CONCHOLOGY. 



fugitive events not likely to be recorded excepting only in the recol- 

 lection of collectors ; and those in whose immediate knowledge the 

 circumstance occurred have long since passed this transitory scene 

 and are perhaps ere this themselves forgotten. The relation though 

 in some respects trivial, may afford amusement to the amateur : it 

 serves to shew the origin of its name "Aurora'* at the same time that 

 it presents a striking illustration of that ardent zeal with which the 

 science of Conchology was cultivated in this country nearly half a 

 century ago ; its authenticity may be relied upon. The circum- 

 stance as related to us by an old collector some years ago was briefly 

 this ; a specimen of the shell had very shortly after the return of the 

 discovery ships been presented by one of the officers to a lady, which 

 coming to the knowledge of a most zealous collector of that period, 

 he solicited the indulgence of seeing it ; and waited upon the lady for 

 the purpose, upon an intimation that the favour would be readily 

 granted. Madam, said the enraptured visitor, gazing in admi- 

 ration upon the Cowry, which he now beheld for the first time, has 

 this shell a price ? will twenty guineas purchase this lovely gem ? it 

 will not answered the lady. Allow me then said its enthusiastic 

 admirer to clasp it for a moment in my hands, and bending on one 

 knee, at the same time pressing the shell to his lips, pronounced with 

 an emphasis of poetic fervour, " thus do I salute the 'Morning Dawn' 

 of the new discovered world !" Let poets reverence Venus the beauty 

 of the Grecian seas : my idol is " Aurora,^' this sea-born nymph of 

 surpassing beauty, that rose upon the waves of the Southern deep ! 



Tu quoque cum Dea sis, Div^ formosior 

 Concha per aequoreum quam vasa ducit iter.* 



• Sec. 6. Basium. 



* We should not omit to mention that this shell was called Aurora by 

 Dr. Solander about the same time, Vide his MS. Whether he was indebted 



