RUDIMENTS

OF

CONCHOLOGY;

WITH

EXPLANATORY PLATES.

RUDIMENTS

OF

CONCHOLOGY:

INTENDED AS A

FAMILIAR INTRODUCTION TO THE SCIENCE.

WITH

EXPLANATORY PLATES,

AND

REFERENCES TO THE COLLECTION OF SHELLS IN
THE BRITISH MUSEUM.

BY THE AUTHOR OF

"THE GEOGRAPHICAL PRESENT," &c.

LONDON:

DARTON AND HARVEY,

GRACECHURCH STREET.

1837.

LONDON:

PRINTED BY JOSEPH RICKERBY,
SHERBOURN LANE.

ADVERTISEMENT.

The Compiler of the following pages has derived the greater part of the information contained in them from "The Conchology of Lamarck," from "Burrows's Elements of Conchology," and other introductory treatises.

In the present Edition of this little Work many alterations and additions have been made, with the hope of rendering it more useful to the young student.

ERRATA.

[Note: Corrections were applied.]

RUDIMENTS

OF

CONCHOLOGY.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTORY.

"A box full of shells!" said Charles to his sister Lucy, who was looking over her treasures with great attention. "What can you want so many little shells for?"

"This box and its contents are the gifts of my cousin Jane," replied Lucy: "she said that I might have her whole collection, if I could find any pleasure in looking at shells without knowing anything about them. But I am not quite ignorant of the subject."

"Shells are pretty enough," said Charles; "but how troublesome to distinguish the differences between each kind! I like plants better than shells."

"Probably because you are better acquainted with plants," observed his father, Mr. Elliot, who had just entered the room: "however, the great naturalist, to whom you are indebted for your knowledge of plants, did not consider shells as objects beneath his attention."

"You mean Linnæus," said Lucy; "then he, I suppose, separated shells into the three different divisions—Multivalves, Bivalves, and Univalves."

"You are right, Lucy," replied her father.

"Pray show me some bivalve shells," said Charles; "I want to know their forms. A bivalve is a shell with two openings, as I should imagine: yes, I see that I am right, for you have given me an oyster and a cockle."

"Here are also Venus, Tellìna, Donax, Arca, and Pinna," observed Mr. Elliot, "all very easy to distinguish."

"'The anchor'd pinna and his cancer friend,'"

repeated Charles. "So the Pinna is a bivalve; but what has Venus to do with the matter?"

"That is very easy to understand," said Lucy: "the genus called by her name is remarkable for beauty."

"Now, Charles," said Mr. Elliot, "do you clearly comprehend the verse that you have just repeated?"

"I have heard that the Pinna is a shell-fish, attended by a crab, 'his cancer friend;' but why it is called anchor'd I do not know, but cancer is Latin for crab."

"Here is a species of Pinna," said his father, opening a cabinet; "and these silken threads are the means by which it fastens itself to the rocks. The animal is provided with a long foot, with which it draws out the threads, or byssus. The Pinna is sometimes called the silk-worm of the sea. Lucy, do you know a univalve shell?"

"Oh yes, many!" replied Lucy, "here are rock-shells, cowries, limpets, and cones.