Book IX. and of BARBADOS. 
SHELLS, ad SHELL-FISH. 
HESE are alfo of the exanguious Tribe; and differ from the 
cruftaceous Kind, by having their Organs lefs perfe& ; for, as the 
admirable Mr. Locke obferves, an Oyfter or Muffel hath not as many, 
nor as quick Senfes as a Man, or feveral other Animals : Nor, if it had, 
‘would it, in that State, and Incapacity of transferring itfelf from one Place 
to another, be bettered by them. What Good would Sight and Hearing 
do to a Creature that cannot move itfelf to or from an Obje& wherein at 
a Diftance it perceived Good or Evil? And would not Quicknefs of Sen- 
fation be an Inconvenience to an Animal, that muft be ftill where Chance 
hath once placed it, and there receive the Afflux of col 
clean or foul Water, as it happens to come to it? 
It may be expected, that I fhould here confider thefe beautiful Pro- 
ductions ina phyfical Light, and as they are a Curiofity belonging to the 
Cabinets of the Virtwofi : Yet I thall beg leave to {peak of them, as they 
contribute to the Amufement of the Ladies. And this I am the rather 
induced to do, as I have heard feveral of the Fair Sex, who are fond of 
Shell-work, frequently ridiculed, as wafting their Time in a trifling and 
ufelefs Manner ; and this not without a very confiderable Expence. That 
this Employment is by no means trifling or ufelefs, is eafily proved, as it 
is abfolutely grounded on the noble and elegant Art of Defigning, and as 
its End is equally that of Imitation. What the Painter performs by an 
Affemblage of various Colours properly diftributed, is here produced by 
a Difpofition of Shells, as their different Tinétures, Shapes, or Sizes, 
happen to direct the Fancy: Add to this, that the Reprefentation is by 
far more ftriking in Shell-work, than on the Canvas, 
I have {een a Rofe in Shells, glowing with as exquifite a Red, as that 
which it received from the Spring. And hence it appears, that Shell- 
work partakes of the Nature of Painting, if not of Statuary; imitating 
not only by Colours, buta full Relievo. In fhort, nothing can be more 
properly termed a new Creation, than a well-executed Syftem of Shell- 
work, 
der or warmer, 
Wyy What 
267 
