136 THE ELEMENTS 



make use of flannel or a brush, and 

 emery or tripoly, to polish the shell. 

 This may be done in cases where the 

 polished insides happen to be touched 

 with the corrosive fluid ; but in all 

 instances where the places cleared by 

 the acid, are of a white or chalky 

 appearance, they should be washed 

 over with Florence oil, and then 

 rubbed hard with flannel or a nail- 

 brush. This mode gives the shell the 

 appearance of nature, and at same 

 time stops the action of the acid, 

 should any remain in the shell, and is 

 of great use in preserving it from 

 decay. It is of infinite use in preserv- 

 ing the epidermis^ which often, when 

 it becomes dry from lying long in a 

 cabinet, cracks and quits the external 

 surface of the shell. It would not be 

 amiss to rub them over with oil once 

 a year. 



This practice of oiling shells is a 

 new one, and I believe I \f as the first 



