274 



ZOOLOGY. 



On obtaining any species containing the living animal, the 

 particular genus to which the animal belongs should be noted, 

 with its peculiarities of structure, as likewise whether fre- 

 quenting deep waters, or shallows, if alfixed to other substan- 

 ces, or detached, if it retires beneath the sand or slime of the 

 beach, at low water, and such like parHcolars ; if as the 

 animal advances in age, any, and what changes take place In 

 the appearance or structure of its dwelling ; if it be useablj^ 

 as food, or affords any dye, and if the shell or shells are 

 convertable to domestic or other purposes. 



River shells, though not of such briliiaiit colours, often 

 possess much interest, their localities are of the same kind as 

 the marine species, and the same means are required to obtain 

 them, their substance is usually thin, and they are verj 

 brittle. 



Land shells are frequently of very beautiful colours, and 

 are held in great estimation, they frequent moist mossy banks, 

 shady lanes, and some of the kinds are only found on 

 chalky situations ; the terrestial shells, or rather their inha- 

 bitants have the property of resisting the action of boiling 

 water, for a considerable length of time, without receiving 

 any material injury, so that the quickest mode to destroy the 

 animals, is plunging them into spirit, either of wine or 

 turpentine; the substance of Land shells is tbin, and they 

 are mostly brittle. 



When the shells are clean, dry, and their contents com- 

 pletely removed, they should be wrapped separately in 

 paper, and may then be packed in a box, with a quantity of 



