PREFACE. 
In drawing up the present Catalogue, of incomparably the finest 
collection of Shells in Ireland, I have endeavoured to lay before 
the public, in a tabular form, first, the name by which each species is 
known to the scientific of the present day ; next, the name by which 
it was known to Linne, or his followers ; thirdly, the English name, 
or that by which it is known, for the most part, to the dealers ; 
and lastly, the country which the shell inhabits. 
In so extensive a collection, it of course happened that some of the 
species had never before occurred to me — those I have noticed in the 
Appendix, where also I have inscribed some notices from the New 
Edition of Lamarck Animaux Sans Vertebres, concerning the rarity 
of some of the little-known shells in the collection. I have not 
thought it necessary to dwell on those shells which have been rendered 
famous by their scarcity — such, for instance, as the far-famed Conus 
cedo-nulli — the no-less valuable Orange Cowry, Scorpion Murex, 
Voluta fulgitrum. Glassy Nautilus, Wentle traps, &c. — nor the host ol 
others to be found here, whose names are familiar to every one from 
the extravagant prices they have brought in the market. 
F. M‘C. 
