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PREFACE. 



IT is a circumstance no less to be lamented than won- 

 dered at, that, in the present enlightened age, when the 

 cultivation of science, and natural history in particular, 

 is so eminently conspicuous, Concholog}', or the natural 

 history of shells, should have participated so sparingly of 

 that active spirit of research and investigation, which has 

 been so lavishly bestowed on almost all other branches. 



One obvious reason, however, may be assigned, why 

 Conchology has remained so long stationary in the lists 

 of improvement. Till lately, no publications on shells 

 liave appeared, but such as were abstruse, voluminous, 

 expensive, and difficult of access; and as most of them 

 were in languages not always thoroughly understood, the 

 attainment of knowledge through their means, frequently 

 became a source of difficulty and trouble. 



It is perhaps from this very circumstance, that many 

 individuals who possess fine and rare shells, are totally 

 ignorant of any systematic mode of arranging them; the 

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