484 Shells of Massachusetts, — . 
examine the invertebrate animals, with the excep- 
tion of insects, it is my purpose, in this paper, to give 
some notices of the history of conchology in this 
State, and the results of my observations on the 
m7 
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geographical distribution of the shells within its — 
limits. 
been so long carried on from Massachusetts with 
China, the Northwest. Coast, and the West Indies, 
and more especially the whale-fisheries, have given 
the principal sea-ports advantages for making collec- 
tions of foreign shells, which have not been, enjoyed 
by other larger cities. The collection in the Museum 
of the ** East India Marine Society," at Salem, was 
the fruit of this foreign trade. It is of considerable 
extent and much notoriety, but it was made as a mat- 
ter of curiosity, rather than for scientific purposes. It 
afforded materials for study to its Curator, Dr. Seth 
Bass, by whom it was scientifically arranged, at the 
same time that he began to collect a private cabinet, 
which is now one of the richest in New England. - 
The * Linnzan Society," which flourished. about 
twenty-five years since, also made a considerable 
collection of shells. The principal, if not the only 
conchologist in that society, was the Hon. Francis C. 
Gray. 
Dr. T. Wm. Harris collected shells with other 
objects of natural history; and Dr. D. H. Storer 
began early to gather the shells along the coast of 
Maine and Massachusetts ; and to these two gentle- 
men Mr. Say was indebted for most of the shells of 
this region, which he described. In addition 
The extensive commercial adventures which have — 
