SHELLS. 105 



der thick bushes, the crevices of rocks, the hollows of decayed 

 trees, or under their bark ; beneath stones, amongst moss, or 

 in holes in the ground. A little experience will teach the 

 naturalist readily to find their retreats. 



FRESH WATER SHELLS must be sought for, if in deep lakes, 

 with a dredge, or if in shallow places, with a tin spoon fixed 

 oil the end of a stick. This is made of a circular piece of 

 tin four inches and a half in diameter, beat concave, and 

 then perforated with numerous small holes, not exceeding the 

 sixteenth part of an inch in diameter ; around this must be 

 soldered a perpendicular rim, three quarters of an inch broad, 

 and also perforated with holes. To this must be attached a 

 hollow tubular handle, three inches long, for the insertion of 

 a walking-stick. It must have a few holes towards its outer 

 end for passing a string through, to tie it firmly, and prevent 

 it being lost. (See plate V., fig. 6.) With this spoon the col- 

 lector must rake along the mud at the bottom of ditches or 

 ponds, and after bringing a quantity to the surface, he must 

 wash the mud entirely away, by shaking the spoon on the top 

 of the water, and it will all pass through the holes and leave 

 the shells. The sharp edge of the spoon is also useful in de- 

 taching aquatic shells from the under surface of the leaves of 

 water-plants. 



The large Swan- Muscle (Anadonta Cygnea}, and other An- 

 adons, generally lie deep in the mud, so that they cannot be 

 procured by dredging. I found it necessary to invent a net to 

 fish for these. This consisted of an iron triangle of twelve 

 inches, with a hollow handle fixed on its base, and in this is 

 inserted a pole of sufficient length to reach the bottom. It is 

 firmly screwed to the handle. A net is attached to the tri- 

 angle either of twine or hair-cloth. The point of the triangle 

 should be sharp, so that it may the more easily penetrate the 

 mud, and it is drawn through it in situations where shells are 

 supposed to exist. (See plate V., fig. 5.) 



MARINE SHELLS. These are to be found in all seas ; some 

 of them inhabit rocks on the shore within high water mark : 

 others reside in deep water, and can only be taken by 

 dredging, or by the use of a kind of net called in France the 

 Gangui, and an instrument called the Rake has also been suc- 

 cessfully used. 



