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THE
ELEMENTS OF
CON CHOMOGY 3
OR
NATURAL HISTORY OF SHELLS:
ACCORDING TO
Che Linnean Spstem,
OBSERVATIONS ON MODERN ARRANGEMENTS.
BY THOMAS BROWN, ESQ.
Captain Forfar Regt. Fellow of the Linnean Society, Member of the Wernerian
Natural History Society, and Honorary Member of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Bolton.
ILLUSTRATED WITH NINE COLOURED ENGRAVINGS.
—n ST SS oe London:
PRINTED POR LACKINGTON, ALLEN, & CO. FINSBURY SQUARE; LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN, PATER- NOSTER ROW ; JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STRUBT ; ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE AND CO. EDINBURGH;
AND JOVIN CUMMING, ORMOND QUAY,
DUBLIN.
J, Gleave, Printer. 1816,
LVas2d0
“) " Sewstaiant vs a ROB flies seysroas Ye ti . "7 Pus SO é ue ee
TO SIR JAMES EDWARD SMITH, M.D. F.R.S.
PRESIDENT
OF
THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, Be. Se. Se. THE FOLLOWING WORK Is INSCRIBED,
WITH ESTEEM AND RESPECT, BY
HIS MOST OBEDIENT,
HUMBLE SERVANT,
The Author.
a iy t
i ‘@ sei ua a Y an ey x a es |
preface.
THE intention of the following work is to lay be-
fore the student, in the simplest style, the Linnean arrangement of sheils.
The author was induced to undertake this simple work, because there was no elementary book on shells in the English language, with the exception of Da Casta’s, whose arrangement is now generally exploded. The work now presented to the public is strictly according to the Linnean System.
Several attempts have been made, to overturn the Linnean arrangement of shells, but without effect. And with all its pretended faults no one has been able to supercede it, by a better system. That it is not so complete as the other departments, most people are ready to allow; but its beauties must perpetuate ats pre-eminence.
In describing the genera, the author has also pointed out the different alterations of modern ar- rangements, (particularly that of Lamarck ;) and ihe new genera which they have formed. And it has been his object to illustrate the work, as far as it was possible, by figures of British shells; which will facilitate the study of British Testaceology, and prove equally useful to the study of General Con-
chology.
; wes eben va * eke
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A
CONTENTS. x o>
[[nrropucTIon to the science......cccsse0ecceeres 1
The animals which have been discovered to inha- bit-shellsizi::)ccccceddescssde} F2 aes Be see pg
Explanation of the parts of shells.
Whaltivalve sy, co. ccesveseaess cease ea tesenmeree: encares 13 Bivalv@s. cionicdscccduisatvecente heat PINE wp cabloanoue 13 PI MIVALVO cic accaiecezate cele naneC oan ceeds ceraacrceacoulenabes cats 24,
Of genera.
Order 1st. Multivalve shells....... Aidan webedns sane ». 42 Snae’ Pivalee shells eee ccsoceden educa caekwdens ee
—— 3rd. Univalve shells with a regular spire.... 65 Division 2nd. Shells without a regular spire...... - 90
Specific description of the plates.
Plate ist. Multivalve shells.........ccscsecscseee Soe p OS Bivalyet shells <ccsctidcdesszcssscveissesnve 102
2nd. Bivalve shells........se.scceeee ciajoh babecy bias 105 WeHiealve SHO S658. cs sncedoanacecsdess 109
iii SHAKY avisgtnen veh nay anaes we sisi twelnae astute dine a DES
—— 4th. Hinges of bivalves, &....,..:.e0creeseeee L1G
CONTENTS.
To illustrate the genera.
Plate 5th. Multivalve shells..........c0.ccseesecceees 121 Bivalve’ shells... 0c. cnvasdcasacevenus cose ib cement GURY cc esceons feb epo seo sebeas wen ES eatised sesame ib Sa FEM: cnc ca vnwocecon seas Miyehoncsesesaiecusievenssiciscn 22 Univalve shells.cisc.acs.oecsensscede rn sine obs i creas BED: cosigsalevasiene tovree tore p an easamannr susvatansiay © ib mem OU, ip Se ne vevaisa'c Wo tas ens ainatesle'o dein sisin cine mame'y Mairead 123 List of the principal books which treat of Con- CHOLOBY. fnveosvannensyereoner senrsieosmersiansgsieceg ere 1246 Method of cleaning sheils.............ceeqeeaddentereee 129 Simple method of arranging cabinets............... 138
Explanation of terms-used im the science of Con- chology...... see eeveeenens tenn enneee seneas seneeeeeees ¥: JO
ERRATA.
Page 4, line 13.—For Olearus read Olearius.
Tigicvses .14.—For probu read proper. 8,.. .-»19.—Erase the word ‘none’ at the beginuing of the line.
40,......20.—For most read many. 12,......12.—For twelve read fourteen.
94, ......12.—For Solina read Solen’s.
Shape aes 2.—For Adamson read Adanson.
32, ......13.—Insert after &c. Plate 2nd, E E. 40),...... 5.—For tooth-shape read tooth-shaped.
Aid twes ss $2.—For I read Y. Ate «00 5.—Read hinge with a broad, &c. 49,......15.—For on one read in one.
50, ...... 6.—For Cyclus read Cyclas. 56, ......18.—For Hippossus read Hippopus. 58, ...... 8.—For Nuclia read Nucula. 59, ......14.—For species read genera. Giese 14 and 15.—For Pitillz read Patellz. GB, w.00s. 9.—For Sephunculus read Siphunculus. 75, «s-...18.—For dentrila read detrita. 81, ......14.—For staincase read stair-case. DGyieasa . 3.—For Gmelen read Gmelin. BOs certs . 2.—For Casta read Costa. 99, .-....91.—For vermillion read vermilion. 106, ...... 9.—For is read are. 110, ......23.—For five read fine. 115, --+...13.—After body, insert O pillar-lip. 117, ......12,—Erase ‘*N Spicula.” 126, ».0..10,.—-For Neurnberg read Neuremberg.
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THE ELEMENTS
OF
CONCHOLOGY.
—B OS
CONCHOLOGY, is the science by which shells, or testaceous bodies, are properly arranged into systematic order.
On the face of our globe, the num- ber of Natural Bodies, is so immense, that, on a general view, the human mind recoils from the investigation of them as impossible. But since the invention of systems, the task now appears at once practicable; and, indeed, every object can be traced, with certainty and facility, to its pro- per place in the System of Nature.
B
2 THE ELEMENTS
In common language, the System of Nature has been divided into three kingdoms, viz. the Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral. That the young stu- dent may more easily understand the meaning of the classes, orders, &c. into which these three kingdoms are divided, we shall compare
A Class to an Army ;
An Order to a Regiment ;
A Genus to a Company ;
And a Species to a Soldier.
When we find a natural body, we must first refer it to a class in the system of Nature, then to an order, next toa genus, and then we endea- vour to ascertain ifs species.
All natural bodies, which agree in every particular, or essential pro- perty, are considered of the same species; for example, all dogs are specifically the same, but the diffe- rence between the hyena, wolf, fox, (though of the same genus as the dog Canis of Linné) and the pointer and
Sth ae
be
OF CONCHOLOGY. 3
spaniel, is so great as to constitute them of a different species; as is the bull-dog, mastiff, terrier, &c. Dogs taken generally form a genus. So it is with all natural bodies.
A plurality of species, constitutes a genus; and many genera, consti- tutes an order; and several orders, a class; and a variety of classes, a kingdom.
The term Conchology includes all animals which have a_ testaceous covering, whether they inhabit the sea, land, or fresh-water.
By chemical analysis testaceous bo- dies have been found to consist of, carbonate of lime, mixed with gelati- nous matter.
Chemists have divided shells into two classes. The first are usually of a compact texture, resembling porce- lain, and have an enamelled surface, and are in general beautifully varie- gated. Those composing this class
A THE ELEMENTS
are called porcelanaceous shells. To - this class belong various species of conus, cyprea, voluta, &e.
The second class consists of shells generally covered with a strong epi- dermis or skin, below which lies the shell in layers, and composed entirely of the substance well known by the name of mother-of-pearl. In this class are the fresh-water muscles, (the my- tilus cygneus and anatinus of Linné), the haliotis iris (called the ear-shell), the turbo olearus, and several of the trochus tribe, &c.
The porcelaneous shells, contain a very small portion of soft animal mat- ter; and those of the second class a very large proportion.*
It must be clearly understood, that, all shellfish are not included in the science of Testaceology.j- The crabs,
* See Thomson’s System of Chemistry, vol. v. page 507, &c. + Testaceology, is a modern term for the Natural History of shells, and synonymous with Conchology.
OF CONCHOLOGY. a
lobsters, sea-urchins, &c. are of the crustaceous order.
They differ in their composition from the testacea, the calcareous part of their shell being phosphate of lime, in place of the carbonate of lime.
The crustacea differ from the festa- cea in a still more striking point of view: it is well known that crabs, lobsters, &e. cast their shell or cover- ing annually; whereas the testaceous worms retain it as long as they exist. Besides the shells of crustaceous ani- mals, seem to grow all at once ; those of testaceous, evidently are made by the animal, gradually adding to them either annually or at least periodically ; as may be distinctly seen in the com- mon muscle; and all shells are com- posed of layers, which is not the case with crabs, &c. This may be easily proved by taking a shell and filing it slowly, when the different layers are very perceptible; or put a muscle-
6 THE ELEMENTS
shell into the fire, it will begin to crackle and divide in separate layers. We have numberless instances of shells, both sea and land, which have been broken, and are firmly mended by the animal; and in almost every collection specimens of mended shells may be found.
Shells are only the habitation of soft animals called vermes, or worms, and are the third order of Linnzus’s sixth class of animals.
The animals which have been dis- covered to inhabit shells, are ten:
1. Limax, 6. Nereis, 2. Doris, 7. Ascidea, 3. Spio, 8. Tethys,
4. Amphitrite, 9. Triton, 5. Terebella, 10. Sepia.
Ist. LIMAX. Body oblong, creeping, with a
fleshy kind of shield above, and a lon- gitudinal flat disk beneath ; aperture
OF CONCHOLOGY. |
placed on the right side, within the shield ; feelers four, situate above the mouth, and.an eye at the tip of each of the largest ones.
This genus is what is. generally termed the slug, or snail.
2nd. DORIS.
Body, creeping, oblong, and flat beneath ; mouth placed below, on the fore-part; vent behind, on: the back, and surrounded by a fringe; feelers, two and four, seated on the upper part of the body in front, and retrac- tile within their probu receptacles.
3d. SPIO.
Body projecting from a tube, joint- ed and furnished with dorsal fibres ; peduncles, or feet, rough with bristles and placed towards the back ; feelers two, long, simple ; eyes two, oblong.
8 THE ELEMENTS e
4th. AMPHITRITE.
Body projecting from a tube and annulate ; peduncles, or feet, small, numerous; feelers two, approximate, feathered ; no eyes.
5th. TEREBELLA.
Body oblong, creeping, naked, often inclosed in a tube, furnished with lateral fascicles, or tufts, and branchiz ; mouth placed before, fur- nished with lips without teeth, and protuding a clevate proboscis ; feelers numerous, ciliate, capellary, seated round the mouth. |
6th. NEREIS.
Body \ong, creeping, with nume- rous lateral peduncles, or feet, on each side; feelers simple, rarely wanting none; eyes two or four, rarely none.
7th. ASCIDIA. Body fixed, roundish, and appa- rently issuing from a sheath; aper-
OF CONCHOLOGY. 9
iures two, generally placed near the upper end, one beneath the other.
8th. TETHYS.
Body detached, rather oblong, fleshy without peduncles ; mouth with a terminal cylindrical proboscis, under an expanded membrane or lip; aper- tures two, on the left side of the neck.
9th. TRITON.
Body oblong ; mouth with an inyo- lute spiral proboscis; fentacula, or arms, twelve, six on each side, divided . nearly to the base, the hind-ones che- liferous.
10th. SEPIA. Body fleshy, receiving the breast in a sheath, with a tubular aperture at its base ; arms eight, beset with nu- merous warts or suckers, and in most species two pedunculated tentacula ; head short; eyes large; mouth re-
sembling a Parrot’s beak. c
10 THE ELEMENTS
It is upon the exclusive shape of the shell, and not the animal-inhabi- tant, that the arrangement of Concho-. logy is formed.
In early periods, naturalists were in much doubt whether to construct the arrangement from the animal, or the shells; and at last it was deter- mined, for the best of reasons, that it should be the latter. Of the great quantities of shells found, how few have had the animal in them? indeed, there are hundreds we shall never be able to ascertain. The greater part of shells in collections, have been found upon the beach, without the animal in them, which have been cast ashore by the agitation of the sea in storms, &c. ,
Most shells are very different in their young and adult state,’ both in form and colour; the student ought, therefore, to make ‘himself well ac- quainted with the generic characters,
OF CONCHOLOGY. ll
to enable him to discriminate the dif- ference. But, indeed, this is often a difficult matter, even to those who have studied the science for many years.
