PREFACE. 



IT is to be regretted that the study of oue of the most 

 pleasing, and, at the same time, most accessible natural his- 

 tory pursuits the Land and Fresh-water Mollusks of our 

 island is so much neglected. True, it is, that they are 

 surpassed, both in size and beauty of colouring, by their 

 brethren of the ocean, and for that reason, perhaps, have 

 been overlooked by many - yet there are among these little 

 gems of nature, such beautiful forms, and delicate conforma- 

 tions, that they soon arrest the attention and interest of 

 those, who once commence either to collect or study them. 



We believe this branch of natural history will, some day, 

 become much more popular than it is at present. It has 

 many claims upon those who are desirous of becoming 

 acquainted with the varied forms of created life, which 

 nature presents to our view. Perhaps the foremost of 

 these claims, is the fact, that wherever we go, whether it be 

 in the most luxuriant woods, or upon the bleak hills ; we 

 have but to look around us, among the herbage, in the 

 waters, or even under the stones which lie at our feet, and 

 some one or other, in all probabilit} r several, of these little 

 creatures may be found. In one wood, within the compass 

 of a few square yards, as many as twenty different species 

 have been found. 



To the young it especially recommends itself, on account 

 of the limited number of species which our island produces, 

 thus enabling any one, with a little interchange, to form 

 almost a complete collection, in a small compass ; and 

 offering a good stepping-stone to the study of nature in its 

 more extended forms, and complicated relations. Having 



252045 



