97 



NOTES AND COMMENTS. 



AN IMPORTANT WORK 

 In view of the enormous interest attached to the study of 

 Conchology, and the g-reat variety of hind, freshwater, and 

 marine forms, it is somewhat surprising- that this branch of 

 natural history has not more devotees. In nearly every instance 

 the ' shell collector ' develops into an ardent malacologfist, and 

 consequently it is found that ' the hewers of wood and drawers 

 of water ' rarely rest until they have added considerably to our 

 knowledge of the creatures they examine, if then. In calling- to 

 mind the various concholog-ists in the northern counties hardly 

 one can be remembered who does not put heart and soul in his 

 work. One of the most enthusiastic of these is unquestionably 

 Mr. J. W. Taylor, of Leeds, who with the aid of pen and pocket 

 has placed naturalists under a deep debt of g-ratitude for the 

 excellence of his work. So long^ ago as 1894 Mr. Taylor issued 

 the first part of his ' Monograph of the Land and Freshwater 

 Mollusca of the British Isles,' which was duly noticed in these 

 pages. {Naturalist, 1895, pp. 14-17.) From that time part 

 after part appeared, at intervals, until eventually Volume I. was 

 completed, to the admiration and profit of all interested in 

 shells, though at considerable sacrifice on the part of the author. 

 It is to this volume we now call attention, the sub-title of which, 

 ' Structural and General,' defines its scope. 



ON SHELLS. 



It is a substantial work, of over 450 pages, with six coloured 

 plates, and nearly eight hundred illustrations in the text ; well 

 printed on good paper — both letterpress and illustrations being 

 the work of Mr. Taylor, and every page proves conclusivelv 

 that it has been a 'labour of love.' Of the coloured plates we 

 cannot speak too highly. They appear to be as near perfection 

 as it is possible to reach. We trust that all those who are able 

 will encourage the author in his difficult task by purchasing 

 a copy of the completed volume (only a very few of which 

 remain on hand), and also by continuing to subscribe to the 

 work, which, it is sincerely hoped, may be completed at no verv 

 distant date, though the careful manner in which it is conducted 

 necessitates a certain amount of time being occupied. 



iqo3 April I. (; 



