COLLECTING AND CLEANING SHELLS. 167 



mud, through which it must be drawn in situations where shells 

 are likely to exist. 



There is great deception practised by the dealers in shells, by 

 which means they easily impose on those who are unacquainted 

 with them. If a shell happens to have the lip broken, they take 

 a common file, and form it anew ; thereby the character of the 

 shell is completely altered. Some go so far as even to form a 

 canal, to imitate rare shells, and also counterfeit strap ; when 

 they have accomplished this, they then imitate the external 

 colouring, and finish the whole by a coat of varnish. The shells 

 they thus transform are, in general, worn specimens, which are 

 of no earthly use ; though in some instances good shells are 

 sacrificed to obtain their deceptions ends. 



Much might be here said on the arts practised to alter, patch 

 up, and beautify shells ; but this has no connexion with the 

 science, and may therefore be omitted, as a Naturalist would 

 prefer a worn, or even a broken specimen, to one either altered, 

 or coloured and varnished, by which it can only be pleasing to 

 the eye of the inexperienced in Natural History. Surely the 

 lover of nature must look with contempt on all artificial means 

 employed either to alter or amend the sacred works of Nature. 

 It will be sufficient to point out the means of simply cleaning 

 testaceous bodies. 



When shells are perforated by sea worms, or when any other 

 accidental circumstance occurs to deform a good specimen, it 

 is certainly desirable to use some means to improve it ; and for 

 this purpose a cement may be made of fine whitening, flour, and 

 gum ; the holes or cracks may be filled up with this composition, 

 and allowed to dry; it should always be a little above the sur- 

 face, and cautiously scraped down with a knife ; when ridges or 

 striae can easily be imitated, if necessary, with a file or engraving 

 instrument. The parts thus mended may be coloured with 

 common water colours, and then brushed ; or if on a smooth 

 shell, polished with the palm of the hand, and afterwards rubbed 

 over with Florence oil, which should be well dried off with a 

 piece of flannel. If this mode is judiciously managed, the spe- 

 cimen may be examined, and the blemish never discovered. 



Many shells, even when obtained alive, are incrusted with 

 extraneous matter : the best and safest means of removing this 

 is, first to steep them in warm water, and then to scrape them 



