PREFACE. 



AT is a circumstance no less to be lamented than wonder- 

 ed at, that, in the present enlightened age, when the culti- 

 vation of science, and natural history in particular, is so 

 eminently conspicuous, Conchology, or the natural history 

 of shells, should have participated so sparingly of that ac- 

 tive spirit of research and investigation, which has been so 

 lavishly bestowed on almost all other branches. 



ONE obvious reason, however, may be assigned, why 

 Conchology has remained so long stationary in the lists of 

 improvement. Till lately, no publications on shells have 

 appeared, but such as were abstruse, voluminous, expen- 

 sive, and difficult of access; and as most of them were in 

 languages not always thoroughly understood, the attain- 

 ment of knowledge through their means frequently be- 

 came a source of difficulty and trouble. 



IT is perhaps from this very circumstance, that many 

 individuals who possess fine and rare shells, are totally ig- 



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