86 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS 



" thousands who visit our shores every summer to partake of the 

 " luscious clam-bake of Rhode Island, may not be aware that they 

 " are filling-up on the sewage of the city, but as no one was ever 

 " known to be injured by eating any amount of them, concentrated 

 " and refined sewage obtained in this way must be healthy." Again 

 he writes : — " The term clam is applied to this species (Mya arenaria) 

 " only in New England. In New York and farther south a clam 

 " means what we call " a guahog " Venus Mercenaria, but the origiual 

 "owner of this name is a ponderous bivalve of the Pacific Coral 

 " Lagoons, Tridacna Gigas, a small valve of which may be seen hang- 

 " ing over the door of an oyster saloon on College Street, in Provi- 

 " dence. I have seen a pair of valves of this species, measuring two 

 " feet across and weighing about 500 lbs., used for a holy water 

 " font in a church in Paris." 



I wish I could prevail on some of the working members of this 

 Section, or members of the Hamilton Association, to take up the 

 study of Conchology, or at any rate to become collectors of shells. 

 There is much to be done. I think I am correct in saying that this 

 district has never been worked — by this I mean that our woods and 

 waters have not been systematically examined to'see what they may 

 contain in the " snail " line. The study is a very interesting one, 

 and the mere collecting not the least enjoyable portion of it. Many 

 arguments might be advanced in favor of collecting, not particularly 

 shells, but specimens, entomological, botanical, geological, &c; — I 

 will be content with one. It is necessary in order to secure good 

 specimens and a large collection, and at the same time to acquire 

 some knowledge of the habits and habitat of one's captures, to often 

 go abroad into the woods and along or on our water courses 

 and to explore our surroundings thoroughly. The mere exercise of 

 walking in the fresh country air is very beneficial, especially so to 

 one whose business or occupation keeps him much in doors. I 

 think any one who has once commenced to collect in any branch of 

 science will find it very difficult to entirely give it up, there is so 

 much to be learnt, so much to be seen by the careful observer ; the 

 lover of nature and nature's beauties will indeed see much to interest 

 and instruct whenever he takes his walks abroad. I should like to 

 see a numerous band of workers in every branch this coming 

 season, then I feel sure that the result by the end of it would be one 

 of which this Association might be proud. 



