PREFACE 



THIS little book grew out of a need, felt by 

 the author, of a cheap and convenient 

 manual of the more common shells found on the 

 coast of California. Hitherto, most of the in- 

 formation in regard to them has been contained 

 in rare scientific works, while good illustrations 

 have been still more hard to obtain. The writer 

 has therefore resolved to put the information 

 which he has been gaining from varied sources 

 for the last few years, in such a form that any 

 one can use it who has the inclination. 



The first chapter treats of the structure of 

 Mollusks ; the second gives directions for find- 

 ing, studying, and preserving specimens ; while 

 the remainder of the book is taken up with de- 

 scriptions of the several species. The work does 

 not aim to describe all the Mollusks found on our 

 shore, but treats especially of those common va- 

 rieties which may be sought, with a reasonable 

 hope of finding them for study and collection. 

 Monterey Bay has been taken as the central 

 point of study, as it furnishes a great variety of 

 species, and its shores are becoming more and 

 more the great summer school-ground for the 

 students of nature. 



