MELVILL : DIARY OF MR. LOVELL REEVE. 35 1 



genus, the more recently discovered species having been anticipated 

 by Dr. Ferussac and Dr. Pfeiffer. A visit last year to the magnificent 

 collection of Mr. Dennison, of Woolton Hill, near Liverpool, enabled 

 me, however, to bring away one or two fine specimens received by 

 him from Bogata and Vera Cruz. The land shells recently discovered 

 in this district, the interior of New Granada, and about the base of 

 the Cordilleras are superior in beauty to those of the Philipines. 



February ym. — Renewed my acquaintance with the "Elements 

 of Conchology," of which I hope to publish a number on the ist 

 proximo. I very much regret having so long neglected this work, 

 especially as it sold so well, and must really try and finish it. The 

 difficulty I have to contend with is to find any time in which to think; 

 it is not easy to write the description of a new shell amid the inter- 

 ruptions of daily life, but having no closet to "shut the door about 

 me" and little time to go into one if I had it, I must be content with 

 what can be. 



February 13™.- — -To the Zool. Society where I had a paper on a 

 beautiful new Bulimus, locality unknown, but from its appearance I 

 should suppose it to come from the rich arborescent woods of New 

 Granada. Mr. Gray proposed a new sub-genus of Tortoises and an 

 extremely warm argument took place between Dr. Melville and 

 himself on the propriety of it. Mr. G. seemed to have the discussion 

 of the preceding in his memory when his absurd theory of the 

 operculum of the spiral shell being analogus with the second shell 

 of the bi-valve was so ably demolished by Prof. Owen, Dr. M., and 

 others. 



February 17TH. — Letter from Mr. Dennison, of Woolton Hill, 

 a country amateur of humble origin, but who having succeeded to the 

 possession of a large fortune spends it most lavishly in the purchase 

 of costly shells. His collection is composed almost entirely of 

 exceeding precious specimens in the finest possible condition. He 

 does not collect for any scientific object, nor cares about completing 

 a genus. His cabinet is of the most costly rosewood, beautifully 

 decorated with elaborate carving, and with plate glass, and paintings 

 of the interior of cathedrals in the panels. Every drawer is lined with 

 velvet, in which the shells are placed like a mess of porridge, without 

 names, and is covered in by a glass top with lock and key. By paying 

 liberal prices for specimens, all the rarest and best that come into the 

 country are offered him. 



March 7TH.— Letter from Mr. Guise, of Elmore Court, inclosing 

 a very accurate and spirited drawing of a fine Panopcea Aldrovandi 

 for publication in the "Elements" showing its proboscis. This fine 

 specimen of a large Mediterranean mollusk was taken alive two or 



