THE 



INTRODUCTION. 



THE firft difcovery of the curious minute Shells, exhibited in this 

 colle6lion, originates with that inquifitive naturalll: William 

 Boys, Efqj F. S. A. of Sandwich, in the county of Kent ; w!io, by 

 his unremitting refearches into the works of Nature, was happily induced to 

 examine with his glafles the Sand of the adjoining fnore, whereby he dif- 

 covered a confiderable number of minute Shells, altogether new to him, 

 lodged therein. 



Information of this having been communicated to my worthy friend, 

 Edward Jacob, Efq; F. S. A. Mr. Boys was earneftiy prefled by him to 

 profecute the difcovery, with the ofF^r of procuring afTiftance in the purfuit, 

 if his other neCLllaiy avocations would not permit him to employ it fo clofely 

 as Mr. Jacob v-ilhed: The prcpofal being readily accepted by Mr. Boys, 

 Mi. Jacob was pltafed to make an offer of the employment to me, which I 

 entered upon moft w'illingly ; and, upon receiving feveral parcels of Sand 

 from Mr. Boys, I purfiied the following method in examining them : — Firfl, 

 I placed fmall portions of it when dry under Dr. Withering's botanical 

 Microfcope, in order to feparate the Shells from the 6and, and afterwards, 

 proceeded to enlarge every (ingle Shell with the greater magnifiers of Cuff's 

 Microfcope for oj)aque obje6ls, and Wilfon's pocket one ; and by thefe aids~ 

 I drew tJicm as exhibited in the plates. 



And. 



