MFXVILL: BRITISH PIONEERS IN CONCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE. 1 95 



Epoch ii. (Linnean). — 1756 — 1816. 



At the same time that the Duchess of Portland (Margaret 

 Cavendish Harley), in her character as a Moecenas of natural 

 science, was welcoming all learned men to Bulstrode Park, and 

 was there forming her museum of shells, mainly with the aid 

 of Dr. Solander, Dr. Lightfoot, and her friend Mrs. Delany, 

 the great I annseus was busily occupied in perfecting his " Sys- 

 tema Naturte," of which no less than twelve editions were 

 published between the years 1735 and 1767. 



The Linnean system of the genera of mollusca is so simple 

 and well-known, that it is hardly necessary for me to do more 

 than briefly allude to it here. All shells are divided into three 

 classes — Multivalves, Bivalves, Univalves. Some very slight 

 attention is drawn to the animal, described in different genera 

 as Doris, Tethys, Asddia, Limax, etc. The Multivalves, con- 

 tain only the genera Chiton, Lepas, Pholas ; the Bivalves, 

 forteen, viz. : Mya, Solen, Tellina, Cardium, Alactra, Donax, 

 Venus, Spondylus, Chama, Area, Ostrea, Anomia, Mytilus, Pinna : 

 the Univalves, nineteen : Argonauta, Nautilus, Conus, CyprcEa, 

 Bulla, Voluta, Buccinmn, Strombus, Murex, Troch7i<, Turbo, 

 Helix, Neiita, Haliotis, Patella, Dentalium, Serpula, Teredo, 

 and Sabella. Of these, Lepas, Serpula, and Sabella have been 

 since transferred to other branches of Zoology. 



Linnaeus undoubtedly was not so successful in many ways 

 in his study of the mollusca as in other lines of natural science ; 

 his groups, especially in certain univalve genera, e.g., Voluta, often 

 embrace strange assortments of widely differing shells, and it 

 must be confessed his system did not tend much to increase 

 the accurate knowledge of the science. His profound know 

 ledge as a botanist far exceeds his powers as a conchologist. 



Dr. Daniel Charles Solander, to whom we have just alluded, 

 was intimately connected with the leading naturalists of the 

 time, especially Dr. John Ellis and Sir Joseph Banks, in whose 

 company he voyaged round the world. He was especially 



