MELVILL: BRITISH PIONEERS IN CONCHOLOGlCAL SCIENCE. 20t 



Margarita, Cemoria, Alexia, Zirphtza, Martesia, Phorus, Lasea, 

 Thracia, a.nd Macoma. Born 1790, died 1836. 



In 1820 Mr. G. B. Sowerby and Mr. J. Soweiby began a 

 magnificent work entitled " The Genera of Recent and Fossil 

 Shells." This was not completed for four years, and contains 

 upwards of 250 coloured plates. Mr. G. B. Sowerby the same 

 year wrote "Some Remarks on the Genera Orbicida and Crania 

 of Lamarck." 



In 1825 appeared the same author's "Catalogue of the 

 Shells contained in the Collection of the Late Earl of Tanker- 

 ville," soon to be dispersed by auction. This nobleman had a 

 magnificent collection, containing about 2500 forms, and many 

 rare shells, e.g. the specimen of Conus gloria-maris purchased 

 at this sale by Mr. Broderip, and passing eventually from him 

 into the British Museum. A collection of shells lately presented 

 intact to the Peel Park Museum, Salford, formerly belonging to 

 Mr. Lincolne, is to a great extent composed of purchases at Lord 

 Tankerville's sale. This catalogue embraced many descriptions 

 of new species, this being one of the most distinguished 

 collections of the time and replete with novelties, and the 

 notoriety of this catalogue has served to keep the memory of 

 the "Museum Tankervillianum" green, even at the present 

 time. Mr. Sowerby died 1854. 



Dr. W. Turton in 1822 published his "Conchylia Insularum 

 Britannicarum," a work that was much thought of some years 

 ago, and ran through several editions, edited by Dr. J. E. Gray. 



Amongst Turton's genera we still use Lacuna, Xylophagtty 

 Pholadidea, Ervillia, Sphejiia, Lyonsia, Strigilla, Gakomma, 

 Montacuta, Kellia, Goodallia, Cryptodon, and Lepton. 



Lastly, in 1823, Mr. John Mawe, of 149, Strand, London, 

 the author of " Travels in Brazil," and " Treatises on Diamonds 

 and Precious Stones," etc., gave to the world " The Linnean 

 System of Conchology, Describing the Orders, Genera, and 

 Species of Shells." This work is illustrated with accurately- 

 drawn plates, and a coloured frontispiece in which Helix (now 



