142 



MINISTRY AT WARRINGTON. [Chap. IV. 



The collection was "presented to the Trustees of the 

 British Museum, and accepted by them on the following con- 

 ditions : — (i) That it be preserved separate and intact, as a 

 local collection ; (2) that it be always open to the use of 

 students, subject to the usual conditions; (3) that the donor 

 be allowed to arrange the collection in its permanent place of 

 abode ; and (4) that a Descriptive Catalogue of it be printed, 

 under the direction of the Trustees." (This Catalogue, from 

 the preface of which we are quoting, formed a volume of 

 540 closely printed pages, which Philip prepared and printed 

 at the Oberlin Press, 1855-57.) "The duty of writing, the 

 Catalogue was entrusted to me by Dr. Gray. I was ill fitted for 

 it, (1) by almost entire ignorance of conchological literature, 

 and (2) by living in a country town with extremely limited 

 access to scientific books and collections. There did not 

 appear, however, any competent naturalist who possessed the 

 absolute essentials of time and full access to the Mazatlan 

 materials. I therefore undertook the task, trusting that its 

 acknowledged deficiencies might in some measure be compen- 

 sated for by great patience and care in the faithful use of those 

 means of information which were within my reach. ... In the 

 course of the inquiry, I have met with the greatest kindness 

 from naturalists, most of whom were previously unknown to 

 me, but to whom I applied for assistance.* . . . The collec- 

 tion consists of about 8873 specimens (2505 Bivalves, etc., and 

 6368 Univalves) mounted on 2529 glass tablets (so that both 

 sides of the shell can be seen). ... Of the minute specimens 

 magnified sketches are given, drawn under the microscope." 



The small species (no fewer than 314 out of 691) were 

 " taken from the large Chamae and Spondyii by carefully passing 

 the shell-washings through a fine wire sieve, and examining the 

 remainder under the glass. A single specimen of Spondylus 



* Among those whom he names is Dr. A. A. Gould, of Boston, U.S., 

 who 4 ' intrusted to my care, and to the perils of the Atlantic, the whole of 

 his collections and notes from the West American coast, for comparison 

 with those known in this country." As it is notorious that honesty is not 

 the special virtue of " collectors, " the confidence reposed in Philip was 

 honourable to all concerned. 