_ In almost all the cyprea, there is considerable difficulty in distinguish- ing them from the voluta, in their young state. The denticulated lip being the last part of the shell which the animal forms. The strombus ge- nus want the expanded lip in the young shell, from which circum- stance it is frequently taken for the buccinum and murex.
The Linnean arrangement of shells, consists of three orders, viz. MMultz- valve, Bivalve, and Univalve.
The first order, multivalve, are shells consisting of more parts than two. Every part of a shell which is connected by a cartilage, ligament, hinge, or teeth, is called a valve of such shell,
The second order, bivalve,are shells
12 THE ELEMENTS
of two parts or valves, generally con- nected by a cartilage; for example, the cockle and muscle.
The third order, wnivalve, consists of shells complete in one piece ; for example, the periwinkle and whelk. This order is subdivided: first, into those with a regular spire, and those without a spire.
The first order consists of three genera: Chiton, Lepas, and Pholas.
The second order consists of twelve genera: Mya, Solen, Tellina, Cardium, Mactra, Donax, Venus, Spondylus, Chama, Arca, Ostrea, Anomia, My- tilus, Pinna.
The third order consists of nineteen genera: Argonauta, Nautilus, Conus, Cyprea, Bulla, Voluta, Buccinum, Strombus, Murex, Trochus, Turbo, Helix, Nerita, Haliotis, Patella, Den- talium, Serpula, Teredo, and Sabella.
It will now be proper before pro- ceeding to a detail of the Linnean
OF CONCHOLOGY. 13
genera, to make the student ac- quainted with the terms used in Tes- taceology, as far as regards the dif- erent parts of shells.
EXPLANATION
OF THE
PARTS OF SHELLS.
——
MULTIVALVE.
Operculum is four small valves on the summit of the lepas, which how- ever is in a Certain degree stationary ; and different from the operculum of univalve shells, which wili hereafter be described. See plate Ist, fig. Ist, A.
Base is that part of the shell by which it is fixed to rocks and other bodies ; plate Ist, figures Ist and 2d, 5B B.----H is a piece of stone to which
14 THE ELEMENTS
the base is fixed, and G a piece of wood to which the shells of this sec- tion are generally affixed. |
Ligament is the substance by which the valves or parts of the shell are connected. Some multivalve shells are connected, by the parts of one valve looking into another. Plate Ist, fig. 2d, DDD.
Ridges are those cavities in many of the lepas tribe, sometimes lon- gitudinal and sometimes transverse. Plate Ist, fig. Ist, FF.
Peduncle.. A sort of stem by which the shells of the second division of lepas are attached to wood, &c. Itis a kind of membranaceous substance, similar to a bladder but materially thinner, and filled with a liquid which evidently affords nourishment to the animal. Plate Ist, fig. 2d,CC. G a piece of wood to which the peduncle is affixed.
OF CONCHOLOGY. 15
Feelers are those crenated arms, evolved from the side of the lepas ana- tifera, and other shells of the second division of lepas. While the animal is in the water it continually moves its feelers, evidently for the purpose of entangling minute marine insects,
for food. Plate Ist, fig. 2d, EE.
BIVALVE.
Bivalve shells, consist of two parts or valves, connected by a cartilage, and hinge which is generally com- posed of teeth, those of the one valve looking into a cavity in the other.
The valves of some bivalve shells, are formed exactly alike; and others, are very different; the one of some being smooth, the other rugose ; one flat, and another convex; and often one is shorter than the other.
The shells of the mya, solen, tellina, venus, &c. have in general both valves alike, while those of the spondylus,
16 THE ELEMENTS
ostrea, anomia, and pinna, have in general dissimilar valves. The first of these kinds are called equivalve, and the latter inequivalve.
Equilateral shells are those whose sides are alike, as in the shells of ostrea, commonly termed _ scallop- shells ip England, or those shells worn by pilgrims in former times ;
* Aud fix’d the scallop on his hat before.” PARNELL. This is also exemplified in the Arca Glycimeris and Pilosa of Lin- nzeus.
Inequilateral valves are shells whose sides are unequal ; and are of different shapes, as in the mactra, donax, &c.
Sumnut is the most elevated point of that part of the shell in which the hinge is placed ; plate Ist, fig. 4 & 8, “ad.
In naming this the summit, we do not follow the axiom of Linnzeus, but that of a modern author whose authe-
OF CONCHOLOGY. 17 rity we value; and because we consi- der it more properly the summit of the shell, than the opposite extremity.
Base, is the reverse of the above, or that part of the shell immediately opposite the summit. Plate Ist, figrs. 6th and 7th, dd.
Sides, the right and left parts of the valves; plate Ist, fig. 6th, c.
Anterior slope, is that part of the shell in which the ligament is situated. In viewing the anterior slope in front, the beaks of the shell retire from view. Plate Ist, fig. 4th, ¢.
Posterior slope, that part of the shell opposite the anterior slope; in viewing it in front, the beaks point to you. Plate Ist, fig. 4th, 4.
Disk, the convex centre of a valve, or most prominent part of the valve, suppose it with its inside lying under- most. Plate Ist, fiz. 4th, o.
Inside, the concave part of a valve. Plate 4th, fig. 6th, z.
D
18 THE ELEMENTS
Cicatrizx, or Tongue, is the impres- sion left on the inside of the valves, by the adhering muscles of the animal. It differs in most shells, according to the shape of the muscle, and is either semi-ovate, round, lunate, elongated, &e. It is often of great use in distin- guishing a species; being, with a very few exceptions, alike in shells of the same species. Some shells have only one cicatrix, as the edible oyster, and muscle; others have two, and some few more ; the Tellina Fusta for exam- ple. Plate Ist, figures 6 and 8, eeee.
Eunule. The lunated depressions, situated in the anterior and posterior slopes. In different species of the Venus they are prominent, character- istic marks, often of much service in ascertaining a species. Plate Ist, fig. 4th, 66.
_ Ligament perforation. The cir- cular aperture, or perforation, through which the ligament passes; by which
OF CONCHOLOGY. 19
the animal of the anomia attaches it- self to stones, and other marine ex- traneous bodies ; it is in general situ- — ated in the flat valve, though there are a few exceptions to the contrary. Plate Ist, fig. 7th, m.
Hinge, is the point by which bivalve shell are united, it is formed by the teeth of the one valve inserting them- selves between those of the other, or by the teeth of one valve fitting into the cavities or sockets of the opposite valve.
It is on the peculiar construction of the hinge that the generic character of Bivalve shells is principally founded, together with the general contour of the shell. Plate 2nd, figures Ist and 3d, 997 9-
Teeth of the Hinge. Upon the number and relative situation of the teeth, principally depend the specific distinctions ; they are of various forms, and very differently placed ;
20 THE ELEMENTS
some are single and large, others numerous and aail orbicular, spatuli- form, laminated, &c. Some hinges have no visible teeth, and are termed inarticulate ;* those with few teeth are termed articulate ;; and those with many teeth multiar ticulate.* - Plate Ist, figures 6th and 8th, S238:
Primary y Teeth, are those teeth in general about the centre of the hinge, and are for the most part broad, large, and distinct, and often elevated ; and in general are inserted in a cavity in the opposite valve. They however differ very much in some shells, but may easily be distinguished. Plate 4th, figures Ist, 3d and 7th, aaaqa,
Lateral Teeth§ are teeth which di- verge from the umbo, and are in gene- ral long and flat, often double, and divided by a grooye or hollow. Plate
* When a primary tooth has a groove or hollow in its cen- tre, it is called complicated. Plate 4th, fig. 6th, e.
+ Plate 4th, figures istand12th. + Plate 4th, figures 2nd, 3d, 4th, &c, § Plate 4th, fig. 10th.
OF CONCHOLOGY. 21
4th, figures 2nd, 4th, 6th and 7th, bb6b6.
Double Teeth, plate 4th, fig. Ist, ec. _ dIncurved Teeth are those which are bent round, as in the single tooth of the Solen Siliqua. Plate 4th, fig. 8th,
ie
Middle Teeth. Plate Ath, fig. 4th. dd.
Numerous Teeth, are those small teeth, of which the hinges of all the Area are formed, set in rows. Plate Ath, fig. 10th, A&A.
Cavity of the Hinge. The hollow depression in which the ligament of the Ostrea is situated, generally of a triangular form. Plate 4th, fig. 11th, e.
Ligament of the Hinge, or carti- lage, is that flexible fibrous substance by which the valyes are united, and the hinges kept in their proper places; always situated near the beak. Place 2nd, figures Ist, 3d and 4th, é//; plate 4th, fig. 3d, x.
22 THE ELEMENTS
Beak is the extreme point of the summit of bivalves, which for the most part points downwards, or to the one side, as in most species of Venus, &c. Plate 2nd, fig. Sth, 77.
Seam. When the valves are closed, the line between them is so called, Plate 2nd, fig. 6th, #¢.
Umbo. That place situated imme- diately under the beak. Plate Ist, fig. 6th, w; and plate 2nd, fig. 4th, w.
Ears. 'Two processes on each side of the beak, in most of that division of Ostrea, called scallops; some have one ear very large, and the other small; and some are scarcely observ- able on one side. Plate 2nd, fig. 2nd, hh.
Superior Ear. Plate 4th, fig. 11th, h.
Inferior Ear. Do. do. fg:
Margin, or Limb. The extreme edge of the whole shell, or either valve, allround. Pilate Ist, fig. 4th, p ; and plate 2nd, fig. Ist, p.
OF CONCHOLOGY. 23
Crenulated margin. 'That fine saw- like edge of most of the cockles, which unite into the notch in the opposite valve. It is by no means uncommon in other shells, particularly the Donax. Plate 4th, fig. 6th, mm m.
Stri@ are fine thread-like lines, eene- rally on the exterior surface of shells, and is sometimes both longitudinal and transverse, and likewise oblique. In some instances the insides of shells are striated ; for example, the Murex Tulipa. It is often of much use in distinguishing species. Plate 2nd, fig. 2nd, f/f.
Right Valve is that valve which, when viewed with the inside towards you, the anterior slope points to your right hand. Plate Ist, fig. 8th; and plate 4th, figures 5th and 6th, B.
_ Left Valve. The opposite of the above; the anterior slope points to the left hand, when viewed from the
24 THE ELEMENTS inside. Plate 4th, figures 3d, 6th, 7th, 9th, &e. : Length of the Sheil is taken from the ligament, or the beak, to the Opposite margin. Plate Ist, fig. 5th ; and plate 2nd, fig. 4th, wuw uw. Breadth is measured from the most extreme edge of the anterior and posterior slopes, being in a contrary direction from its length. Many shells are broader than long, such as most of the Myz, Solina, Tellina, &c.; and the Mytilus, Ostrea, Pinna, &c. are in general longer than broad. Plate Ist, fig. 5th; plate 2nd, fig. Ath, vo v v. Byssus, or beard, is an appendage composed of filaments of a silky tex- ture, by which some of the Bivalves fasten themselves to their beds, such as the muscle, Plate 2nd, fig. 6th, s.
UNIVALVE. The shells composing this order, are far more numerous than the two
OF CONCHOLOGY. 25
preceding, both in genera and spe- cies; and it requires a considerable degree of attention, to discriminate many of the species, as they run into each other so much; and of many of the species there are several varieties.
It is by the general outline that the shells of this order are distinguished, together with the formation of the spire, and aperture ; from their having a canal or gutter, the pillar-lip, and the outer-lip being expanded, together with the notches, &c. on the outer surface ; the colours also, are of ser- vice in describing species, though it cannot in all cases be depended on, many of them being subject to great variety.
Linnzeus divides his Order Univalve into two sections, turbinated shells within a regular spire, and those with- out any regular spire.
Apex. The summit or highest part of the spire. Plate 2nd, A A A.
E
26 THE ELEMENTS
Base is the opposite extremity from the apex, or tip of the spire. In shells: with a beak or rostrum, it implies the tip of such beak ; plate 2nd, fig. 11th, _ B. In shells without a beak, it is understood to be the lower part, as before-mentioned, opposite the apex ; plate 2nd, figures 8th and 9th, BB. In the patella dentalium and teredo, and some others, the base of the shell is that part on which it rests when it is laid on its mouth.
Body of the shell. The first or lower whorl of the spire, which is, in gene- ral, longer than the remaining whorls ; and often, the difference is much greater. Plate 2nd, figures 10th and 12th, FF’; and. plate 3d, figures 7th and 9th, FFE. ibe is
Front of the shell, is when the aper- ture faces the observer. Plate 2nd, fig. 7th, Z; and plate 3d, fig. 8th, Z.
Back is when the aperture is turned
OF CONCHOLOGY. 27
directly from the observer. Plate 3d, figures 5th and 10th, GG.
The venter, or belly, is the most prominent part of the lower whorl or body, and generally situated in the vicinity of the lip; and formed by the convexity of the aperture, It is in general only made use of in describing shells, whose body is large in propor- tion to the spire. Plate 3d, figures
_ 5th and 10th, HW A.
