On the Economical Uses of some species of Testacea. 53 
Art. V.—On the Economical Uses of some species of Testacea. 
Tue study of natural history in this country is evidently progress- 
ing ; cabinets are formed, and a lively interest is taken in the sub- 
ject, where not long since it was entirely neglected ; and the day is 
nearly past when specimens are collected merely for their beauty, 
and preserved solely as ornaments. A scientific interest is now 
more or less attached to all such objects, and we believe that an ear- 
nest desire to study nature as she exists in the woods, in the air, and 
in. the waters, is daily gaining ground. It is when the science is thus 
applied, and only then, that natural history is fully useful or inter- 
esting ; and the more it is so studied, the sooner we reach the truth, 
and the greater is the pleasure. 
The causes of this progress are many and obvious; but we cannot 
help thinking that the beautiful plates and the enthusiastic writings 
of Wilson, Bonaparte, and Audubon, as well as the valuable pub- 
lic museums, in most of our large cities, have done much to 
promote and force it on.* They have, as it were, forcibly turned 
the attention of the public to the subject, and laid open to them the 
stores of happiness and pleasure contained in such pursuits; by in- 
timately mixing in their amusements they have torn from the face of 
science the mask of mystery and difficulty with which it was (and 
perhaps, in some parts, still is) unfortunately shrouded ; and by ma- 
king it familiar, have caused it to be admired and cultivated. But not- 
withstanding this, natural science has not yet been sufficiently brought 
home to the every day feelings and occupations of men. It is 
looked upon asa thing apart, not as a thing connected with our edu- 
cation, with our pleasures, or our luxuries ; and the knowledge of it, 
instead of being an assistance in our business, is considered by too ma- 
ny as only an hindrance toit. Professional writers on the subject have 
perhaps rather nourished, than helped to dissipate this prejudice: 
absorbed in the technical and more scientific parts of the subject, they 
have neglected to show its connection with the arts, and they have 
either overlooked entirely, or kept in the back ground the application 
of this knowledge. Natural history is a true science—as are all its 
; lt: be necessary oe ee *: rae, that these museums, besides being 
open daily | to visitors, on paymen small sum, are gin ing used as exhibition 
mace aS ventriloquis oe aes, ay men, et hoc genus omne 
