ON COLLECTING SHELLS. 425 



flags and rushes may be pulled up with a boat-hook ; and Cyclades as well 

 as univalves, may be obtained by shaking aquatic plants over the net. For 

 getting up the Pearl- mussels, the most efficient instrument is a tin bowl, perfo- 

 rated like a sieve, and fitted on the end of a staff, or jointed rod. {Pickering.) 



In some situations the freshwater shells are all much eroded, (p. 41, 273,) 

 or coated with a ferruginous deposit. It may be desirable to find out the 

 localities tvhere the specimens are in best condition before collecting exten- 

 sively. The opercula should always be preserved with the shells to which 

 they belong ; those of the CyclostomldcB, and Melaniadce are particularly in- 

 teresting. 



The AuricididcB are especially met with in damp places by the sea ; in 

 mangrove- swamps, and creeks and river-banks where the water becomes 

 brackish. Amphibola and Asshn'inea are found in salt-marshes, Siphonaria 

 and Peronia on the shore, between tide-marks. 



Collecting Sea-shells. — The following remarks are from the pen of an 

 experienced conchologist, Mr. W. J. Broderip. — " When the tide is at the 

 lowest, the collector should wade among the rocks and pools near the shore, 

 and search under overhanging ledges of rock as far as his arms can reach. 

 An iron rake, with long close-set teeth, will be a useful implement on such 

 occasions. He should turn over all loose stones and growing sea-weeds, 

 taking care to protect his hands with gloves, and his feet with shoes and 

 stockings against the sharp spines of echini, the back-fins of sting-fishes, and 

 the stings of meduscB. In detaching chitons and limpets which are all to be 

 sought for on rocky coasts, the spatula or case knife will prove a valuable 

 assistant. Those v.'ho have paid particular attention to preserving chitons 

 have found it necessary to suff'er them to die under pressure between two 

 boards. Ormers {Haliotides) may be removed from the rocks to which they 

 adhere by throwing a little warm water over them, and then giving them a 

 sharp push with the foot sideways, when mere violence would be of no avail 

 without injuring the shell. Rolled madrepores and loose fragments of rock 

 should be turned over; Cowries and other shell-fish frequently harbour under 

 them. Numbers of shell-fish are generally to be found about coral-reefs." 

 In coral-regions the services of natives, should be obtained, as they may ren- 

 der much assistance by diving or wading. 



Advantage may be taken of spring -tides, especially at the equinoxes, to 

 examine lower tracts of sea-shore than are ordinarily accessible. Many 

 bivalves bury in sand and mud at extreme low-water, and may be obtained 

 alive by digging with a spade or fork ; others may be found boriug in piles 

 and rocks and require the hammer and chisel for their extraction.* 



* Bivalves may be boiled, and their soft parts removed when the shells gape. 

 Care should be taken not to injure the ligament, or hinge, especially in the genera 

 like the Anatinid) provided with an ossicle. 



