consequence is, they are suffered to remain in the cabi- 

 nets like a collection of unknown gems, whose intrinsic 

 value their proprietor being unacquainted with, renders 

 them equally incapable of affording amusement, informa- 

 tion, or profit, to him ; and like\'\ ise prevents the diffu- 

 sion of that scientific knowledge, which through his 

 means might be transferred to others. 



Influenced by the repeated observation of the occur- 

 rence of these difficulties, it appeared desirable, that the 

 public should be put in possession of some compendious or 

 abridged treatise on Conchology, which would at once 

 enable the young student to arrange his collection sys- 

 tematically, and at the same time tend to enhance the value 

 of that science, which, for want of a proper key, or book 

 of introduction, had remained too long in neglected ob- 

 scurity. 



To accomplish this, it appeared only necessary to se- 

 lect the choicest materials contained in more elaborate 

 works, and arrange them in such order, as would afford 

 all the instruction requisite for the information and im- 

 provement of the young Conchologist, in a concentrated, 

 perspicuous, and purchasable form. 



It has been made a point, throughout the work, to 

 adhere rigidly to the Liiuiseau system, on the strong pre- 



