272 Cotichology. 



economy of testaceous animals which are produced in places so 

 difi'erent, it affords few marks of discrimination for the purpose 

 of classification. 



Land shells are spread over the whole surface of the earth, and 

 although more accessihle, are perhaps less known than those which 

 inhabit the ocean. From the small number of land sIkjIIs which 

 have been collected, it would appear, at first sight, that they are 

 less numerous than marine shells. This, however, seems not to 

 be the case, with regard to tho number of species; and it is well 

 known, that the number of individuals of land shells, in some in- 

 stances, far exceeds that of sea shells. The sea shells of the 

 Mediterranean have been observed by naturalists, to be nearly the 

 same from the straits of Gibraltar to the island of Sicily; but 

 the land shells of Languedoc are different from those of Provence, 

 of Dauphiny, Peidmont, and different parts of Italy. Some are 

 found in Spain, in Corsica, in Sardinia and Sicily, which are not 

 to be met v.ith in other places; and from the great variety and 

 number of land shells, it seems probable that many of them are yet 

 unknown. But let us now take a general view of those places of 

 the world, where different testaceous animals are most frequently 

 found. 



It has been already observed, that light and heat have very con- 

 siderable influence in adding to the splendor of the colors of 

 shells. The most beautiful shells are found in countries between 

 the tropics where they are more immediately subject to the direct 

 rays of the sun, and a higher temperature. From these causes, 

 the shells produced in these countries have a lustre and brilhancy, 

 which those of colder climates never possess. 



The shores of Asia furnish us with the pearl oysters and scal- 

 lops in great perfection. About Amboyna, are found the most 

 beautiful specimens of the cabbage shell, the arrosoir, the ducal 

 mantle, and the coral or echinated oysters. Here also are found 

 a great variety of extremely beautiful muscles, tellina;, and volutae; 

 some fine buccinums, and the shell called the Ethiopian crown in 

 its greatest perfection. ' The dolia, the murices, and the cassan- 

 drse, are also found on these coasts in great beauty. Many ele- 

 gant snails and screw shells are also brought from thence; and 

 finally the scorpion and spider shells. The Maldive and Philip- 

 pine islands, Bengal, and the coast of Malabar, abound with the 

 most elegant of all the species of snails, and furnish many other 

 kinds of shells in great abundance and perfection. China abounds 

 in the finest species of porcelain shells, and has also a great varie- 

 ty of beautiful snails. Japan furnishes us v/ith all the thicker and 

 larger bivalves: and the isle of Cyprus above all other parts of the 



