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PREFACE. 



THE arrangement of the following Catalogue has not 

 the slightest claim to originality. It owes its birth to Bonn's 

 Hortus Cantabrigiensis, the plan of which seems equally 

 calculated for a Catalogue of Shells, as for that of plants ; 

 and it is hoped, that as the one has proved so highly useful 

 to the botanist, the other may not be found without its ad- 

 vantages to the conchologist. 



In the beginning of the year 1817, a Descriptive Cata- 

 logue of Recent Shells was published, in two thick volumes 

 octavo, by Mr. Dillwyn. This is a work of considerable 

 labour, and great utility. It contains all the decided species 

 that are to be found in Gmelin, besides those that have 

 been more recently discovered. Much has been attempted 

 by the author towards correcting the errors of others, and 



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