Sides. The extreme edges of the shell, either viewed from the front or back. Plate2nd,fig. 11th, AAKKAKKK.*
Aperture, or mouth, is that part of the lower whorl, by which the animal protudes itself. This is one of the principal generic distinctions of Uni- valve shells, and differs very much in shape; some apertures being rounded, others semilunar, angular, &c. Plate 2nd, figures. 9th and llth, CC; and
* Right side is when the shell is viewed in front, that side
next the observer’s left hand. Left side, the side with the aperture in it,
28 THE ELEMENTS
plate 3d, figures Ist, 3d and 14th, CCC.
Canal, or gutter, is a continuation of the aperture, of those shells with a beak, in which it forms a concave gut- ter, running from its commencement in the aperture, to the extremity. Plate 2nd, figures 10th and 11th, Q Q; plate 3d, fig. 8th, Q.
Beak, or rostrum, is that lengthened process in which the canal is situate ; * it commences a little higher up, on the outside, than the insertion of the ca- nal in the inside, which is always dis- tinctly marked by the line of the aper- ture. Plate 2nd, fig. 11th, P.
Pillar, or columella, is that process which runs through the centre of the shell in the inside, from the base to the apex in ‘most univalve shells, and appears to be the support of the spire ; and, indeed, seems to form that part of the shell; it is in general grooved or folded, and various other shapes ;
OF CONCHOLOGY. 29
but, as it is situated in the interior of the shell, a minute description is un- necessary. Plate 2nd, figures 10th and 12th, MWMMMM; and plate 3d, fig. 9th, MMM.
Pillar Lip is a continuation of the glossy process with which the aper- ture is lined, expanded on the colu- mella. Plate 3d, figures 7th and 8th, 00.
Outer Lip. The expansion, or continuation of the body of the shell, on the left margin of the aperture, and is also lined with the glossy pro- cess of the aperture. Plate 2nd, fig. 7th, N; and plate 3d, fig. 8th, WN N. The latter is an example of the alated or winged shells.
Plaited Columella are those folds, or plaits, which are the distinguishing characteristic of the Voluta genus, Plate 2nd, fig. 7th, z.
Operculum, or lid. This is only an appendage to the turbinated or spiral
30 THE ELEMENTS |
shells, affixed to the. animal, some- times of a testaceous, in others a car- tilaginous, substance, It, is only cal- culated for the protection of the ani- mal, when it retires: within, its dwell- ing, “of which: it may be termed its door, and is, adapted to the shape of the aperture, which it closes nicely up. Every: one must have: observed the cartilaginous operculum of the common periwinkle, (the’Turbo Litto ratus of Linné,) which. has a brown horny appearance, and must:in gene- ral be removed, before the animal can be taken out when boiled. Plate 3d, fig. 4th.
Spire is all the whorls of the. shell, except the lower one, which, as before observed, is termed. the. body of - Shell... Plate 2nd, fig. [2th, D; plate 3d, figures 7th and. 8th, D ad
The spire is a prominent feature of the Univalve ; and upon its being ele- vated, depressed, &c:,depends much
OF CONCHOLOGY 31
of the generic and specific definition. Adamson in his ‘ Natural History of Senegal,’ printed at Paris, in 1757, says that the external character of the spire, varies according to the plane they turn upon, which, he observes, is either horizontal, cylindrical, conic or - ovoid: At the same time, he admits that there area great many interme- diate forms, which cannot ai sthise be defined.
It is a remarkable ‘circumstance, that many of the young shells, have not the same number of wreaths as the adults; from which circumstance it would appear, that the part of the - animal nearest the apex, never in- creases in size. The number of wreaths cannot, at all times, be de- pended upon.
Whorl is one of. the acidic or volutions of the shell. Plate 2nd, fig. 8th, Z; and plate 3d, fig. 10th, Z.
Depressed Spire is when the spire
32 THE ELEMENTS
is very flat. Plate 2nd, fig. 12th, D; and plate 3d, fig. Sth, S.
Involuted Spire, those shells which have their whorls, or wreaths, con- cealed in the inside of the first whorl or body, as in some of the Nautilus and Cyprea. Plate 3d, fig. 3d, 7; plate 7th, fig. 19th; and plate 8th, fig. 21.
Suture of the Spire, or whorls, is a fine spiral line, which separates the wreaths or whorls; it is sometimes crenulated, in others sulcated, &c.
Reversed, or Heterostrophe Spire. As Mr. Montagu’s definition of a re- versed shell is very distinct, and easily understood, I shall here extract it. “Every Conchologist knows, that most convoluted shells turn one way, and that there are few species which are heterochtical, or invariably turn contrary to the usual manner. Some indeed have doubted, whether this is a permanent character; there
OF CONCHOLOGY. Oo
requires, however, no argument to prove it is so, to those who have taken the trouble to examine the common species of heterostrophe shells, which daily present themselves to our notice in our rural walks. Indeed, it is ra- ther strange that no one of these shells, whose nature is to have their spires turn in the more unusual man- ner, has (to our knowledge) even been met with to vary from that formation ; as such accidental deformities have been found, in a few instances, amongst those which are usually termed dexte- rals, or have the more usual spiral turns, and have become lusus heteros- trophon shells.
“In order, therefore, to explain which way the turn of the spiral con- volutions of a reversed shell takes, omitting the vague signification of turning to the right or left, we shall observe, that the more common turn of shells is with ee apparent motion
34 THE ELEMENTS
of the sun, or as the index or hand of a clock moves.
‘‘ But in order to be more clearly understood, let us compare the spiral volutions of a shell to a common cork- screw, and we shall find that whether the mouth, or apex, is placed up- wards, the spires will turn from the upper to the lower end like acommon screw, which is in the same direction as the index of a timepiece, and what is commonly understood by a dextral or right-handed screw. As a fur- ther definition, such shells have their aperture on the right side, when examined with that end downward ; and is in the direction of the sun’s apparent motion.*
* That different authors have described both sides of the shell as the right, is very clear; but it appears to me, Mr. Mon- tagu has himsel]f run into a mistake, concerning the right and left sides of the shell; and I have termed that side of the shell with the aperture in it, when viewed in front, the left side ; contrary to Mr. Montagu. It is admitted by most Concholo-
gists, that the apex or tip of the spire, is the top of the shell, and the lower region, in which the aperture is situate, is the
OF CONCHOLOGY. 29
«On the contrary, a reversed shell when placed in a perpendicular posi- tion, has its spiral volutions in an opposite direction to the motion of the index of a watch, or a clock, or to a common screw ; and, in fact, resem- bles what is usually termed a sinistral, or left-handed screw. These have their aperture on the left side, or op- posite the left hand of the person, holding the shell with the mouth downward ; and the opening is oppo- site the sun’s apparent motion. Plate
3d, fig. 13th.
base or bottom. It is also admitted, that when the shell is placed on its base, with the aperture facing the observer, that this is termed the front—plate 3d, figures 7th and 8th, &c. ; and that placed with the aperture from the observer, it is called the back—plate 3d, figures 9th and 10th. When ali this is admitted, it appears to me that the side in which the aper- ture is situated, is unequivocally the left side, and the opposite extreme the right. Surely if a man is placed on his feet, with another facing him, the one could not call the side fronting his right side, the right side of him opposite. If any thing, whatever it may be, has a ¢op, base, and proper front, it must also have a proper right and left side; and what I have de- acribed as such, I think will be found to be so,
36 THE ELEMENTS
“In order to determine whether a flat shell, whose volutions are laterally placed, is a reversed species, we have only to examine which way the volu- tions turn from the apex, or the centre, towards the mouth; and if we find it contrary to the motion of the index of a watch, itis a heterostrophe, or revers- ed shell; and vce versa.”
A flat shell is figured in plate 3d, fig. 14th.
“In some of the more depressed species of Helix, or Nautilus, atten- tion is requisite to be paid to the mouth, in order to determine which is really the upper side of the shell, for it is on that side the spiral turns are to be taken from the centre or apex ; and, in most instances, this is to be determined by the oblique direction of the aperture to the under part, where the lip rarely extends so far as on the upper part. In fixed shells, such as Serpula, there is no difficulty,
OF CONCHOLOGY. By
as the side which is sess¢le must be considered as the base, or under part. Thus in the Serpula Lucidu the fixed part is sometimes very small, and the mouth protends spirally upwards, in a contrary direction to the sun; and therefore must be considered a re- versed or heterostrophe shell, the same as if the volutions nearest the mouth had turned laterally upon the centre or fixed ones. ‘This shell, indeed, is most frequently found with regular lateral volutions ; and though subject to great variety, with respect to con- tortions, it invariably turns the aper- ture one way.
“In some species of Nautilus, how- ever, there can be no rule to ascertain whether it is dextral or sinistral; for when the aperture is exactly lateral, the lip collapses the body equally, and the sides of the shell similar, as in the Natilus Calcar, it cannot be defined. Jn others of that genus, asin NV. Bec-
30 THE ELEMENTS
car and Beccartt perversus, two shells, the principal distinction of which, is the contrary turn of their volutions, it is easily determined, by the convexity of the upper side; and of course, the aperture being placed somewhat beneath.” Testacea &ri- tannica, page 352, &c.
Chambers are the divisions formed by partitions, at regular intervals; as in the Nautilus. Plate 3d, fig. 11th, WWWwWwH Ww.
In some of the Serpula there are also divisions, but they are not regular as the preceding; and they differ from the Nautilus, in wanting a Sephuncu- lus or communication between the chambers; the animal forms a com- plete partition and adds to its shell, which it would appear to be necessi- tated to do, from its body growing too large for its abode.
Several of the Patella genus, have chambers of a laminiform, subspiral,
OF CONCHOLOGY. 39
or other form. Plate 3d, fig. 6th, W.
Umbilicus is in general a circular perforation, in the base of the lower whorl, or body, of many univalves ; and common to most of the Trochz, in some of which it runs from the base to the apex; widest at the base, and gradually tapering to the top. Plate 3d, fig. Ist, U.
Sub-umbilicated shells, are those which have the umbilicus covered ina greater or less degree by a thin pro- cess ; which, in some, almost entirely closes the opening or mouth.
Shells which have no umbilicus are termed imperforate.
Siphunculus is that small round perforation which forms a communi- cation between the chambers of the Nautili, which runs through the whole spire of the shell. Plate 3d, fig. 11th, ¢
Ribs are those longitudinal protu- berances which are in many of the
40 THE ELEMENTS
univalye shells. Plate 3d, fig. 12th, RRRRA.
Teeth of univalves, according to Mr. Montagu, are not properly den- ticles, or tooth-shape protuberances, but are fine white /amine, or ridges, running spirally backwards, in a pa- rallel direction to each other; those on the exterior lip may, in most in- stances, be traced through the outside of the shell, and are nearly alike in length. Plate 3d, fig. 13th, a.
Hpidermis is a skin, or cuticle, with which the exterior surface of many of the univalve and bivalve shells are covered ; and it is destined by nature to protect the surface of their shells from being injured. It is membrana- ceous, or similar to the periosteum, which covers the bones of animals. This skin seems to be formed entirely by the animal, and is uniformly ob- served in some species, and not at all in others: but those shells with a
OF CONCHOLOGY. 4h
rugged surface have almost always this epidermis. In some it is lami- nated, velvety, fibrous or rough, and in others very thin and pellucid, and admits the colours of the shell to shine through it. Although many shells are very beautiful, even with this cuticle on them, they are much more so when it is removed; but I would by no means advise the collector of shells to remove it, unless he may have several specimens of the same shell; and then he may do it by way of variety ; but it is always preferable to keep themina state of nature.
All other protuberances, furrows, &e. will be described at the end of the work, in the Glossary of Terms used in the Science.
A shell with epedermis is repre- sented in plate 3d, X ; and the effect of the epidermis removed at £.
G
42 THE ELEMENTS
The next thing to be taken into consideration, is the genera compos- ing the three orders of shells.
OF GENER.
ORDER FIRST.
MULTIVALVE SHELLS.
Animals soft, of a simple structure, and covered with a calcareous habita- tion or shell.
Genus Ist.--CHITON. Animal in- habiting the shell a Doris; shell con- sisting of several segments or valves, placed transversely on the back of the animal, and lying upon each other at their anterior edge. Linnean Syst. No. 300.
Ls
OF CONCHOLOGY. 435
The animals of this genus adhere to rocks and stones, in general near low water mark, and are, at first view, very like an oniscus. Plate 5th, fig. Ist.
Habitation. The Chitons have only been found to inhabit the ocean.
In Turton’s Linné 28 species of Chitons are described. Seven species have been discovered in the British seas.
Genus 2nd.---LEPAS. Animal a Triton; shell affixed at the base, and consisting of many unequal erect valves. Linn. Syst. No. 301.
The Lepas are termed acorn shells in England, This genus consists of two families or divisions, very different in their form. The first of which is the balani, or acorn shells, of a sub- conic form, with an operculum or lid, consisting of either four or six valves. The body of the shell has six valves. Plate 5th, fig. 2nd; and plate Ist, fig.
