196 Value of the Shells of Mollusca for the purpose 



That Conchologists do not regard the soft parts of the ani- 

 mal, is partly untrue and partly excusable. 



In the case of amateur collectors, who value the shells for 

 their beauty or rarity only, it is obvious that " the animals " 

 have no other means of gaining the attention of this class of 

 persons, except as their shells commend them to notice. The 

 tendency, therefore, of amateur collections, in this, as in other 

 branches of Natural History, is favorable. Many who begin 

 as amateurs become scientific. If they do not, we yet find 

 them availing themselves more or less of the results of Mala- 

 cology for the arrangement of their shells, and in various ways 

 encouraging the progress of investigations in which inclina- 

 tion or circumstances do not permit them to engage. We pro- 

 test, therefore, against the application to such collectors of 

 any terms of disparagement, but would honor those whose 

 hours of recreation^ after the fatigues of business, are occupied 

 with the enjoyment and study of the beauties of nature. 



With the Conchologists properly so called, there is no 

 ground for any imputation. Either by personal examination 

 of the soft parts, or by availing themselves of observations 

 made by others, every possible use is made of the anatomy of 

 the animals, while their habits and geographical distribution are 

 probably as well known as those of any invertebrated animals, 

 unless, perhaps, insects should be excepted. If a Concholo- 

 gist should in these days classify shells as univalves, bivalves, 

 and multivalves, and separate the Testacea from the naked 

 Mollusca, he would indicate a contempt for the animals. If 

 lie should suppose that the position in which shells were once 

 placed for description, upside dov^n, and sideways, is that in 

 which locomotion is effected, it might be said that he had 

 much to learn. Ho far, however, is conchology from disre- 

 garding the soft parts, that there is in some quarters even a 

 tendency to undervalue the shell. 



The study of shells is important on account of the facili- 



