PREFACE. 
It is nearly 100 years ago since Dr. Pulteney published his 
Catalogue of ‘‘ Shells found on the Dorsetshire Coast,” since which date 
Malacology has naturally received considerable additions in this County. 
Among the earliest works on British Shells since Pulteney’s time are 
Montagu’s ‘‘ Testacea Britannica,” and Maton and Rackett’s ‘‘ Des- 
criptive Catalogue of the British Testacea,” published in the sixth 
volume of the ‘ Transactions of the Linnean Society.” After an 
interval of about 50 years, Professor E. Forbes and Mr. S. Hanley’s 
“British Mollusca,” in four volumes, in which was incorporated the 
Professor’s work in conjunction with Mr. McAndrew on the coast of 
Weymouth and the neighbourhood, appeared. 
In 1870 I brought out a Catalogue of the ‘‘ Mollusca of Dorset” 
in the Introduction of the third edition of Hutchins’ ‘‘ History of 
Dorset,” which I have made the basis of this Volume. 
Through the help of the undermentioned friends I have been able 
to considerably enlarge the list as to localities, and also to add some 
few new species and genera. My grateful acknowledgments are due to 
Mr. E. R. Sykes, to whom I have dedicated this Volume. I owe a debt 
of gratitude also to Mr. Clement Reid, whose investigations on the 
superficial deposits of the County gave him opportunities of which, as 
an experienced malacologist, he has taken advantage, and enabled 
him to add new localities and confirm some of Pulteney’s more dubious 
records. For instance, he rediscovered Helix (Theba) cantiana at 
Spettisbury, where Rackett found it in 1813; he also collected it at 
Winterbourne Stickland, the only other Dorset record. I am indebted 
to him also for directing me to some ancient hedgerows in search 
of Helix ( Helicodonta) obvoluta, a rare shell found only in England, in 
Hampshire and two other counties. Although unsuccessful with respect 
to Helix (Helicodonta) obvoluta, I found an equally rare snail, 
Clausilia Rolphii, a valuable addition to the County list. 
The late Messrs. W. Thompson, J. H. Austen, W. Kendall, 
and R. Damon gave me valuable assistance, as also Dr. Turner, 
Mr. C, P. Cambridge, and Miss Colson. I may have omitted to mention 
some to whom thanks are also due, whose names are in the body of this 
Volume. 
J. C. MANSEL-PLEYDELL. 
November 17th, 1898. 
