COMMON SEA-SHELLS 



-OF— 



CALIFORNIA 



CHAPTER I. 



SHELLS — MOLLUSKS — CLASSIFICATION — STRUCTURE OF 

 GASTEROPODS AND LAMELLIBRANCIIS — PARTS OF THE 

 SHELL. 



WHO has not been struck with the beauty of 

 sea-shells ? The little child has them 

 among his choice playthings ; boys and girls put 

 them in their little cabinets ; the savage uses them 

 for money; the lady welcomes them as decorations 

 for her parlor ; the student carefully examines 

 their structure ; and the scientist reads in them 

 the history of the growing world. Few objects 

 in nature have been more widely diffused or more 

 universally admired. 



This general interest in shells naturally leads 

 the thoughtful mind to study their nature and 

 classification, and it is with a view to help those 

 whose opportunities for such studies are few, that 

 this little volume is prepared. 



