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INTRODUCTION. 







AS natural hiflory has, within the laft half century, 

 occupied the attention and pens of the ableft philofo- 

 phers of the more enlightened parts of the globe, there 

 needs no apology for the following fheets ; fince the 

 days of darknefs are now part, when the refearches of 

 the naturalill were confidered as trivial and uninte 

 refling. 



In the prefent age, it is acknowledged, that every link 

 in the great chain of nature is important, the ftudy of 

 which may tend not only to the comforts and luxuries 

 of life, but to the love, adoration, and, admiration of 

 that being, who alone was capable of forming the whole. 



When the great LinN/EUS firft began his fyftern of 

 nature, he did not confider conchology as worthy his no- 

 lice, as fhells are only the covering or exuvije of ani- 

 mals ; but as their extreme beauty, and variety, natu- 

 :rally attracted attention, and their durability enabled 



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