VI. 
It was not without considerable hesitation that the systematic arrangement was chosen 
in preference to the stratigraphieal. An attentive consideration led to the adoption of the 
former, as advantage appeared two-fold. First, it seemed evident that it was more easy to 
identify individuals by comparison with the plates, where the species were placed in juxta¬ 
position, than when scattered through the various strata of which they were members. Secondly, 
as many of the species prevailed in different formations, had the stratigraphieal distribution 
been adopted, a repetition of these would have been requisite, which would have considerably 
extended the number of the plates, and consequently increased the expense of the work, both of 
winch the Author was most studious to avoid; his object being to produce a work, executed in 
a high style of art, at the lowest possible price, so that it might become more extensively 
useful. 
It will he seen by comparing the first four plates, (which were the specimen of the work,) 
with most of the others which follow, that a very great additional quantity of work has 
been given, as well as improvement in the style of execution, without increase in the charge 
for the publication. 
lhe classification followed is that of the celebrated Malacologist Lamarck, according to 
the descending scale, with the addition of such new genera, and slight deviations from his 
s ^ em ’ as thne, an d a more minute knowledge of families and species, has rendered necessary. 
The Illustrations of “ Fossil Conchologv,” with its sister work, “ Illustrations of the 
llecent Concliology of Great Britain and Ireland,” will he found to embrace pretty full 
representations, descriptions, and localities, of all the known species, both fossil and recent, 
which have hitherto been met with in the strata, seas, land, and fresh waters, of the British 
Islands. These have been engraved by artists of established reputation; the names of Lizars, 
Aikman, Miller, Turvey, &c., being well-known to the public as men of celebrity. The whole 
of the engravings have been executed from drawings made by the Author expressly for the work, 
and amount to 110 plates, comprehending 3,521 figures. 