A4 THE ELEMENTS
Ist. The second family is the anati- ferous, or goose-bearing shells, as they are called, which is connected to, and supported at the base by a tendinous tube or pedicle, which being of a flex- ible nature, allows the animal to writhe about in quest of food ; it has no oper- culum, is wedge-shaped, and consists of five or more unequal valves. Plate Ast, fig. 2nd.
Mr. Montagu in his Testacea Bri- tannica, made those two families into two distinet genera. It is singular Linné should have arranged shells so very dissimilar in the same genus.
Habitation. The Lepas have only been found to inhabit the ocean.
The shells of this genus adhere in clusters to rocks, shells, floating wood, and other extraneous substances, and being incapable of changing place, are supposed to be true hermaphro- dites.
In Turton’s Linné thirty-two spe-
OF CONCHOLOGY. 45
cies of this genus are described; fif- teen species have been discovered in the British seas.
Genus 3d.---PHOLAS. Animal an
Ascidea; shell bivalve, divaricate, with several lesser, differently shaped, ac- Gessory ones, at the hinge; henges recurved, united by a cartilage ; in the inside, beneath the hinge, is an in- curved tooth. Linn. Syst. 302. Plate 5th, fig. 3d. - Habitation. Pholades are found below high water-mark, burrowed in hard clay, lime-stone, or sometimes free-stone, and also wood, which they perforate in their younger state, and as they increase in size enlarge their habitation.
The. phosphorescent properties of the Pholades are very remarkable ; it contains a liquor which shines with uncommon splendour in the dark, and illuminates whatever it touches, or happens to fall upon. See Memoirs of the French Academy, 1712.
46 THE ELEMENTS
“There is a remarkable shell-fish called Pholes, which forms for itself holes in different kinds of stone. This fish illuminates the mouth of the person who eats it; and it is remark- ed, that contrary to the nature of other fish, which give light when they tend to putrescence, this is more luminous the fresher it is; and when dried, its light will revive on being moistened either with salt water or fresh; brandy however immediately extinguishes it.” Priestly’s Optics, page 567.
It is to be regretted, that the expe- riments made by chemists on those animals, which have a luminous ap- pearance in the dark, have not been sufficiently decisive, to enable us to state the true cause of it; but it undoubtedly proceeds from phospho- rus, which is abundant in all animal — bodies.
In Turton’s Linné twelve species are described; five have been found to inhabit the British coasts.
OF CONCHOLOGY. 47
ORDER SECOND. BIVALVE SHELLS.
Genus 4th.---MYA. Animalan As- cidia; shell bivalve, generally gaping at one end; hinge with broad, thick, strong, patulous tooth, seldom more than one, and not inserted in the oppo- site valve. Linn. Syst.303. Plate 5th, fig. 4th.
Habitation. 'The Myz are to be found both in the sea and in rivers. ‘The marine kinds generally live under sand or sludge, and the place where they lie is betrayed by a small hole, out of which they occasionally protude their proboscis. ‘Those which inhabit rivers, are generally found in the mud at its bottom. In some places the animals are used for food; but what makes them of considerable import-
48 THE ELEMENTS
ance is, the quantity of pearls which they sometimes produce. We are told by Camden, for the value of the pearls produced by the Mya Mar- gratifera, that Sir John Hawkins had a patent for fishing for that shell in the river Irt in Cumberland.
The French naturalists divide this genus into three distinct genera: Mya, Glycimeris, and Vulsella.
In Turton’s Linné twenty-six species are described; and fourteen have been ascertained to inhabit Great Britain.
Genus 5th.---SOLEN. Animal an Ascidia; shell bivalve, oblong, open at both ends; hinge with a subulate re- flected tooth, often double, and not inserted in the opposite valve. Zann. Syst. 304. Plate 5th, fig. 5th. Razor shell. '
| Habitation. The Solens have only been found to inhabit the ocean; they ~ are generally found, buried about six inches deep, in the sand; their resi-
OF CONCHOLOGY. 49
dence is known by a small dimple on the surface. In some places they are used as food.
The French naturalists have divided the Solens into three distinct genera : Solen, Sanguinalaria, and Corbula.
In Turton’s Linné twenty-three spe- cies are described; eleven species have been ascertained as British.
Genus 6th.---TELLINA. Animal a Tethys; shell bivalve, generally slop- ing on one side; in the fore-part of one valve a convex, of the other a concave fold; hinge with usually three teeth, the lateral ones smooth on one side. Linn. Syst. 305. Plate Sth, fig. 6th.
‘There are three families of the Tel- linz : ovate and thickish* ovate and compressed,** suborbicular.***
Hfabitation. The Tellinze are found to inhabit the ocean, rivers and lakes. Those of the ocean lie buried in the sludge, near the bie and make two
59 THE ELEMENTS
apertures in the sand; when the tide has receded, they may be easily found by looking for these marks.
The French writers have divided the Tellina into three genera: Tellina, Cyclus, and Pandora.
In Turton’s Linné ninety-four spe- cies are described: twenty-two spe- cies have been discovered in Britain.
Genus 7th.--CARDIUM, (acockle.) Animala'Tethys; shell bivalve, nearly equilateral, equivalve, generally con- vex, longitudinally ribbed, striate or grooved, the margin dentated ; hinge with two alternate teeth in the mid- dle, near the beak; one of them com- monly incurved; and larger remote lateral teeth on one side, each looking into the opposite. Linn. Syst. 306. Plate 5th, fig. 7th.
Habitation. The Cardium, with the exception of one species, have only been found to inhabit the ocean ; this species, the Cardium Fluviatile, has
OF CONCHOLOGY. 5l
been found, sparingly, at the mouth of the Tees in Yorkshire. Cockles, in general, live just under the surface of the sand, barely covered ; they are necessitated to be near the surface, from the shortness of their tube, by which they draw in and throw out the water.
The French have divided the Car- dium into three genera: Cardium, Buearde, and Cordiformes.
In 'Turton’s Linné fifty-two species are described; fifteen species have been found in Great Britain.
Genus 8th.----MACTRA. Animal a Tethys; shell bivalve, with unequal sides, equivalye ; middle tooth of the _ hinge complicated, with a small hol- low on each side, lateral-teeth, remote, and inserted into each other. . Linn. Syst. 307. Plate 6th, fig. 8th.
Habitation. Shells of this genus have only been found to inhabit the ocean, These shells lurk in the sand
52 THE ELEMENTS
or sludge, most commonly at the mouths of rivers, or near them.
The French naturalists divide the Mactra into two genera: Mactra and Lutraria.
In Turton’s Linné twenty-seven species are described; twelve have been discovered in the British seas.
Genus 9th.---DONAX. Animal a Tethys; shell bivalve, with generally a crenulate margin, the frontal margin very obtuse; hinge with two teeth, and a single marginal one placed a little behind, rarely double, triple or none. Sinn. Syst. 308. Plate 6th, fig. Oth.
The shells of this genus are in ge- neral triangular, inequilateral, flatten- ed, treuncated before, and wedge- shaped. }
Habitation. The Donax has only been found to inhabit the ocean: lurking in the sand of the shore, and
oF CONCHOLOGY. 53 may be found on the reflux of the tide.
In Turton’s Linné nineteen of this genus are described ; and six species have been found in the British seas.
The French conchologists have di- vided this genus into two: Donax and Petricola.
Genus 10th.---VENUS. Animal a Tethys; shell bivalve, the frontal mar- gin flattened, with incumbent lips; hinge with three teeth, all of them approximate, the lateral ones diver- gent at the tip. Linn. Syst. 309. Plate 6th, fig. LOth.
This genus is divided into two sec- tions: pubentes* and impuberes.** This latter section is divided into three families: subcordate,} orbiculate,;-} and ovalis.(}+ ~ Dr. Turton has not followed Linné in the above arrangement, but has divided them into three sections; A somewhat heart-shaped, B orbicular,
b4 THE ELEMENTS
C oval, alittle angular near the beaks.
Habitation. 'The shells of this ge- nus have only been found to inhabit the ocean. They in general lurk in the sand; and many of the larger spe- cies are only to be found in very deep water.
The shells composing this numerous tribe, are perhaps the most elegant, and beautifully diversified, of all the bivalve shells.
In Turton’s Linné, no less than 154 species are described ; and 25 species have been discovered to inhabit the seas around Great Britain.
Genus IIith--SPONDYLUS. Ani- mala Tethys: shell hard, solid, and ridged, with unequal valves ; one valve in general convex, and the other ra- ther flat: Ainge with two recurved teeth, separated by a small hollow. Linn. Syst.310. Plate 6th, fig. 11th.
Habitation. This genus has only been found to inhabit the ocean. They
OF CONCHOLOGY. 59
adhere to rocks in deep water, and require considerable force to tear them from their retreats.
Some of the Spondyli have ears, and others not; they are in general strong, rugose shells. This genus re- quires considerable attention, as some of the species vary exceedingly, so much so that many have been taken for distinct species.
The French writers divide the Spon- dyli into two genera: Spondylus, and Plicatula. The valves of the last are in general rude, thick, uneven, and uncouth.
In Turton’s Linné only four spe- cies are described ; no species of this genus have been found to inhabit the British seas.
Genus 12th.---CHAMA. Animala Tethys; shell bivalve, rather coarse ; hinge with a eallous gibbosity, ob- liquely inserted into an oblique cavity;
56 THE ELEMENTS
anterior slope closed. Linn. Syst. 311. Plate 6th, fig. 12th.
Habitation. The shells of this ge- nus have only been found to inhabit the ocean ; they live only in very deep water.
The Chama Gigas is the largest and heaviest shell yet discovered, be- ing sometimes of the amazing weight of 532 pounds, and the animal inhabi- tant so large as to furnish one hun- dred and twenty-two men with a meal; and is said to be very palatable: and such is its strength that it is able to cut asunder a ship’s cable. This spe- cies inhabits the Indian Ocean.
The French writers divide this ge- nus into five, Chama, Tridacna, Hip- possus, Cardita, and Lsocardia.
In Turton’s Linné twenty-five spe- cies are described. Only one of this genus has been found in the British seas, the Chama Cor, discovered by Captain Laskey, off St. Abb’s-head in
OF CONCHOLOGY. 57
Scotland. To that gentleman the British Conchologist is indebted for the discovery of many new species.
Genus 13th.---ARCA. Animal a Tethys; shell bivalve, equivalve; hinge with numerous sharp teeth, alternately inserted between each other. Linn. Syst. 312. Plate 6th, fig. 13th.
Linné divides this genus into two families: *with the margin entire ; **with margin crenulated; and has subdivided each into two sections, tbeaks recurved; and j++}beaks in- flected.
Habitation. Some of the Area are affixed by the foot of the animal to rocks ; and others lurk in the sand or mud near the shore, generally be- tween high and low water mark. ~The Arca have only been found to inhabit the ocean. _ This genus takes its name from the strong resemblance the Arca Noe, and some others, aKe to the hull of a
08 THE ELEMENTS
vessel when the valves are united. Many of the Arks are, however, void of this character, but are sufficiently united to the genus, by the number and construction of their teeth.
The French Conchologists have made two genera of the Arca: Arca and Nucla. The Arca Noz is an example of the former, and the Arca Nucleus of the latter.
In Turton’s Linné forty-two species are described; and six species have been found on the British shores.
Genus 14th.--OSTREA, (or oyster.) Animal a Tethys: shell bivalve, gene- rally with unequal valves, and slightly eared ; hinge without teeth, but fur- nished with an ovate hollow, and mostly lateral transverse grooves. fann. Syst. 313. Plate 7th, fig. 14th.
The Ostrea is divided into three families: *valyes radiated and eared, as in scallops ; “rugged or rough, as in the oyster; *“*hinge with a perpen-
OF CONCHOLOGY. 59
dicular furrowed line, as in the spe- cies of Perna. The first family is again subdivided into three sections: fvalves equilateral, and ears equal; tfears unequal, and having one of them generally ciliated with spires within; Titvalves gibbous on one side.
Habitation. The Ostrea have me been found in the ocean; some lurk in the sand in large beds, others ad- here to rocks, and some to trees on the shores of the West Indies, &c.
The Ostrea might with great pro- priety be divided into two species, scallops and oysters, as those sections are very dissimilar.
The French Naturalists have formed this genus into seven: Ostrea, Pec- ten, Malleus, Perna, Lima, Pedum, and Gryphus.
In Turton’s Linné 187 species are described ; nine species are found in the British seas.
60 THE ELEMENTS
Most of the foreign, and a few of the British Pectens, are very beauti- ful shells.
Genus 15th.---ANOMIA. Animal an emarginate ciliate strap-shaped body, with bristles or fringe affixed to the upper-valve; arms two, linear longer than the body, connivent pro- jecting, alternate on the valve and ciliate on each side, the fringe affixed to each valve; shell bivalve, inequi- valve, one of the valves flattish, the other gibbous at the base with a pro- duced beak, generally curved over the hinge; one of the valves often perforated near the base ; henge with a linear prominent cicatrix and a late- ral tooth placed within, but in the flat valve on the very margin; two bony rays for the base of the animal. Lznn. Syst. 314. Plate 7th, fig. 15th.
