1S35.J of Objects of Natural History. 471 



genera of spiders, tolerably, but none of them answer well. Caterpillars 

 are in the same predicament as spiders, though a method of preserving 

 them in all tlieir beauty is said to have been discovered by Mr. Abbott, of 

 Georgia, which seems to have been lost at his death. 



MOLLUSCA. 



Those animals which, as their name imports, have soft bodies, and 

 which, for the most part, are covered with a true shell, are divided 

 into two kinds: those which inhabit the land, and those which live 

 in the water. The latter are again divided into fresh and salt-water 

 Mollusca ; and <a third portion seems to dwell in marshes, the estuaries of 

 rivers, &c, forming an union, as it were, between the other two. The 

 fresh-water Mollusca are found in tanks, running streams, and watery 

 places of all kinds, either lying at the bottom, or floating in the midst, 

 or attached to weeds, stones, and other extraneous substances. Salt-water 

 shells are found in similar situations in the sea ; some bury themselves in 

 the sand, which is covered at high-water by. the tide; while others may be 

 found floating along upon the surface of the waves ; and dead specimens lie 

 scattered upon the shore. Marsh shells are to be met with in the estuaries 

 of rivers and in wet places, whenever the salt-water mingles with the fresh. 



The localities of land shells or snails, as they are generally called, are 

 numerous. These shells are to be found upon the trunks and branches of 

 trees, and lying or creeping beneath them ; others are hidden under stones 

 and pieces of timber, or weeds, or other vegetable matter. The best sea- 

 son to procure them is in the rains ; and they are not found in abundance 

 saving in moist places. 



Having learnt the localities of the various kinds of shells, no great skill 

 is needed to procure them. Land-shells may of course be picked up 

 with the hand, and taken home in a box : fresh-water shells, by looking for 

 them in their dwelling places, and by dredging them up by a net. Sea-shells 

 are dredged up by nets, having a kind of strong rake attached to the front, 

 to rake them from the bottom ; when by continuing to draw on the net, the 

 shells fall into it and are caught. Pelagian shells, those that swim upon 

 the waves in the middle of the sea, are procured by a kind of small net, 

 that is towed in the wake of a ship, or cast by a dexterous hand upon the 

 floating animal from the deck. It is in the form of a cabbage net, about a 

 foot and a half in diameter, with a rim round the top, made heavy with 

 shot ; and fitted with a long line, to allow of its being towed, or pulled in 

 again after it has been thrown. 



When procured, put the shells into boiling water, and boil them for a 

 few minutes, to kill the animal ; so that it may be removed in the spiral 

 shells with a small hook, or a crooked pin : the animal of the bivalves may 

 be taken out easily enough with the fingers, or a pair of forceps. But 

 some of the very long spiral shells require to be left in water till the ani- 

 mal becomes so putrid that it may he washed out. The shell should then 

 be cleaned with soap and water, dried, and kept in a box. In cleaning 

 shells, great care must be taken not to break or injure their margins or 

 mouths; and in land-shells, particularly, not to scrub off, or otherwise 

 remove the epidermis, or skin-like substance that covers them. 



Each kind of shell should have a box to itself; and the box must be num- 

 bered, or the number maybe written upon the shell itself, if it is large 

 enough to allow of that being done. The numbers should refer to memo- 

 randa of the locality, kind of animal, or any other interesting particu- 

 lar concerning the specimen, that may be known to the writer. 



By carefully following these directions, a zoological collection may be 

 made, that will, with tolerable care being taken of it, keep in any climate. 

 The mounting, as it is called, or setting up the skins of birds and beasts, 

 to look like the living animals, is another branch of the subject ; and one 

 that can be followed only by persons stationary, and with success, after 

 long practice ; but as it is the step, to which the foregoing instructions have 

 been but preparatory, a few hints on that head will hereafter be given 

 3p2 



