208 Mr. Brooke on Conchology, regarded as a Science. 
will perhaps afford space for a few remarks on what is properly termed 
Conchology—the description and classification of shells. 
This branch of natural science appears to have been involved by some 
late writers in very considerable and very unnecessary obscurity and con- 
fusion, by an attempt to render it dependent upon the anatomical and 
physiological characters of the animals by which shells are produced, 
and by so confusing the descriptions of the animals and the shells, as 
frequently to render it extremely difficult for a reader to discover to which 
the descriptions relate. 
The language too in which these descriptions are given, and which is 
generally derived from the characters of the shells alone, presents another 
source of great confusion whenever by implication the description can 
be supposed to have reference to animals. It is also obvious that a 
description of shells, founded upon the characters of the animal inha- 
bitants, cannot even now be given in reference to very many recent 
species, and can never be applied to fossil shells whose animals are 
entirely unknown. . ; 
This attempt to identify shells with animals, or animals with shells, 
seems to have arisen from what will, on more mature consideration, 
appear to be mistaken views of the real objects of Conchology when 
regarded as a science. 
That a study of the names and distinguishing characters of shells, 
for the sole purpose of collecting and arranging them in a cabinet, has 
little to do with science, and is not one of the highest exercises of 
intelligence, will be readily allowed; but as long as even this trivial and 
unimportant pursuit affords occupation and amusement to many whose 
attention might otherwise be devoted to less rational and less innocent 
objects, this restricted study of shells deserves to be encouraged; and 
particularly when it is recollected, that if it were not for those who are 
merely shell collectors, and who are accustomed to pay such prices for 
very perfect, or new specimens, as tempt mariners and other travellers 
to collect and preserve them, it is probable that comparatively few of 
those objects would ever be brought within the reach of the scientific 
naturalist. But it will not be disputed that the ultimate purpose of Con- 
chology, regarded as a branch of natural science, is to illustrate the 
natural history of shell-bearing animals in their perfect state, that is, of 