Habitation. The Anomia have on- ly been found to inhabit the ocean. The animal attaches itself to fuci,
oF CONCHOLOGY. 61
shells, stones, and other extraneous bodies at the bottom of the sea: they are generally affixed by a ligament which passes through the perforation in the flat valve. A species called the Squamula is often found adhering to the Pecten Opercularis, and is very common at Aberlady Bay in Scotland ; it resembles the scale of a fish, and partakes of the form of the furrows and striz of the Ostrea, which makes it very beautiful.
Lamarck has divided the Anomia into three genera: Anomia, Calceola, and Crania. ,
The Anomia Sandalium of Linné, is an example of the Calceola, and the Anomia Craniolaris of the Crania.
In Turton’s Linné fifty-one species are described ; and six have been dis- covered on the British shores,
Genus 16th.---MYTILUS, (or mus- cle.) Animal allied to an Ascidia;
shell bivalve, rough, generally affixed
62 THE ELEMENTS
by a byssus or beard of silky filaments ; hinge mostly without teeth, with gene- rally a subulate, excavated, longitudi- nal line. Lenn. Syst. 315. Plate 7th, fig. 16th.
The Linnean Mytili are divided into three families: *Parasitici, &c. parasi- tical, affixed as it were by claws, as exemplified in the Mytilus Cristi Galli; © **Plani, &c. flat or compressed into a flattened form, and slightly eared; as in the Mytilus Margratiferus; ***Ven- tricosiusculi, &c. ventricose or wear as in Mytilus Edulis.
Habitation. The Mytili are found to inhabit the ocean, lakes, rivers and - ponds. Marine Muscles adhere to rocks or beds by a thin byssus, and some to the Gorgoniz by claws. Some penetrate calcareous rocks, &c. where they reside without changing place, some of them adhere to rocks on the shore, and are either used for bait or food, and as such they are esteemed
OF CONCHOLOGY:. 635
by many; but it is dangerous to eat plentifully of them, unless they are known to be wholesome, as many of them produce very bad effects after they are taken into the stomach. The fresh water muscles are generally found on the surface, or a little way under the mud. Some muscles pro- duce pearls.
Lamarck divides this genus into three species: Mytilus, Modiolus, and Anodonta.
In Turton’s Linné sixty-four species are described ; and thirteen have been found to inbabit the seas, lakes, &c. of Great Britain.
Genus 17th.---PINNA. Animal a Limax ; shell sub-bivalve, fragil, up- right, gaping at one end, and fur- nished with a byssus or beard: hinge without teeth, the valves united into one. Linn. Syst. 316. Plate 7th, fig. 17th.
64 THE ELEMENTS
Habitation. The Pinnez, which fre- quently grow to a large size, are only found to inhabit the ocean. They are generally found standing erect in the smoother water bays, with the broad end or base of the shell uppermost. And they are sometimes found affixed by their byssus to rocks.
In Italy the byssus of the Pinna is woven into a sort of silk. The fibres or filaments of which it is composed, are very tough, and of a fine glossy brown colour. The ancient Romans highly esteemed articles made of this byssus; and at Naples and Palermo there are still manufactories of it.
This genus forms an excellent inter- mediate link between the bivalve and univalve shells, being in truth what Linné defines it---a sub-bivalve shell ; it being immoveably fixed, by a calca- reous process, at the hinge.
The Pinne are wedge-shaped shells, er somewhat of a triangular form,
OF CONCHOLOGY. 65
widening from the top, which is nar- row and pointed, to the base which is wide and extended.
In Turton’s Linné eighteen species of Pinnz are described; and three only have been found to inhabit the British seas. |
ORDER THIRD.
UNIVALVE SHELLS With a regular Spire.
Genus 18th.--ARGONAUTA. Ani- mala Sepia or Clio; shell univalve, spiral, involute, membranaceous, and unilocular, or consisting of a single apartment or cell. Linn Syst. 317. Plate 7th, fig. 18th. ,
Habitation. The Argonaute have only been found oo inhabit the ocean,
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and are found among the rocks near the shore, in the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean. The Argonauta argo is the Nauti- lus so famous amongst the ancients, and often mentioned in the writings of Pliny and others. It is supposed that in the earliest ages of society, this shell suggested to men the first idea of using sails. In calm weather it rises to the surface of the water, (which it does by discharging a quan- tity of fluid, that rendered it specifi- cally heavier than the sea-water,) and spreads its arms over the shell, which answer the purpose of oars; it then throws out and.» expands a double membrane, which it ean oblique in any direction at pleasure, this answers the purpose of a sail, and by this it is im- pelled forward by the breeze, like a ship under sail; two of its arms hang over the sbell, and serve as rudders or oars, to direct its course. In the
OF CONCHOLOGY. 67
event of danger it immediately with- draws within its cell, and sinks to the bottom.
Lamarck proposes two distinct ge- nera of the Argonauta. The first is exemplified by the Argonauta Argo of Linné; the second is constituted by the Argonauta Vitreus of Gmelin, and he terms it Carinaria: It is some- what remarkable, that the great Linné should have been completely at a loss where to place this shell; and in the twelfth edition of the Systema Natu- re, we find it placed among the Pi- tillee, under the title of Patella Cristata, to which tribe it bears no resemblance. It was by Gmelin, with more propri- ety placed among the Argonauta; but even in this situation it seems mis- placed, and I concur with Lamarck in the propriety of forming a new genus with it. Lamarck terms it the Carinaria. |
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In Turton’s Linné five species of this genus are described; none of which have been found to inhabit the British seas.
Genus 19th.---NAUTILUS. Ani- mal (Rumphfius Mus. table 17, fig. B;) shell univalve, divided into several! de- partments, communicating with each other by a sephunculus or aperture. Finn. Syst. 318. Plate 7th, fig. 19th.
The Linnean Nautili are divided into two families : *spiral and rounded, *“elongated and straight. Of the for- mer there are two sections: whorls contiguous, ~~}whorls separated. |
Habitation. With a very few ex- ceptions the Nautili have only been found to inhabit the ocean.
Some modern authors propose to divide this genus into three: Nauti- lus, Spirula, and Orthocrea.
Many of the Nautili are found in a fossil state ; see Parkinson’s. Organic Remains, vol. 3.
OF CONCHOLOGY. 69
In Turton’s Linné thirty-one species of this genus are described ; seventeen species have been found on the Bri- tish coast; and the greatest number of them was discovered by George Montagu, Esq. author of the Testacea Britannica, which is by far the best work on Conchology in the English language.
Genus 20th _-CONUS, Animal a Limax ; shell univalve, convolute, tur- binate ; aperture effuse, longitudinal, linear, without teeth, entire at the base ; pillar smooth. Linn. Syst. 319. Plate 8th, fig. 20.
This genus in the Linnean System is divided into five families: *truncati, &c. having the spire or turban nearly truncate or flat; **pyriformis, &c. pyriform, with the base rotundate, and sub-cylindrical, the cylinder one half longer than the spire; ***elon- gate, with the base rotundate, cylinder twice the length of the spire; ****ven-
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tricose in the middle, and narrow at each end; *****ventricose, emits a tinkling sound when thrown on its back upon a table.
Habitation. 'The Cones have only been found to inhabit the ocean, and are generally found on rocky shores.
This genus is a very good one, and well defined by Linné. Although it contains a great many species, none have been found among them to differ so much, as to allow any one to attempt a new genus from it.
Many of the Cones are very beauti- ful. These shells, in general, are the highest priced of all shells, as they are very rare. Qne species, the Cedo Nulli of Lyonet, is valued at one hun- dred guineas. Very few perfect speci- mens of this shell are known; and those are only to be met with in the most valuable cabinets.
In Parkinson's Organic Remains, vol, 3, seyeral curious’ specimens are
OF CONCHOLOGY. val
described; many. of them from the chalk cliffs in Hampshire.
In Turton’s Linné seventy-one spe- cies of cones are described ; none of this genus have been found to inhabit the British seas.
Genus 2\st.---CYPR/EA (or Cow- ry.) Animal a Slug; shell univalve, involute, sub-ovate, smooth, obtuse at each end; aperture effuse at each end, linear, extending the whole length of the shell, and dentated or toothed on each side. Linn. Syst. 320. Plate 8th, fig. 21.
Linné divides the genus Cypraa into four families: *mucronate, or pointed; “obtuse, and without any manifest spire; ***umbilicated, or with a small perforation ; ****marginated.
The genus Cyprza consists of beau- tifully coloured, and very highly polish- ed shells. It is said, that all the Cy- prea leave their shells annually, and construct new and larger ones. But
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we have not been able to ascertain this point as a fact.
Habitation. 'They live in sand at the bottom of the sea; and the animals are provided with a membrane, which they throw over their shells, which preserves the fine polish, and prevents other testaceous bodies from fixing on them. ‘The Cypreea have only been found to inhabit the ocean.
In Turton’s Linné 120 species of Cyprea are described ; and only one has been found in the British seas.
Genus 22nd.---BULLA. Animal a Limax; shell univalve, convolute, and unarmed with teeth; aperture a little straitened, oblong, longitudinal, very entire at the base; pellar oblique and smooth. Linn. Syst. 321. Plate 8th, fig. 22nd.
Habitation. The shells composing the Bulla genus are found to inhabit the ocean, lakes, rivers, and ditches. Those which inhabit the ocean, are
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found a few inches ‘under the sand. They may be frequently taken alive in little pools, between high and low water-mark, in which they are often seen sporting, with a very rapid mo- tion in the sun-beams.
The animal inhabiting the Bulla is considerably too large for its shell, and cannot contract itself wholly with- in it, as most other animals can do, which inhabit shells.
The French Conchologists have di- vided this genus into several new ones ; the most prominent of these is the Ovum; at the head of which stands Linné’s Bulla Ovum.
In Turton’s Linné fifty-two species of Bulle are described; and nineteen species have been found to be indige- nous to the British seas, lakes, rivers, &e.
Genus 23d.---VOLUTA. Animal a Limax; shell single-celled and spi- ral; aperture i aa a beak and
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somewhat effuse; pillar twisted or plaited, generally without lips or per- foration. Linn. Syst. 322. Plate 8th, fig. 25d.
Linné divides this yery extensive genus of shells into five distinct fami- lies: *aperture or opening entire ; *“*somewhat cylindrical and emargi- ginate ; ***obovate, effuse, and emar- ginate ; **“fusiform ; *****ventricose, spire papillary at the top.
Habitation. The Volutes have on- ly been found to inhabit the ocean, and are most common in inter-tropical climates.
The French writers on Conchology, have divided the Linnean Volute into several new genera: Oliva, Turbinella, Mitra, Harpa, Musica, and Volva.
In Turton’s Linné 144 species of Volutes are described; and eleven species haye been found to inhabit the British seas.
OF CONCHOLOGY. fs) Genus 24th.---BUCCINUM. Anvi-
mal a Limax; shell univalve, spiral, gibbous ; aperture ovate, terminating in a short canal leaning to the right, with a retuse beak or projection ; pl- lar-lip expanded. Linn. Syst. 323. Plate 8th, fig. 24th.
The Buccina are divided by Linné into nine families: *ampulla, &c. inflat- ed, rounded, thin, sub-diaphanous, and brittle; ** cassidea, caudata, &e. with a short, exerted, reflected beak, lip unarmed outwardly; ***cassidea, unguiculated, &c. lip aculated on the outside of the posterior part; in other respects resembling the last division ; ****callosa, &c. pillar-lip dilated and thickened ; *****dentrila, &c. pillar-lip appearing as if worn flat; ******leevi- gata, &c. smooth, and not enumerated in the former divisions ; ****""*angu- ~ Jar, and not included in the former divisions ; “tapering, subulate, and smooth.
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Habitation. The Buccina generally inhabit the ocean, with the exception of a very few species, which are found to inhabit the earth.
Lamarck has divided the genus ‘Buccinum into seven genera: Do- lium, Harpa, Cassis, Terebra, Purpura, Buccinum, and Nassa.
The shells composing the genus Buccinum are in general strong and hollow; they adhere to rocks and stones in the ocean, and deposit their ova in deep water. Some of the larger kinds are said to have been used as trumpets in ancient times.
In Turton’s Linné 202 species of Buccina are described ; and eighteen species have been ascertained to in- habit the British shores.
Genus 25th.---STROMBUS. Anz- mala Limax: shell univalve and spi- ral; aperture much dilated; the ip expanding and produced into a groove
OF CONCHOLOGY. V7
leaning to the left. Linn. Syst. 324. Plate 8th, fig. 25th. :
Linné divides the Strombi into four families: *lip projecting into linear divisions or claws; **lobed; ***di- lated ; ****tapering, with a very long spire. |
Habitation. The shells composing this genus, have only been found to inhabit the ocean; and are in general found on rocky shores. The Strom- bus Gigas is to be seen, when the water is clear, crawling on the large flat rocks which surround many of the West India islands, at the depth of from fifteen to twenty feet.
