Bibliographical Notices. 317 



BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 



An Introduction to Conchology, or Elements of the Natural History 

 of Molluscous Animals. By George Johnston, M.D., LL.D. 

 Van Voorst, 1850. 



Twenty years ago the author of this dehghtful volume commenced 

 a series of letters with the view of converting the shell-collector into 

 a man of science, and of rendering conchology more intellectually 

 interesting by describing in readable language the relations of shells 

 to the animals which make them, and the several matters of interest 

 presented by the oeconomical, physiological, and systematical rela- 

 tions of the Mollusca. He aspired to do the like service to mala- 

 cology which Kirby and Spence did for entomology. These letters 

 were published in that delightful mixture of science and gossip, Lou- 

 don's ' Magazine of Natural History,' a publication which, by spread- 

 mg the taste for natural-history pursuits, did much to bring about 

 the love for and distinction in natural-history science, now so 

 honourably distinguishing Great Britain among the nations of Europe. 

 Those who were young and commencing their studies at the time the 

 letters in question appeared remember well the interest they excited, 

 alike from the excellence of their matter and the elegance of their 

 style. 



Dr. Johnston has now carried out the idea he then projected, and 

 a more charming volume has not been presented to naturalists for a 

 very long time. Moreover it is so pleasantly written, so full of col- 

 lateral information and literary illustration, that if put into the hands 

 of a person unacquainted with science, it cannot fail to be read with 

 delight, and to inspire a taste for the studies to which it is devoted. 



The discursive manner in which Dr. Johnston has treated his sub- 

 ject is very favourable to a development of the interest appertaining 

 to it. Conchology has got a bad name among the educated ignorant 

 on the supposition that the study of shells is a mere trifling agreeable 

 amusement, fitter for idlers than thinking persons. This notion is as 

 false as unfair, and we are greatly mistaken if the volume before us 

 does not go far to instil a better estimate of this pleasant branch 

 of zoology ; not merely pleasant too, but important, for without a 

 close study of it the palfeontologist cannot proceed with his investi- 

 gations of extinct creatures, and, consequently, the geologist be se- 

 riously thrown out in his comparisons of strata and determination of 

 their relative age. In the end, the neglect of what the mass of the 

 pubUc esteem trifling, may tell seriously on that most sensitive organ 

 common to a large portion of civilized mankind, viz. the pocket, 

 since a very slight geological mistake arising from an error in the 

 determination of a few fossil shells, may involve the fortunes of thou- 

 sands and plunge whole families from wealth into penury. But mere 

 conchology, in the old sense of the term, could scarcely effect much 

 good, and one great service done by Dr. Johnston in his " Introduc- 

 tion " is the indissolubly hnking in the mind of the student the study 

 of the shell and that of its animal constructor. In a few years there 

 will be no mere conchologists — all will be malacologists. 



