OF CONCHOLOGY. 41 



rugged surface have almost always 

 this epidermis. In some it is lami- 

 nated, velvety, fibrous or rough, and 

 in others very thin and pellucid, and 

 admits the colours of the shell to shine 

 through it. Although many shells are 

 very beautiful, even with this cuticle 

 on them, they are much more so when 

 it is removed ; but I would by no 

 means advise the collector of shells to 

 remove it, unless he may have several 

 specimens of the same shell ; and then 

 he may do it by way of variety ; but it 

 is always preferable to keep them in a 

 state of nature. 



All other protuberances, furrows, 

 &c. will be described at the end of 

 the work, in the Glossary of Terms 

 used in the Science. 



A shell with epidermis is repre- 

 sented in plate 3d, X ; and the effect 

 of the epidermis removed at /. 



G 



