208 Mr. Brooke on Conchology, regarded as a Science. 



will perhaps afford space for a few remarks on what is properly termed 

 Conchology — the description and classification of shells. 



This branch of natural science appears to have been involved by some 

 late writers in very considerable and very unnecessary obscurity and con- 

 fusion, by an attempt to render it dependent upon the anatomical and 

 physiological characters of the animals by which shells are produced, 

 and by so confusing the descriptions of the animals and the shells, as 

 frequently to render it extremely difficult for a reader to discover to which 

 the descriptions relate. 



The language too in which these descriptions are given, and which is 

 generally derived from the characters of the shells alone, presents another 

 source of great confusion whenever by implication the description can 

 be supposed to have reference to animals. It is also obvious that a 

 description of shells, founded upon the characters of the animal inha- 

 bitants, cannot even now be given in reference to very many recent 

 species, and can never be applied to fossil shells whose animals are 

 entirely unknown. 



This attempt to identify shells with animals, or animals with shells, 

 seems to have arisen from what will, on more mature consideration, 

 appear to be mistaken views of the real objects of Conchology when 

 regarded as a science. 



That a study of the names and distinguishing characters of shells^ 

 for the sole purpose of collecting and arranging them in a cabinet, has 

 little to do with science, and is not one of the highest exercises of 

 intelligence, will be readily allowed ; but as long as even this trivial and 

 unimportant pursuit affords occupation and amusement to many whose 

 attention might otherwise be devoted to less rational and less innocent 

 objects, this restricted study of shells deserves to be encouraged ; and 

 particularly when it is recollected, that if it were not for those who are 

 merely shell collectors, and who are accustomed to pay such prices for 

 very perfect, or new specimens, as tempt mariners and other travellers 

 to collect and preserve them, it is probable that comparatively few of 

 those objects would ever be brought within the reach of the scientific 

 naturalist. But it will not be disputed that the ultimate purpose of Con- 

 chology, regarded as a branch of natural science, is to illustrate the 

 natural history of shell-bearing animals in their perfect state, that is, of 



