THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 131 
interest in this museum, and although it may be well to have a trifle 
in hand to meet any unexpected contingency, no advantage can be 
gained in letting the dollars remain idle while the cases require 
additions to their contents. Few are aware that a Hamilton lady 
(Mrs. Carey), possesses one of the best collections of shells I have 
seen (land and sea inclusive). I have always impressed on our 
younger collectors that the mere gathering of these things does 
not entitle one to be recognized as a conchologist. They must be 
able to distinguish the family groups and arrange them correctly, 
and further, have some knowledge of their respective habits, 
geographical distribution, etc. In the majority of cabinets (private 
ones chiefly) you may find no attempt at classification, but a sort of 
arrangement where size, color, and such things are the leading 
ideas. They look better so, perhaps, to an uneducated eye, but it 
is a very great mistake all the same. 
I lately received a small Haliotis or ‘‘ear shell” from China. 
We have heard about painting a lily to improve the appearance, but 
I never imagined it could have been possible to find any human 
being who supposed he could improve on nature by plastering this 
beautiful shell with black varnish, as is the case in the one now 
before me. Here is a chance for an increase of the revenue, which 
all naturalists can appreciate. Let the Minister of Finance place a 
small tax on importations which do not arrive in their natural 
condition, and if some ladies (unlike others in the city) express a 
preference for a shell when the outer skin or Epidermis is removed, 
our chemical friends of the drug stores can readily furnish what- 
ever they may require through means of diluted acid. Much as I 
regret this practice of improving natural productions, if it has to be 
done let it be done in Canada, not in China or India. 
Until recently I devoted but slight attention to the living 
Mollusca, yet with some little assistance from Professor Whiteaves, 
of Ottawa, and other friends in Hamilton, I would willingly undertake 
the arrangement of the sea-shells. 1 am quite satisfied a collection, 
classified according to the views of modern conchologists, is an 
absolute necessity. A great many alterations in family grouping have 
taken place since Sowerby’s famous work was published, new sea 
provinces have been explored, and great additions have been made 
to the various species, and unquestionably it must prove of material 
assistance in the re-arrangement of some of the private cabinets now 
