fuffered to go into tlie Vvorld witli the inferior copies, 

 though executed only for the purpofe of colouring. 



To the naliiralift therefore, ant) not to the anifi: an 

 appeal is made; if the reprefentations are corrcft out- 

 Jines of the objeds, the defign is accompliflied ; and v;e 

 truft fcience will be confidercd as having reaped more 

 advantage from fuch, than from highly finilhed engrav- 

 ings devoid of correflnefs and chara6ler. 



The fpecies hereafter defcribcd, v.-ith a few excepti- 

 ons, are in our own cabinet, and have chiefly beencolleft- 

 ed from their native places by ourfelves, or by the liands 

 of a fcv,' friends, whofe conchological knowledge, and 

 fcientific refearches are too v/ell known to be doubted : 

 but under every individual, the authority of its being 

 britifli will be found; and when any doubts are enter- 

 tained, it is particularly fpecificd. 



Aware that fome fliells have been given as englili 

 v;hich never originated there, we have been cautious of 

 admitting any thing, but upon the befl authority; and 

 where we have exprefled doubt, we beg it may not be 

 confidered as arrogance, or contempt of the opinion of 

 ethers, but a widi to develop truth : we are all liable to 



en- 



