^'M^^nI 



Shortly loill he Puhlished, illustrated with Highly-finished Wood- 

 Engramngs, and Fine Steel-engraved Portrait, Price 10s. Qd., 



MANUAL 



OF THE 



LAND AND FRESHWATER MOLLUSKS 



INHABITING THE BEITISH ISLES. 



LOVELL REEVE, F.L.S., F.G.S., 



COR&ESPONDING MEMBER OF THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF WURTEMBERG, OF THE 



LYCEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY OF NEW YORK, AND OF THE ACADEMY OF 



NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 



About tliree years ago I was fortunate enough to become the possessor 

 of one of the most perfect collections of British Shells (many with the 

 animal in spirits) in this country. It consists of the collections of WiUiam 

 Metcalfe, Esq., and of the late Dr. Gaskoin, of London, and of the late 

 Dr. ELnapp, of Edinburgh, arranged in one. Mr. Metcalfe and Dr. Xnapp 

 had been zealous scientific collectors ; and both had worked assiduously with 

 the dredge. My thoughts being turned by this event, more particularly 

 than hitherto, to British Conchology, I began to reflect on its present state 

 as advanced by Forbes and Hanley, and to consider whether it might be 

 possible to contribute in any way to its further advancement. Having 

 worked for twenty years on Mr. Cuming's collection of Foreign Shells, and 

 critically examined, described, and figured during that period probably not 

 fewer than fifteen thousand species and varieties (Conch. Iconica, PL 1768 

 just published), it occurred to me that it might be useful to bring the results 

 of this experience to bear on our knowledge of British forms. 



