GEOGRAPHY OF SHELLS. 205 
engaged the attention of naturalists; the geography 
of shells is equally deserving of attention. 
Open your map, my friend, and observe the shores 
of Asia. They are enriched with Pearl Oysters and 
Scallop shells ; while the Maldive and Philippine 
islands, Bengal, and the coast of Malabar, abound 
with the most elegant species of Helix; China with 
Procelains, and Japan with the thickest Bivalves. 
Beautiful Heart-shells are scattered beside the 
Gulf of Mexico, and along the Brazilian shores ; 
and those of Cayenne exhibit the finest specimens of 
Buccini. St. Domingo is enriched with almost 
every species of East India shells, though far less 
beautiful, either as regards their shape or colour. 
The lakes of Canada are varied with pale olive, 
and red Muscles: some of these are remarkably light, 
and elegant, while others are equally ponderous and 
ungraceful. 
But no part of the world exhibits such an ex- 
quisite variety of richly tinted shells as the Red Sea: 
Porcelains of all kinds abound there, elegant purple 
shells, and innumerable Sea-stars. 
Nautili and Argonauti unfurl their sails on the 
coast of Zanguebar: Muscles, too, open their gaily 
painted shells to the bright sun-beams, in the same 
quarter of the globe. 
The gulf of Tarentum, and the coast of Naples 
