INTRODUCTION. 



characterized imder the appellation of " Vermes Testacea/^ 

 without any further notice of the animal, than an indication 

 of the genus to which it belongs ; thus the animal of Cyprsea 

 is said to be a Limax, and that of Tellina a Tethys. 



The nearest approach to correctness, and the most philoso- 

 phical method of study will be found in the modern system, 

 adopted by Lamarck and his followers, of observing these 

 animals as a whole, and arranging them according to the 

 assemblage of characters which they present ; of course taking 

 into consideration the existence or non-existence, the form 

 and structure of the shell, on the same principle, which, in 

 arranging the vertebrated animals would lead us to study the 

 hair, hoof, nails, claws, &c. as well as the other parts. 



At the same time, it must be admitted that there are many 

 private collectors of Shells who would find it a difficult, if not 

 impossible task to study minutely and successfully the soft 

 parts of the MoUusca. Ladies, for instance, could not be 

 expected to handle with pleasure and perseverance, these 

 bodies, which in order to.be preserved from putrefaction, 

 must be kept in spirits; and yet such persons may, with 

 improvement and advantage to their own minds, enjoy the 

 interesting and scientific amusement of studying and arrang- 

 ing the clean and beautiful shells which are so easily 

 preserved, and so exquisitely beautiful in their structure. 

 Let it also be remembered, that if shells had not been ren- 

 dered commercially valuable, by the zeal and emulation 

 manifested by mere Conchologists for the possession of rare 

 specimens, few travelling merchants and sea captains would 

 have thought them worthy of a corner in their cabins. In 

 this case, few specimens being brought to the country, the 

 more Philosophical Naturalist would have been left without 

 the means of obtaining materials to work upon, or of attract- 

 ing public attention to his favourite pursuit. 



