On the Economical Uses of some species of Tesiacea. 53 



Art. V. — On the Economical Uses of some species of Testacea. 



The study of natural history in this country is evidently progress- 

 ing ; cabinets are formed, and a lively interest is taken in the sub- 

 ject, where not long since it was entirely neglected ; and the day is 

 nearly past when specimens are collected merely for their beauty, 

 and preserved solely as ornaments. A scientific interest is now 

 more or less attached to all such objects, and we believe that an ear- 

 nest desire to study nature as she exists in the woods, in the air, and 

 in the waters, is daily gaining ground. It is when the science is thus 

 applied, and only then, that natural history is fully useful or inter- 

 esting ; and the more it is so studied, the sooner we reach the truth, 

 and the greater is the pleasui-e. 



The causes of this progress are many and obvious ; but we cannot 

 help thinking that the beautiful plates and the enthusiastic writings 

 of Wilson, Bonaparte, and Audubon, as well as the valuable pub- 

 lic museums, in most of our large cities, have done much to 

 promote and force it on.* They have, as it were, forcibly turned 

 the attention of the public to the subject, and laid open to them the 

 stores of happiness and pleasure contained in such pursuits ; by in- 

 timately mixing in their amusements they have torn from the face of 

 science the mask of mystery and difficulty with which it was (and 

 perhaps, in some parts, still is) unfortunately shrouded ; and by ma- 

 king it familiar, have caused it to be admired and cultivated. But not' 

 withstanding this, natural science has not yet been sufficiently brought 

 home to the every day feelings and occupations of men. It is still 

 looked upon as a thing apart, not as a thing connected with our edu- 

 cation, with our pleasures, or our luxuries ; and the knowledge of it, 

 instead of being an assistance in our business, is considered by too ma- 

 ny as only an hindrance to it. Professional writers on the subject have 

 perhaps rather nourished, than helped to dissipate this prejudice : 

 absorbed in the technical and more scientific parts of the subject, they 

 have neglected to show its connection with the arts, and they have 

 either overlooked entirely, or kept in the back ground the application 

 of this knowledge. Natural history is a true science — as are all its 



* It maybe necessary to explain to foreigners, that these museums, besides being 

 open daily to visitors, on payment of a small sum, are generally used as exhibition 

 rooms for ventriloquists, jugglers, fat men, et hoc gemis omne. 



