KENYON : DETERIORATION OF SHELLS IN CABINETS. 267 



I have also seen a general collection, which was kept shut up in a 

 locked cabinet, with numbers of shells clouded over or streaked with 

 a sort of efflorescence — I do not think there was any corrosion, but 

 simply a blotching of the surface. This 1 attribute to the fact that 

 the owner resided for several years close to the sea. When a high 

 wind drives the breakers on shore, the air is laden with saline moisture 

 which is carried to a considerable distance inland. I am led to 

 believe that this supposition is correct from the condition of numbers 

 of specimens picked up on the beacli. These arc easily distinguish- 

 able from sea-worn and sun-bleached shells. 



Of the second division of my subject, viz., corrosion of shells, 

 whether due to bacteria or to some other cause, I have had no 

 experience, nor have I ever noticed the vinegary aromatic odour 

 referred to in previous papers in this Journal^ and I therefore leave 

 this question to those who have more knowledge of it. 



Thirdly, with regard to fading of colour. This I have never 

 noticed in any genus but CyprcEn. I find that Australian cowries, 

 even when gathered alive, lose their colour after a lapse of time, 

 especially the darker varieties. Specimens which are almost black 

 when collected gradually fade until they are of a grey shade, and this 

 whether they have been picked up empty or with the animal still 

 inside. Yellow or light-brown colours seem to be more permanent. 

 I do not think that portions of the animal remaining in the shell 

 make any difference. I have frequently had such shells in my collec- 

 tion for years, notably three specimens of C. pyraniidalis (alasl only 

 with ordinary spires). Accidentally finding that these still contained 

 the animals, I soaked them in hot water for several hours and was 

 able to extract the soft parts with the aid of a long pin without harm 

 to the shells or their natural polish. The only detriment, in my 

 experience, when the animal remains, is that it generally attracts some 

 of the minute insect pests which not only consume the animal 

 remains but also destroy the operculum of any shell that possesses a 

 horny one. 



Finally as to the keeping and general preservation of shells. My 

 collection has always been admired for the beautiful polish of the 

 specimens — those, of course, which naturally do not possess an 

 epidermis — and I am usually credited, by non-collectors, with the use 

 of chemicals to achieve this effect. I immerse my shells in very hot 

 water, sometimes with a little soap in it, for a longer or shorter period 

 according to the solidity or delicacy of the specimens, and then, after 

 draining the shell thoroughly, I dry lightly with a soft rag and polish 

 with anoth.er one. The use of oil is only permissible for faded or 

 dead shells in order to bring out the colour and improve the worn 



