448 PYEAMIDELLID^E. 



CH. NIVOSA, Montagu. 



Odostomia truncatula, Brit. Moll. iii. p. 294, pi. 96. f. 8 (adult). 

 O. cylindrica, Brit. Moll. iii. p. 287, pi. 96- f. 7 ( juv.). 



The animal has not occurred. 



I have now stated all that I know, agreeably to my views, 

 of this difficult and interesting genus, and corrected some 

 popular errors as well as those of observation, and particularly 

 many of my own ; for however greatly our amour propre may 

 suffer by such admissions, there is absolutely no other alter- 

 native but to make them, as, if omitted, or not made at the 

 proper moment, we should be left pretty much in the same 

 position as the Chancellor of the Exchequer's regiment of 

 conscience-money payers, a curious public fact, illustrative of 

 one of the mysterious operations of the human mind, which 

 if properly pondered on, will suggest to us all, in respect of 

 the present and the hereafter, many salutary, important, and 

 high considerations. 



I have more than once alluded to these points, but when 

 I see gross and persevering error stalk abroad, sapping the 

 foundations of science, and rendering everything uncertain by 

 disingenuous fabrications, and appropriations of other men's 

 labours, one cannot always hear and hold our peace, 



" Semper ego auditor tantum ? nunquamne reponam, 

 Vexatus toties?" 



One word more on the useless practice of stringing together 

 long lists of bare names, habitats, and scales of rarity, without 

 a syllable of distinctive matter, either on the animal or shell ; 

 these things are all very well as adjuncts of description, but 

 without it, worthless and unmeaning expletives. Science does 

 not consist in the fabrication of hard -and empty names, which 

 convey no more information than the perusal of pages of 

 " Aldiborontophoscophormio" and the changes that can be 

 rung on that celebrated cabalistic compound. I trust enough 

 has been said to discountenance such meretricious attempts 

 to personate true science ; conscience must stamp them as the 



