THE 



NATURAL HISTORY 



OF 



BRITISH SHELLS. 



=»*;J^"-C«:w 



INTRODUCTION. 



Vermes. 



JL HIS class of Animals was formerly confounded with Insects and 

 Plants : the Intestina and Mollusca were referred to the first class : 

 the Zoophi/ta and LitJiophjjta to the latter ; and some Authors had 

 even classed the testacea, or Shells, as a branch of Mineralogy, with- 

 out regarding the Animals inhabiting them. Linnsus, in the Systema 

 Natui\e, comprehends the whole of these creatures in the last class 

 of Zoology ; and forms their classical character from their internal 

 structure, as in larger and more perfect animals : CoR uniloculare^ 

 inauritum ; Sunie frigida, albida. Tentaculatis Vermibus. Heart fur- 

 nished with one ventricle, without auricle ; sanies cold and whitish, 

 or colourless. The five orders of the Linna^an class Vermes are 

 thus defined : — 



VOL. I. B 



