24 JOURNAL OF CONCHOLOGY. 
ALTERATIONS IN ‘BRITISH CONCHOLOGY.’ 
By J. T. MARSHALL. 
(Read before the Conchological Society, August 22nd, 1894). 
In a paper which appeared in the ‘ Journal of Conchology’ 
for October, 1893, on ‘‘ Additions to ‘ British Conchology,’” I 
expressed my intention of writing a second and supplementary 
one on some of the changes of nomenclature and classification 
which have been proposed or adopted since the publication of 
that excellent work—with many reservations, however. ‘These 
proposed alterations are of such a nature and extent as would, 
if carried out, wholly revolutionise British conchology as laid 
down in our standard works, and as generally accepted by 
British naturalists. That many obvious changes are necessary 
and even imperative is, of course, admitted; some due to 
original error, and others to more light having been thrown on 
certain groups and species. But it is possible to overdo this. 
At the same time, every writer has a perfect right to propose, 
reject, or adopt any system of nomenclature or of classification 
he pleases ; there is no law to the contrary, and no arbiter to 
decide which shall prevail. In science, we have not yet 
reached that happy stage when rival and conflicting views can, 
like those of a coal or a cab strike, be referred to a board of 
arbitration. 
The following notes are therefore offered only as a modest 
contribution to a rectification and modification of some palpable 
errors, and of changes that may fairly be considered absolutely 
necessary in arranging any new British List. 
I hope in a further paper to give a list of the additional 
localities, which have been recorded for British marine shells 
since the publication of ‘ British Conchology.’ These are 
very numerous, embracing as they do a period exceeding a 
quarter-of-a-century. 
J.C., viil., Jan. 1895. 
