INTRODUCTION. [CH. 



and Bergh), who are not far, if at all, behind us in the 

 race, and are worthy successors of the great Linne\ 

 Miiller, and Fabricius. Nor are the conchologists in 

 Germany, Italy, and other parts of the European con- 

 tinent few or unknown, as may be seen by reference to 

 the list of authors which is appended to this volume. 



Pleasures and drawbacks. In the pursuit of this as 

 well as of other branches of Natural History, not the 

 least part of our enjoyment is derived from sympathy 

 with other naturalists, or from what may be, perhaps 

 not inappropriately, termed " the freemasonry of the 

 craft." In my occasional visits to the Continent, I have 

 invariably experienced the greatest kindness from many 

 who were only known to me by name ; nor is such 

 good-fellowship less hearty at home than it is abroad. 

 On one occasion my hobby of snail-hunting perhaps 

 saved me from some trouble or annoyance. In the spring 

 of 1850 1 was travelling with my wife through Lombardy, 

 when, during a mid-day halt at Rovigo to bait the horses, 

 I could not resist taking a walk outside the barriers, 

 accompanied by our courier, who had been previously 

 useful to me in assisting to collect shells. At the end 

 of an hour or so we returned, but found at the barrier- 

 gate an Austrian official who demanded our passports 

 This was at first a poser, as I had left in the carriage at 

 Rovigo the document which was at that time so indis- 

 pensable for passing through the North of Italy. All 

 explanations appeared to be unavailing, when the courier 

 pulled out of his pocket a collecting-box full of live snails, 

 and at once satisfied the smiling official by showing this 

 proof of our innocence with the remark, " Ecco, Signore, 

 i nostri passaporti ! " 



The reminiscences and association of ideas arising out 

 of the work of collection are often very pleasant, but 



