10 BQaatlful Shells. 



prismatic Lues of the rainbow. In all, whether 

 distinct and unconnected, or intimately blended, 

 whether regular or irregular, they are beautiful 

 .exceedingly. Nor is their beauty of an evanescent, 

 that is, fading, or vanishing character; unlike 

 plants and animals, which, when once dead, are 

 extremely difficult of preservation. Shells, being 

 composed of particles already in natural combina- 

 tion, are almost indestructible; unless exposed to 

 the action of fire, or some powerful acid, they will 

 remain the same for ages, requiring no care or 

 attention, beyond occasionally removing the dust, 

 which would collect upon and defile their pearly 

 whiteness, or obscure the brilliancy of their colours. 

 So easily collected, arranged, and preserved, 

 and withal so singular and graceful in form, and 

 rich and various of tint, one cannot wonder that 

 Shells have always had a conspicuous place in all 

 museums, and other collections of natural history 

 objects; neither can we feel surprised that a high 

 value should have been set upon rare specimens ; as 

 much as a thousand pounds, it is said, has been 

 given for the first discovered specimen of the Venus 

 Dione; another shell, called the Conus cedo nulli, is 

 valued at three hundred pounds ; and the Turbo 

 £co.lons, if large and perfect, is worth one hundred 



