SUGGESTIONS FOR BEGINNERS 



Whenever yon collect shells it is well either to make 

 a record or write a label stating where and when they 

 were found. These labels become increasingly valuable 

 as the years go by. There are a number of things which 

 you will wish to learn about your specimens, -three of 

 which are as follows : their names, their structure, and 

 the habits of the animals which constructed them. This 

 book is designed to enable you to obtain the names, so 

 that you may be able to speak of your shells intelligently, 

 and to suggest a proper mode of classification. It also 

 gives hints concerning the structure and markings of 

 the shells, and tells you some things about the mollusks 

 to which they originally belonged. 



Very much, however, will depend upon your spirit of 

 investigation. Never be satisfied to simply know the 

 name of a shell, but go on to learn all that you can 

 about the life of its former inhabitant. The more familiar 

 you become with this book the easier you will find the 

 work of naming shells. Note carefully the general plan 

 and the order of the chapters. Study the j^ictures care- 

 fully, and you will soon learn the probable place to turn 

 for the description of an unknown shell. Consult the 

 Biographical Index, and get acquainted with the men 

 who gave names to the shells. Study the Glossary, and 

 learn the meaning of all the terms used in the descrip- 

 tions. The general Index will help you in the pronunci- 

 ation of the Latin names, as the vowel of the syllable to 

 be accented is designated by a mark. Keep a record- 

 book for drawings and additional descriptions of your 

 specimens. Love your work and it will bring you many 

 hours of real profit and pure pleasure. 



