70 CATECHISM OF CONCHOLOGY. 



edifice, sabulum, fine gravel or sand. The Sa- 

 bella is the last in the order of Testacea. 



Q. I lament that our conversations on this 

 interesting subject are now drawing to a close ; 

 allow me to detain you a few moments longer, 

 to inquire in what does the difference subsist 

 between live and dead shells ? 



A. Those are called dead shells which are 

 thrown up by the ocean, when empty of their 

 inhabitant. The term living explains itself; 

 these are often drawn up in the nets of the 

 fishermen. 



Q. I shall shortly go to the sea-side, and will 

 lose no time in applying the information which 

 you have given me, and commencing a collection, 



A. One thing; my young friend, I would 

 forcibly impress upon your mind : let nothing 

 induce you to adopt the barbarous, the savage 

 custom of putting live shell-fish into cold water, 

 and allowing them to boil over the fire as the 

 means of killing, and then extracting their inha- 

 bitants. Throwing them into boiling hot 'water 

 answers the purpose egually as well, and it 

 appears that the life of the animal is immediately 

 extinguished ; whereas a different mode inflicts a 



