INTRODUCTION. S 



but what is the produce of the sea; and shell-fish fill no 

 unimportant station in the immense catalogue of its pro- 

 duct. 



The nutritive and delicious food afforded by oysters, 

 scallops, muscles, and cockles, is too well known to re- 

 quire further detail. 



In many countries which do not produce limestone, 

 (as the coast of Brazil, &c.) shells are collected in great 

 quantities, and after having been calcined, afford a most 

 desirable substitute for that useful material ; in this state 

 they are also considered excellent as manure. 



The Indians frequently convert shells into domestic and 

 defensive implements ; the South-sea islanders, for ex- 

 ample, make fish-hooks, head their javelins with, and 

 manufacture different sorts of tools of them. Their prin- 

 cipal ornaments are also often studded or embossed with 

 rows and groups of shells, artfully disposed, in regular 

 order, and are worn as bracelets or armlets, and com- 

 monly form handsome appendages for the ears. A very 

 extensive commerce is carried on in Ceylon with the 

 shank shell, which is manufactured into these ornaments. 



The Chinese convert shells, that are pearly when un- 

 coated,into various articles of domestic economy, such as 

 drinking cups, ewers, &c. &c. &c. and the Indian cabi- 

 nets, so famous for their beauty and exquisite workman- 

 ship, are chiefly composed of iridescent shells, judicious- 

 ly inlaid and blended with tortoise-shell and other sub- 

 stances. 



Shells of the oyster and muscle genera, are famous for 

 the production of pearls, the beauty and value of which 

 can perhaps best be estimated by those who are in the 

 habits of purchasing and wearing them. 



There are many of the larger species of buccina and 

 b2 



