

DESCRIPTION OF THE FRONTISPIECE ILLUSTRATING 



CONCHOLOGY. 



NEPTUNE, AS THE SOVEREIGN OF THE OCEAN, APPROACHING THE LAND IN HIS 

 CHARIOT, CONSTRUCTED OF A CHAMA SHELL, DRAWN BY SEA-HORSES; ATTENDED 

 BY MERMAIDS EMPLOYED IN BRINGING UP SHELLS FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA. 

 IN FRONT A MERMAN, BLOWING THE CONCH TRUMPET, FAMED, IN THE ANCIENT 

 HINDOO CEREMONIALS, FOR DRIVING AWAY EVIL DEMONS, AND ASSEMBLING THEIR 

 PROTECTING GENII; AS WELL AS FOR SOUNDING THE CALL TO ARMS, AND THE 

 T?.TUMPH OF VICTORY. IT IS THE MUREX TRITONIS OF LINNAEUS. ON THE SHORE, 

 TWO OF THE NEREIDES, ATTENDANTS ON NEPTUNE, IN THEIR CLASSICAL CHARACTER. 

 DELINEATED WITH SILVERY WHITE VESTMENTS, AND HEADS BOUND ROUND WITH 

 FUCI, OR SEA- WEED; SHELTERED IN A GROTTO, BENEATH IMPENDING ROCKS, AND 

 BUSIED IN ASSORTING BEADS AND FESTOONS FROM THE MINUTER SHELLS. IN THE 

 FORE -GROUND, A GROUP OF SELECTED SHELLS, EMBLEMATICAL OF THE CHOICE 

 ARRANGEMENT REQUIRED TO FORM A CABINET OF CONCHOLOGY, 



No. 717. 