The young shells of this genus want the dilated lip, which is’ one of the most essential characters of the Strom- bi, and are in consequence often con- founded with the Buccinum and Mu- yex. | _ The French Conchologists divide the Linnean Strombi into three ge-
43 THE ELEMENTS
nera: Strombus, Pterocera, and Ros- tellaria.
In Turton’s Linné fifty-five species of Strombi are described; and only two have been found to inhabit the British seas.
Genus 26th.---MUREX. Animala Limax ; shell univalve, spiral, rough, with membraneous sutures ; aperture oval, ending in an entire straight or slightly ascending canal. Linn. Syst. 325. Plate 8th, fig. 26th.
Linné divides the Murices into six families: +*Spinosi, spinous, with a ‘produced beak; **Frondosi Suturis, sutures expanding inte crisped folia- tions; beak abbreviated; ***Ventri- cose, with thick protuberant rounded sutures; ****Ecaudati, more or less spinous, and without manifest beak ; *****Caudigeri, with a long, straight, subulate, closed beak, and unarmed with spines; ******Turriti, tapering, subulate, with a very short beak.
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Habitation. The Murices are only found to inhabit the ocean. They in general are to be found on rocky shores, and some of them burrow in the sand.
The shells of this genus are in general thick, strong, and heavy, and often rugged ; from which they have obtained the name of rocks in England.
The modern French and German Testaceologists, have divided the Lin- nean Murex into three genera: Fas- - ciolaria, Pleurotoma, and Murex.
The first of these are shells of a fu- siform or spindle shape, and smooth, with several oblique folds in the pillar. The Plurotoma are also spindle-shaped, with the aperture terminating in along canal, lip cleft near the summit. The Murex are those shells of an oval or oblong form, with a canal at the base, and the shell externally beset with prominent, longitudinal ridges, and often tuberculated.
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In Turton’s Linné 182 species of Murices are described; and twenty- two species have been ascertained to inhabit the British seas.
Genus 27th.----TROCHUS. Ani- mal a Limax: shell univalve, spiral more or less conic; aperture some- what angular or rounded, the upper side transverse and contracted ; pillar placed obliquely. Zinn. Syst. 326. Plate 8th, fig. 27th. "
Linné divides the Trochi into three families: «Umbilicate, erect, with pil- lar perforated ; **Imperforati, imper- forate, erect, with the umbilicus closed; ***Turiti, tapering, with aun inserted pillar, and falling on the side when placed upon the base. |
Habitation. The Trochi have mostly been found to inhabit the ocean, with a few land species. They most frequently live neat the shore in pools, or such places as are always
OF CONCHOLOGY. 8l
wet when the tide recedes ; some few of them live in very deep water.
Lamarck and Latrellie have made a new genus from the Trochi of Linné, under the name of Pyramidella ; the generic character of which is opening, entire, and semi-oval, pillar projecting and raised with three transverse folds, perforated at the base as in the Tro- chus Dolabratus of Linné. The above writers have formed two other genera, Salarium and Monodonta. The Tro- chus perspectives, or what is called the Staincase Trochus in England, illustrates the first; and Trochus La- bio the second.
In Turton’s Linné 133 species are described; and twelve have been found on the British coasts, including one species found on the mountains of Cumberland.
Genus 28th.--TURBO. Animal a Limax ; shell univalve, spiral, and so- lid; aperture crema orbicular,
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entire. Zinn. Syst. 327. Plate 9th, fig. 26th.
- The shells composing this genus are divided into five families: *Neri- toidei, &c. with the pillar-margin of the aperture dilated and imperforate ;_ **Solidi, &c. solid and imperforate ; *** Solidi, &c. solid, perforated ; ****Cancellati, cancellate; *****Tur- riti, tapering.
_ Habitation. The shells of this ge- nus are found to inhabit the sea, land, and fresh water ; the Turbines adhere to rocks near the shore; and some of them live in very deep water.
The Turbo Scalaris, or wentle- trap, as it is termed in England, is very much esteemed by collectors, and is rather a scarce shell. A mo- dern author proposes a new genus from this and similar species; and: the longitudinal ribs, he marks as the distinguishing characteristics ; al- though we must in candour admit,
OF CONCHOLOGY. 83
that the Linnean Turbo, in its present form, is rather too copious and diffuse, yet we cannot approve of establishing new genera from shells, which differ in so trifling a degree; as genera, established on such flimsy greunds, would be endless.
In Turton’s Linné 151 species of Turbines are described ; and no less than 69 species have been ascertained as indigenous to Britain.
Genus 29th.---HELIX. Animal a Limax ; shell univalve, spiral, subdia- phanous, brittle ; aperture contracted, semilunar or roundish. Zann. Syst. 328. Plate 7th, fig. 29th.
Linné divides the Helices into six families: *Ancipites ; &c. angulated on both sides; **Carinate, &e. whorls with a carinate acute margin; *** Rotundate, &c. whorls rounded and umbilicated ; ****rounded and imper- forate ; *****Turrite, tapering ; ****** Ovate, &c. ovate and imperforate.
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Habitation. 'The Helices are found to inhabit the ocean, land, rivers, lakes, &e. They are inhabitants of almost all parts of the globe; and are in general very numerous. On land they are found to inhabit trees, old walls, mossy banks, rocks; and are often found under stones, &c.
The Helices are termed snails in England; they feed on vegetables, &c. It has been asserted, and on appa- rently good authority, that snails have been known to revive after remaining in a state of torpidity for about fifteen years; snails are possessed of very considerable reproductive powers, and are capable of regenerating the head, after it is taken off.
The Helices are a numerous tribe, and many of them are beautifully formed. |
Modern Testaceologists have di- vided this genus into six genera: Jan-
OF CONCHOLOGY. 35
thina, Helix, Lymnea, Bulimus, Mela- nia, and Planorbis.
In Turton’s Linné 267 species of Helix are described ; and 67 species have been ascertained as indigenous to Britain. |
Genus 30th.--NERITA. Animal a Limax; shell univalve, spiral, gib- bous, flattish at bottom; aperture semiorbicular, or semilunar; paliar-lip transversely truncate, flattish. Lenn. Syst. 329 Plate 9th, fig. 30th.
This genus is divided into three families : *Umbilicate, umbilicate ; *“Imperforate, &c. imperforate, with the lips toothless ; ***Imperforate, with the lips toothed.
Habitation. The Neritz inhabit the sea, lakes, and rivers. Those in- habiting the sea are, for the most part, found near the shore, and several are attached to marine plants; and some are only found in deep water, so that
36 THE ELEMENTS
live specimens can only be had by trawling for them. 7
The continental writers on Con- chology, Lamarck, Latreille, &c. have made a new genus from the Nerite, termed Natica, which embraces the ‘umbilicated kinds, such as the Glau- cina and its corresponding - species. We, however, can see no particular reason for making this a generic dis- tinction. The Linnean Nerite is a very good genus, and there is nothing in the general character of any of the species, which can perplex even a young student. We think it tends ra- ther to retard than to advance the pro- gress of the science, to construct new genera, where there are not strong motives for doing so.
In Turton’s Linné 76 species of Nerites are described; and eight species have been found indigenous to Britain.
Geans, Blat EIALIOTIS: ine
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mala Limax; shell ear-shaped, uni- valve, and dilated, with a longitudinal row of orifices along the surface ; spare lateral, and nearly concealed. Linn. Syst. 330. Plate 9th, fig. Sist.
Habitation. The shells composing the genus Haliotis, have only been found to inhabit the sea. They adhere closely to rocks, and can only be re- moved by suddenly snatching them from their hold. In some places the animal inhabitant is esteemed good eating. One species, the Haliotis Tuberculata, is very common in Guernsey.
The shells of shai genus are so very distinct, that they can hardly be mis- taken, the Helix Haleotida, indeed, approaches very near to the Falotzs, but it wants the most striking charac- teristic, the longitudinal series of orifices; in other respects it is very similar to the Haliotis, having a pear- laceous inside, and being ear-shaped.
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On the other hand, its prominent spire certainly removes it from this genus.
Gmelen has placed the Hilex Per- versa and the Haliotidia, both imper- forate shells, among the Haliotis tribe, in his edition of the Systema Nature ; and quotes Chemnitz, as authority for so doing: but we think he would have been less blameable, had he consti- tuted a new genus of these imperforate shells.
Heblins, Lamarck, Latreille, and other continental writers, have made a new genus of the imperforate shells, and named it Stomatia, with the following generic character : “ shell of an oval form, ear-shaped ; spire prominent; aperture ample, entire, oblong ; disk imperforate.”
There is no genus of shells which has been so often misplaced as the Haliotis. Lister places it between the Trochus and Nerita, Gualtieri among the snails with depressed spires, Adan-
OF CONCHOLOGY. 89
son in the first genus of spiral shells ; and Da Casta, going still further from the point, places it as his second genus of simple shells.
We see no situation in the present arrangement so well adapted to this genus, as the one it now occupies. It is the most simple of the spiral shells, consequently it now stands in its proper place, as the last of the spiral shells, preceding those shells destitute of a regular spire.
It is asserted, that as anew hole is added by the animal to the shell, it carefully closes up the next open one to the spire; by which means the number of orifices are, in general, the same in all shells of one species.
In Turton’s Linné 19 species of Haliotis are described ; and only one has been found to inhabit the British
seas. N
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DIVISION SECOND. Shells without a regular spire.
Genus 32nd.---PATELLA. Animal a Limax ; shell univalve, subconie, shaped like a bason; without a spire. Linn. Syst. $31. Plate 9th, fig. 32.
Linné divides this genus into five families : *Labiate, &c. furnished with an internal lip; shell entire; **Den- tate, &c. with the margin angular or irregularly toothed ; ***Mucronate, &e. with a pointed recurved tip or crown; *“***Integerrime, &c. very entire, and not pointed at the tip or vertex ; ***** Perforate, &c. with the crown perforated.
Habitation. This tribe of shells have been found to inhabit the sea, lakes, and rivers. ‘Those of the sea in general adhere to rocks and stones
OF CONCHOLOGY. 91
on the shore; and are so tenacious, that they cannot be removed without breaking the shell, unless taken by surprise. Those inhabiting fresh wa- ter are generally found adhering to aquatic plants. The Patelle are called limpets in England.
The Patella is a very good genus, though there are several authors who dispute this point. We cannot see that the distinctive characters Lamarck has chosen, are sufficient reason for the formation of new genera; their division into sections appears to us quite sufficient ; for with the excep- tion of the chambered limpets, they are all perfectly simple shells, and very like each other.
Lamarck forms the Patelle into six genera: Patella, Fissurella, Emargi- nula, Concholepas, Crepidula, and Calyptrzea.
In Turton’s Linné no less than 240 species of Limpets are described ;
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and fourteen species have been ascer- tained to be indigenous to Britain.
Genus 33d.—DENTALIUM. Ani- mala Terebella; shed/ univalve, tubu- lar, straight or slightly curved, with cavity undivided, and open at both ends. Linn. Syst. 332. Plate 9th, fie. 33d.
Habitation. ‘The shells of this ge- nus are only found to inhabit the ocean. ‘They are solitary, and are to be found immersed in the mud, in an oblique or perpendicular position.--- And the shores are those which have flat extended beaches, and on which a quantity of soft mud is collected, commonly known by the name of sludge. ‘This genus is unquestionably simple, and very distinct and perfect. Continental Testaceologists have also endeavoured to overturn this genus, but without effect. It is defined with too much precision and simplicity to be altered.
GF CONCHOLOGY 93
The shells of this genus are known in England by the name of tooth-shells, or sea teeth.
In 'Turten’s Linné 22 species of Dentalium are described; and seven have been found to inhabit the British coasts.
Genus 34th.---SERPULA. Anz- mala Terebeila; shell univalve, tubu- lar, generally adhering to other sub- stances; often separated internally by divisions at uncertain distances. Linn. Syst. 333. Plate 9th, fiz. 34.
Habitation. The Serpule have only been found to inhabit the ocean. They are generally found adhering to stones, shells, and plants, &c. some- times a plurality of species are found onone stone or shell. There are also several species of Serpula which are unattached. |
There haye been several attempts to divide and amend the Linnean Ser- pula, which is certainly a very irregu-
G4 THE ELEMENTS
lar genus; but none of those are by any means satisfactory. Mr. Mon- tagu in his Zestacea Britannica has divided this genus into two, under the names Serpula, which are shells attached to other bodies; and Ver- geacelum, shells unattached. But in this division the generic characters are no more definite than that of Linné.
In Turton’s Linné 48 species of Serpula are described ; and 27 species are ascertained to be inhabitants of the British seas.
Genus 35th.---TEREDO. Animal a Terebella, with two calcareous, hemispherical valves cut off before, and two lanceotate ones: shell taper- ing, flexous, and capable of penetrating wood. Linn. Syst. 334. Plate 9th, fig. 35. |
Habitation. 'The shells of this genus inhabit the bottoms of ships ; and oak poles, which are under water in harbours, &c. One species has
OF CONCHOLOGY. 94
been found in the mud, at the bottom of the ocean. This last mentioned shell is the Zeredo Gigantea, and has been described to be five feet four inches in length, nine inches in cir- cumference at the larger end, and two and one half inches at the smaller. See Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society for 1810.
