PREFACE. 
The original intention of the Author in the publication of the following Work, 
was to give a Complete System of British and Irish Conchology, with figures 
of all the species hitherto discovered to inhabit the seas, shores, and districts 
of Great Britain and Ireland. Circumstances have, however, prevented him 
at present from the accomplishment of the descriptive part of his plan ; and 
he has now been enabled to give only the figures with synonyms. The letter- 
press, giving a Complete Natural History and Description of all the Species, 
will shortly appear, of a similar size with the Illustrations. 
In pursuing this undertaking, the Author has omitted such species of 
British Authors as appeared to him to be exotic. In the Cirrkipedes, he was in- 
duced to admit the genera Cineras and Otion ; which he suspects have never 
been bred in our seas. 
Every shell as far as possible has been drawn after nature, and generally 
from the largest and most beautiful specimens the Author could meet with. 
But some of the smaller species, whose existence rests on the authority of 
Walker and Adams, he has been obliged to copy from their works, and there- 
fore does not hold himself responsible for their accuracy. 
That this Work may always retain its place as a Complete System of 
British and Irish Testaceology, the Author intends from time to time to pub- 
lish Supplementary Plates, with descriptions, as new discoveries are made ; and 
would therefore recommend, that, in binding the book, a few blank leaves 
should be inserted at the end, which may be cut out, so as to give place to 
additional plates. 
The arrangement which the Author has adopted is principally that of La- 
marck ; he has however found it necessary to introduce some of Dr Leach's 
Genera, and a few new ones of his own. 
The Author cannot omit remarking how deeply indebted the British Con- 
chologist, and himself in particular, are to the exertions of his friend General 
Richard Bingham of Melcombe, Dorsetshire, who has made so many new and 
interesting discoveries among the minute species. This gentleman has spared 
neither labour nor expence in his Conchological pursuits ; and the discoveries 
he has been able to make during only a few months' residence in Scotland, 
form no small inducement to such naturalists as have sufficient fortune and 
leisure, to apply themselves zealously to this sort of investigation. 
