12 INTRODUCTION. 



boxes, which can be handled without endangering the 

 contents. Sometimes a set of minute shells may be fas- 

 tened to a strip of card, which strip may be put into a tube 

 or glass-topped box. Some delicate white shells, snch as 

 7t. crystallinus, H. pulcliella, A. acicula, &c., are better 

 shown on black card. In all cases where shells are stuck 

 down gum tragacanth should always be used, as it does 

 not glaze when dry like gum arabic. In every case a 

 label on which is recorded the name and locality should be 

 affixed. 



Varieties. Most species have one or more well-marked 

 varieties of form and colour. Though it is of great im- 

 portance to secure specimens that vary from the types, 

 such specimens should never be labelled or registered with 

 any varietal name without some good authority. 



A caution may be useful to the collector not to admit 

 into his collection any shell whatever without the most 

 conclusive evidence of its being British. I have repeatedly 

 been presented with foreign specimens by persons of the 

 highest integrity with the assurance that they came from 

 such and such a place in the British Isles. On one occa- 

 sion a lady gave me some West Indian sea-shells, which 

 she positively averred she had picked up in Jersey. I am 

 sure the majority of collectors have undergone similar 

 experiences. 



In order that a collection may be of any value, it should 

 be, like Caesar's wife, " above suspicion." 