The Teredo Navwalis has been termed, in this country, the ship worm ; it insinuates itself into the bottoms of ships, even although the oak is perfectly sound, and in a very short time completely destroys it. This destructive creature was origi- nally brought by our vessels from tropical climates; but has now be- come an inhabitant of most of the har- bours of this island, and is very com- mon in Plymouth Dock.
We think it has been pretty clearly proved by that learned and very inde- fatigable naturalist, George Montagu,
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Esq. in his supplement to Testacea Britannica, that the animal inhabit- ing the Teredo, is not a Terebella, but an Ascidea.
There are three species of this shell described in Turton’s Linné ; and one has been found to inhabit the British seas.
Genus 36th.---SABELLA. Animal a Nereis, with a ringent mouth, and two thicker tentacula behind the head; shell tubular, composed of. particles of sand, broken shells, and vegetable substances, united to a membrane by a glutinous cement.
Habitation. The shells, (if they ean be called so) according to Linné inhabit the sea and fresh water ditches, &e.
The shells of this genus cannot with propriety be called testaceous, nor are they crustaceous, but coverings made up of extraneous substances ; and may therefore fairly be expunged
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from the collection of the Testaceolo- gist. I shall give an extract from the eighth vol. of the Linnean 'Transac- tions, beipg the concluding paragraph of the catalogue of British shells, the joint labours of Dr. Maton and the Rey. Mr. Rackett; which is a work of great merit, and indispensable to the collector of British shells.
‘© We venture so far to dissent from the great authority of Linneus, as to exclude from this descriptive cata- logue of British Testacea the genus Sabella. The animals included under that genus, have for their coverings particles of sand agglutinated on the external membrane, and resemble rather the /arve of certain ¢ensects, than the testaceous vermes. The lat- ter form their calcareous integuments entirely from the secretions of their own surfaces, and are attached to these by cartilaginous processes, so as to render them nspentiel and indispen-
98 THE ELEMENTS
sable parts of their structure. The coverings of the Sabella seem to be | more of an adventitious nature, and may be considered rather as serving the purposes, than as being organized integrals of the contained animal.--- If these ideas be correct, the genus Sabella does not come within our province.”
In Turton’s Linné 25 species of Sabellz are described ; and Mr. Mon- tagu has discovered 12 on the British coasts. '
Ses oo SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION
OF THE
PLATES.
= Ola PLATE I. MULTIVALVE SHELLS.
Fig. Ist.----LEPAS RUGOSA.--- With a sub-cylindric shell, usually
OF CONCHOLOGY. 99
six furrows, which frequently widen towards the top, and_ terminate in angulated points, sometimes as wide as at the base; compartments suleated, or sometimes striated longi- tudinally ; of a yellowish colour ; oper- culum consisting of four rough, an- gulated, erect valves.
Linn. Trans. vol. viil. page 25.
A operculum, B the base, F Fridges or furrows, Ha stone to which the base of the shell is affixed.
Fig. 2nd.---LEPAS ANATIFERA. Shell compressed, with five obsoletely striated valves ; the lower valves some- what triangular; the superior ones long, and tapering to an obtuse point. The valves connected by a cartilage, of a reddish colour, and affixed to a peduncle of a colour between ver- million and orange.
This shell is generally affixed to pieces of rotten wood and to the bot- toms of vessels, and is found in almost
> . . 100 THE ELEMENTS
all seas. Found plentifully on the sides of the New Bason, Leith. Linn. Trans. vol. viii, page 28.
| BB base, CC peduncle, D DD li- gament, HE feelers, G a piece of wood to which the peduncle is affixed. _ Fig. 3d. represents a spoon for lift- ing fresh water shells. It is made of white iron of a circular form, and five inches in diameter, concave, and per- forated with small holes to allow the water to eseape; they must be very small, ‘The margin should be sur- rounded with a perpendicular rim of about half an inch in height. Some of the fresh water shells being ex- tremely minute, of course will pass through with the water, if the holes are too large. There is a hollow handle to the spoon, which should be fitted to the point of a walking stick ; and it may be put into the pocket when not used. This spoon will be found very useful, in taking shells which sel-
OF CONCHOLOGY. 10]
dom can be come at, without some assistance of the kind. It should always be carried in the pocket, when a person goes a-walking ; and in botanizing excursions, when in search of aquatic plants, a few rare shells may be at same time picked up in ditches, &c. It must be understood, that shells which inhabit fresh water, from their colour are very difficult to be seen in their places of abode, being in general so much like the bottom of the ditches; of course the collector is not to content himself with only taking those shells he can observe, but must frequently rake the bottom, and also among plants, and weeds, when he will in general find shells which were hidden from his view. In very fine sunshine days in summer, shells which inhabit fresh water, are either floating on the surface of the water, or crawling on aquatic plants: and land shells, are generally seen crawling abroad in
102 THE ELEMENTS
dewy mornings, or after a gentle shower of rain.
BIVALVE.
Fig. 4th.---VENUS CHIONE. Shell strong, sub-cordated, somewhat concentrically wrinkled, margin en- tire, covered with a smooth, glossy, chesnut-coloured epidermis ; some- times a little radiated ; beneath which the shell is of a beautiful pale purple ; apex turned sideways, with a cordi- form depression ; wmbo placed nearest oneend. Found at Falmouth in Corn- wall.
Linn. Trans. vol. vill. page 84.
aa Summit, 66 lunule, ¢ anterior slope, & posterior slope, o disk, p margin or limb.
Fig. 5th.---SOLEN SILIQUA. Shell linear, straight ; in one valve two teeth, and one in the other, with a lateral inclined tooth corresponding
OF CONCHROLOGY 103
with the opposite lamina; with a fine olivaceous brown epidermis, very glossy, with transverse striz which takes a longitudinal direction across the shell. Common on most sandy shores.
Linn. Trans. vol. viii. page 43.
ov Breadth of the shell, ww length of the shell. - Fig. 6th--VENUS COMPRESSA. Shell strong, thick, sub-orbicular, compressed, and slightly suleated or irregularly wrinkled ; colour white, but is usually covered by a thick yel- lowish-brown epidermis; wumbo pro- minent, turning to one side, beneath which is a small cordiform depression; hinge with two teeth in one valve, and a transverse one. |
e Sides, d base, ee cicatrix, gg teeth of the hinge, w the umbo.
Supp. to Testa. Brit. page 43.
Fig. “th.----ANOMIA EPHIP- PIUM. Shell sub-orbicular, irregu-
104 THE ELEMENTS
larly wrinkled, and waved ; upper valve convex, under flat and perforated at the hinge, through which the liga- ment passes by which it is affixed to other bodies ; inside pearlaceous, and of various changing colours ;_ green purple, violet or yellow.
Often to be met with adhering to the common oyster, or ostrea maxima.
Linn. Trans. vol. viii. page 102.
a Base, m ligament perforation.
Fig. 8th.---VENUS DECUSSATA. Shell ovate, with decussate strice, an- gular before ; apex turned to one side ; umbo placed nearest one end; hinge furnished with three teeth in one valve; posterior slope very minute and re- tuse ; anterior slope long and narrow, with generally an inner blue margin. The outside is commonly of a plain rusty brown, and marked with purple zigzag lines. - Linn. Trans. vol. viii. page 88.
OF CONCHOLOGY. 105
a Summit, ce cicatrix, ggg teeth of the hinge, the inside.
a
PLATE II.
BIVALVE SHELLS...
Fig. Ist.----SOLEN ANTIQUA- TUS. Shell thin, white, and sub- pellucid; moderately glossy, with concentric striz; ends rounded and gaping ; hinge near the centre, fur- nished with a single tooth in one valve looking in between two in the oppo- site, the teeth are erect, oblique, and stand beyond the margin; outside covered with an umber-coloured epz- dermis. Found on the Corawail and Dorsetshire coasts, &c.
Linn. Trans. vol. vili. page 46.
i The cartilage, m inside, p margin
or limb, ¢ hinge. P
106 THE ELEMENTS
Fig. 2ad.----OSTREA LAEVIS. Shell thin, flat, sub-orbicular, and pellucid, longitudinally and_ tians- versely striated ; one ear considerably larger than the other; colour various, sometimes orange, dark pink, ce. Not uncommon on the coast of Nor- thumberland. ‘The strice on this shell is so minute, that it can seldom be seen with the naked eye.
. Linn. Trans. vol. viii. page 100.
J Longitudinal and transverse striz, hh ears or auricles. _ Fig. 3d.---TELUINA FABULA. Shell very thin, pellucid and oval, generally of a dull yellow, and. darker towards the umbo; which is nearly central, pointed, and turned a little to one side; the anterior side slopes to an obtuse point, the posterior side is large and rounded; Aenge furnished with three teeth in one valve and two in the other.
This shell is often mistaken for the
OF CONCHOLOGY. 107
Tellina Tenuis, to which it bears some resemblance, but may be easily distinguished from that shell, by the right valve being covered with a fine, regular, diagonal striz; which is not conspicuous without the assistance of a lens, which makes it appear very plain. Not uncommon on the coasts of Northumberland, Dorsetshire, and Devonshire.
Linn. Trans. vol. vill. page’52.
l Cartilage, qq hinge.
Fig. 4th---MYTILUS EDULIS. Shell oblong, pointed at the beak, sides much sloped; anterior side a little angulated ; smooth and radiated with deep blue, or purple; covered with an umber-coloured epidermis. Inside, round the margin, of a fine blue, which grows gradually lighter towards the “centre; cicatrix very distinct and glossy; beneath the beak are several crenulations, which some have sup- posed to be teeth. This is the most
108 THE ELEMENTS
common shell we have, and well known by the name of muscle.
Linn. Trans. vol. viii. page 105.
iThe cartilage, vv length of the shell, 22 breadth of the shell.
Fig. 5th.---CHAMA COR. Shell sub-globose, beaks recurved ; anterior slope with a gaping fent, slightly wrinkled transversely, covered with a terra sienna coloured epidermis ; umbo large and prominent, much con- torted or incurvated, and turned to one side, and not touching when the valves are closed ; hinge strong, teeth flattish. Inside smooth, white; margin plain. This is a very scarce British shell; and has been found off the North Foreland, the Hebrides, and off St. Abb’s Head by Captain Laskey.
Linn. Trans vol. vill. page 90.
o Disk, rv beak.
Fig. 6th---MYTILUS EDULIS. See description at fig. 4th.
s The byssus or beard, ¢é seam.
OF CONCHOLOGY. 109
UNIVALVE SHELLS.
Fig. 7th.-VOLUTA OLIVA. Shell smooth and glossy; spire reflected at the base; pellar with four plaits ; clouded, or covered with zigzag or waved lines of a pale brown colour. Found in the Indian seas, in endless varieties of colours and markings. |
Linn. Syst. Nature, vol. ii. page 1188. Turton’s Linné, vol. iv. page 326.
A’ Apex, I front, Nouter lip, 4 plaits of the pillar lip or columella.
Fig 8th---HELIX VIVIPARA. Shell with six ventricose whorls, sepa- rated by a deep depressed line, sub- ovate and obtuse, of an olive-green, with generally three fasci or bands * on the body of the shell, and two on the superior volutions, which become obscure in the fourth, slightly wrinkled transversely : aperture sub-orbicular ;
110 THE ELEMENTS
ptllar-lip reflected: sub-umbilicated. Found in the Thames and New River.
Lion. Trans. vol. viii. page 205.
A Apex, # base, La whorl, rr bands or fasci.
Fig. 9th.---HELIX POLITA. Shell strong, white, glossy and smooth, with from nine to twelve volutions, scarcely defined by a separating line, slender and gradually tapering to a point; aperture oval, outer lip thick, but not marginated, inner or péllar-lip repli- eated. Found in Devonshire, Der- setshire, Northumberland, and at Dunbar in Scotland.
Linn. Trans. vol. viil. page 210.
A Apex, & base, # # suture of the spire or whorls, C aperture.
Fig. 10th.--BUCCINUM UNDA- TUM. Shell with from seven to eight ventricose volutions, with un- dulated ribs; transversely striated, and crossed with five longitudinal striz; ptllar-lip reflected, and glabrous.
OF CONCHOLOGY. ii
A common shell on many of ms British shores.
Linn. Trans. vol. viii. page 137.
F Body, 7M the pillar or columella, Q canal or gutter.
Fig. Lith.--MUREX MURICA- T US. Shell strong and rough, with from six to seven ventricose, ibedens lated volutions, tapering to a fine point; the tubercles are formed by inter- rupted, longitudinal ribs, crossed by strong elevated strize, and in some parts are pointed or angulated ; apex smooth; aperture oval, terminating in a long slender canal; outer-lip sharp and dentated at the edge, margin within crenulated ; _pillar-lip smooth. Rather a local shell.
Montagu’s Testacea Britannica, page 262.
Linn. Trans. vol. vill. page 149.
Base, Caperture, A K &c. sides, P the beak or rostrum, @ canal or gutter.
