LIST OF WEST AMERICAN SHELLS 
In the following List an effort has been made to 
provide a table which will be useful to a variety of 
readers. By its aid the young collector will be able 
to classify his specimens under their respective 
families, while the more advanced student can em- 
ploy it as a check-list and a reference table. 
The references for the most part are to recent 
books of acknowledged authority, which may be 
found in any standard scientific library ; and while 
some of the references are not so complete as 
might be desired, in nearly every instance they will 
furnish a clue to aid in further investigation. 
It would have been easy to materially increase 
the List by the addition of synonyms and the names 
of doubtful species, and it would not be surprising 
if many names have been omitted which some other 
econchologist would have retained, or would have 
substituted for those here employed. Many syno- 
nyms may be obtained, however, by consulting the 
references and objectionable changes of name may 
often be likewise explained. Very likely, however, 
real errors and omissions will be discovered, and 
proper corrections and additions will have to be 
made from time to time. It is hoped, nevertheless, 
that the list will prove of real assistance to those 
who are studying the shells of this coast, whether 
at home or abroad. 
