The one termed CrusTaceous, and the other 'T'ks- 
TacEous. A work on Conchology would embrace both 
Classes. 
