70 Prof. E. Forbes on the Mollusca of the British Seas. 



or arctic origin. Our mollusca are, when taken collectively 

 not remarkable for brilliancy of painting, magnitude of di- 

 mensions, or singularity of contour ; although, in all these 

 respects, we can boast of striking exceptions, and among our 

 minute species can shew many of exquisite elegance and 

 curious sculpture. By far the larger part of our marine 

 mollusks are tiny species. Our nudibranches are, however, 

 distinguished for the beauty of their colouring, and even 

 among the despised ascidians there are some whose coats 

 are tinged with the brightest or else the most delicate hues. 

 The cuttle-fishes that live around us, are too excursive and 

 oceanic in their habits to be claimed as exclusively, or even 

 chiefly, our own. Those that frequent our sea bed, are mostly 

 animals of considerable size for mollusca, and certainly 

 among the most astonishing and beautiful of the inhabitants 

 of the sea. They are, however, seldom seen by the casual 

 observer, whose knowledge of our molluscan treasures is 

 mainly derived from sorry specimens of shells cast upon the 

 sea-beach by the waves. 



The land-shells of the British Islands are still less striking 

 than the testacea of the surrounding seas. Their hues are 

 dull when compared with those of more southern countries, 

 and their shapes but seldom attractive for eccentricity of 

 outline or ornament. They exhibit but few peculiarities, 

 and reckon among their number but few rarities. This is 

 not the case with our marine species, among which are nu- 

 merous sorts that have either not been noticed elsewhere, or 

 are rarely to be met with, and which, even when of pigmy 

 dimensions, are among the most prized gems of a good con- 

 ch ological cabinet. In the grand system of nature, size is 

 of small account, and elephants and mites, however different 

 in bigness, reckon of equal value as links in the chain of or- 

 ganisation. God's works are never left unfinished. None is 

 too minute for the display of infinite perfection. The micro- 

 scope has exhibited to our wondering eyes beauties of struc- 

 ture that have been concealed from mortal sight for long 

 ages. It would almost seem as if only glimpses of those ex- 

 cellencies of creation are permitted to man to behold, whilst 