112 THE ELEMENTS Fig.12th.--CONUS VARIA. Rub-
bed through on one side to show the internal structure of the shell. D spire, F body, JJM M pillar or
columella.
aaa
PLATE III.
Fig. 3d.----TROCHUS UMBILI- CATUS. Shell conico-convex, flat- tish, rounded at the top; apex depres- sed, volutions five, slightly emarginate, defined by a fine line; spirally striate, rather whitish, with zigzag lines of purple ; aperture compressed and an- culated ; witha large umbilicus which extends to the apex. Found on the Northumberland and Yorkshire coasts.
Lian. Trans. vol. viil. page 153.
C Aperture, U umbilicus.
Fig. 2d.---HELIX NEMORALIS. Shell imperforate sub-globose, thin
oF CONCHOLOGY. ils
and sub-pellucid, colour various ; volu- tions five, with from one to five dark brown bands or fasci@; aperture pyriform ; inner margin of the lip, sometimes white, in others dark-red- dish brown. This shell is very com- mon in the evenings and mornings in summer, at the roots of hedges, &c.
Linn. Trans. vol. viii. page 206.
N Oater lip, X epidermis, Y epi- dermis removed. |
Fig. 3d---NAUTILUS POMPI- LIUS, with the lip cut straight to show the involuted spire.
€ Aperture, 7' involuted spire.
Fig. 4th.---The OPERCULUM of a Turbo.
Fig. 5th.---HELIX GLUTINOSA. Shell suborbicular, thin, and diapha- nous, of a glossy, pale horn-colour, smooth, but sometimes with obsolete wrinkles ; the body very large; spire very small ; volutions three; aperture
ery large, prending nearly to the
114 THE ELEMENTS
apex. Found by Mr. Montagu, in the
marshes at Deal. Linn. Trans. vol. vill. page 222.
G The back, # the venter or belly,
S depressed spire. _ Fig. 6th.--PATELLA CHINEN. SIS. Shell sub-conic, sub-pellucid, and very thin, colour whitish, much compressed, rounded at the margin; vertex central, terminating in a sub- © spiral volution, with usually a number of concave scales. Inside white, glossy, and smooth, with a sub-spiral columella or pillar-lip, extending from nearly the margin to the end, and forming the external sub-volution ; it is broad, flat and oblique.
Found in Helford harbour, Corn- wall; in Saleomb bay, Devonshire, by Mr. Montagu; and near Dunbar, by Captain Laskey.
Lian. Trans. vol. viii. page 28.
W Chamber.
4
OF CONCHOLOGY. 115
Fig. 7th.--HELIX SUBULATA. Shel/ tapering and subulate, very smooth, and glossy ; whorls about ten, and scarcely defined; colour white, with two pale-chesnut spiral lines run- ning from the body to the apex, be- coming very faint on the upper whorls; aperture ovate, and rather contracted. ~ Lengib three quarters of an inch.
Found at Weymouth and near Dun- bar, by Captain Laskey.
Lion. Trans. vol. viii. page 210.
D Spire, F body.
Fig. 8th.----STROMBUS PUGI- LIS. Anéerior lip prominent, round- ed, smooth; spare spinous; beak three, lobed, obtuse, flesh-coloured, red- dish or brownish, within paler and polished ; back smooth; first whorl of the spire crowned with spines, which in the other grow gradually less; the outermost whorl cancellate ; pillar- hip much reflected,
116 THE ELEMENTS
. Inhabits South America, and the shores of the West India islands. Linn. Syst. Natura, page 1209. _ Turton’s Linné, vol. 4th, page 420. - D Spire, front, NNW the outer lip, @ pillar-lip, Q canal or gutter.
Fig. 9th.---TURBO TEREBRA. Rubbed through in the back to show the pillar or columella.
Linn. Trans. vol. viii. page 176.
F Body, MM M columella.
Fig. 10th.----HELIX PUTRIS.---. Shell sub-pellucid, and horn-coloured; spire with four volutions; the body tumid and large, apex very small ; apex fine and pointed, wrinkled longi- tudinally; aperture oval and large, outer-lip very thin; outside covered with a dusky epidermis, inside pale, yellow, and very glossy.
Common in most ponds, ditches, &c.
‘Linn. Trans. vol. viii. page 219.
G The back, H the venter, Z whor!
or volution.
OF CONCHOLOGY. 117 )
Fig. 11th.----NAUTILUS SPIRU- LA. Aperture of the shell orbicular ; whorls cylindrical, separated, and gra- dually decreasing inwards, the first a little straight siphunculus contiguous to the walls of the shell; outside of a pale cream colour, within pearlaceous.
Inhabits the American and Indian oceans.
- Linn. Syst. Naturee, page 1163. Turton’s Linné, vol. 4th, page 307. N Spicula, V siphunculus, ae
WwW chambers.
Fig. 12th--TURBO COSTATUS. Shell sub-pellucid, white and sub- turrited ; volutions five, with promi- nent, longitudinal ribs, a little oblique ; apex obtuse ; aperture sub-orbicular, with a thick sulcated margin.
Found in Pembrokeshire, Dorset- shire, and Northumberland.
Linn. Trans. vol. viii. page 174.
RRRR Ribs.
118 THE ELEMENTS
Fig. 13th.---TURBO LABIATUS. Shell with nine reversed volutions or whorls, tapering to a fine point; co- lour light brown, with strong, regular, longitudinal strie ; volutions flat, and separated by a fine obsolete line ; aperture sub-orbicular and white, with a sinus at the upper end, with two teeth-like amine on the inner lip; margin reflected, broad and_ thick. Found in Hyde Park, and the ozier grounds at Battersea in Surrey.
Lion. Trans. vol. viii. page 180.
6b Reversed or heterostrophe spire, a teeth of a univalve.
Fig. l4th.-HELIX PLANORBIS, Shell depressed and sub-pellucid, horn-coloured, rufous, or light chesnut brown; generally with a light umber- coloured epidermis ; volutions five, placed laterally on each other, gradu- ally decreasing to the centre, making the shell concave at top, rounded and defined by the suture; subulated
OF CONCHOLOGY. 119
across the whorls; a carinated ridge round the margin at the base; aper- ture angulated, and slanting towards the base.
Linn. Trans. vol. vill. page 188.
Not uncommon in ponds, rivers, and ditches: they are of a very large size at Prestwick-water, near New- castle on Tyne.
eee
‘PLATE IV.
HINGES OF BIVALVES, &c.
Fig Ist. Hinge of the Mya Pirc- forum. a Primary tooth, ce double teeth.
Fig. 2nd. Hinge of the Solen Sih- qua. 6 Lateral teeth.
Fig. 3d. Hinge of the Telhna Radula. aa Primary teeth, 2 carti- lage.
126 THE ELEMENTS
Fig. 4th. Hinge of the Cardium Aculeatum. 6 Lateral tooth, dd mid- die teeth, dd spines.
Fig. 5th. Hinge of Mactra Mians.
Fig. 6th. Inside of both valves of the Donax Trunculus. A Left valve, B right valve, 6 lateral teeth, e pri- mary complicated tooth, or cleft in the middle, 2m crenulated margin.
Fig. 7th. Hinge of Venus Gallina. aa Primary teeth, 6 lateral tooth.
Fig. 8th. Hinge of Spondylus Ga- deropus. ff Incuryed teeth.
Fig. 9th. Hinge of Chama Cor.
Fig. 10th. Hinge of Arca Pilosa. kk Numerous small teeth; the dis- tinguishing characteristic of the ge- nus Area.
Fig. 11th. Hinge of Ostrea Varia. g Cavity of the infil h cl a at,
@ inferior ear.
Fig. 12th. Hinge of Anomia Eiphippium. me)
OF CONCHOLOGY. 121
PLATE V. To tllustrate the Genera. MULTIVALVE SHELLS.
Fig. Ist. Chiton Marginatus. 2nd. epas Tintinnabulum. ard. Pholas Crispatus.
BIVALVE SHELLS. Fig. 4th. Mya Arenaria. doth. Solen Ensis. © 6th. Zellina Donacina. 7th. Cardium Edulis.
PLATE VI.
Fig. 8th. Mactra Lutraria. 9th. Donazx Trunculus. 10th. Venus Aurea. Mth. Spondylus Geederopus.*
Those shells marked * are foreign.
122 THE ELEMENTS
Fig. 12th. Chama Cor. ‘13th. Arca Noe.
——s
PLATE VII.
Fig. 14th. Ostrea Opercularis. 15th. Anomia Undulata. 16th. Mytilus Incurvatus. i7th. Pinna Muricata.
UNIVALVE SHELLS.
Vig. 18th. . Argonauta Argo* 19th. Nautilus Pompilius.*
a ee
PLATE VIII.
Fig. 20th. Conus Striatus.* 2ist. Cyprea Pediculus. 22nd. Bulla Catina. 23rd. Voluta Episcopalis.* 24th. Buccinum Lapillus. 25th. Strombus Pes Pelicani.
OF CONCHOLOGY. 123
Fig. 26th Murex Antiquus.
27th. Trochus Papillosas. PLATE IX.
Fig. 28th. Turbo Rudis. 29th. Helix Arbustorum. 30th. Nerita Littoralis. 3lst. Haliotis Tuberculata. 32nd. Patella Vulgata. 33rd. Dentahum Entailis. 34th. Serpula Triquetra. 30th. Teredo Navalis.
36th.
Sabella Tubiformis.
124 THE ELEMENTS
LIST
OF THE
PRINCIPAL BOOKS
Conchologp.
‘Tar ‘Systema Nature of Linné.’ 12th edition, published at Stockholm, 1767, in 4 vols. 8y¥o.
A Translation of the Systema Na- ture, by Dr. Turton, published at London in 1806, in 7 vols. 8vo. with all the discoveries since the time of Linné. The shells are contained in the 4th vol.
Martin Lister's ‘Synopsis Metho- dica Conchyliorum, published in parts from 1665 to 1692. The plates in the most perfect copies vary from
1050 to 1067. The plates of this
OF CONCHOLOGY. 125
valuable work were left to the college of Oxford ; at which place it was re- published in 1770, in folio; the plates are in number 1085, containing 1150 shells, and a considerable ee he of plates of fossils.
‘ Recreatis mentis et oculi in obser- vatione. Animalium Testaceorum, a Phil. Bonanné, published at Rome in 1684, 4to; contains a great many plates of different shells; many of them are, however, reversed, which makes them of little value ia refer- ring to.
‘Geo. Everp. Rumphfius Thesau- rus Imarginum Piscium Testaceorum,’ 1711, folio, contains 33 plates on shells.
‘Descriptio Thesauri Rerum Na- turlium, published at Amsterdam in 1758, vol. 3rd, contains 61 plates on Conchology.
D’Argenville’s ‘ L’histoire naturelle edloiieis dans une de ses parties prin-
126 THE ELEMENTS
cipales, la Conchyliogie, Paris 1757, Ato. ‘The same in an improved state, in 5 vols. Ato. Paris, 1780.
Fraucois Michael Regenfuss’s ‘ Na- tural History of Testacea and Crus- tacea, Copenhagen, 1758--78, folio.
Martine’s Work on Conchology, with the Continuation of F. H. Chem- nitz, in 10 vols, 4to. published at Nurnberg in 1769, &e.
Thomas Pennant’s British Zoology, vol. 4th. | _E. M. Da Costa’s ‘Elements of Conchology, London, 1776, 8vo.
E. M. Da Costa’s ‘ British Concho-
logy, London, 1778, 4to. George Walker’s work ‘On Minute
British Shells, contains 5 plates, ssneih don, 1784, 4to.
John Lightfoot’s ‘ Account of some minute British Shells, Phil. Trans. vol. 76.
Adams ‘ Description of minute
OF CONCHOLOGY. 127
Shells found in Pembrokeshire ; Linn. Trans. vol. 3rd. and 5th.
J. Donovan’s, ‘ Natural History of British Shells, in 5 vols. royal 8vo. London, 1799, &e. This work con- tains 180 coloured plates of British shells.
George Montagu’s ‘Testacea Bri- tannica,’ published at London, in 1803, 1 vol. 4to. with a supplement. These two vols. contain 30 plates, principally minute shells.
Dr. Maton, and the Rev. Mr. Rack- ett’s Descriptive Catalogue of British Shells, in the 8th vol. of the Linnean Transactions, with 5 plates of rare shells.
To the British Collector this vol. is indispensibly necessary, as it contains a list of every shell discovered to the time of its publication; described in the most correct and elegant style. The learned and ingenious authors
128 THE ELEMENTS
have corrected the errors of all — who preceded them.
Captain Laskey’s Pehalogha, of Shells found by him in North Britain, in the Ist vol. of the Memoirs of the Wernerian Society, with one plate con- taining 17 species of very rare shells. To this gentlemen the British Testa- ceologist is indebted for the discovery of no less than 50 new species of British shells.
Perry's Conchology, in one _ vyol. folio. This work contains about 52 coloured plates, well executed: but it is to be regretted, he gives no refer- ence to any other author.
Parkinson’s ‘ Organic Remains, 3rd. vol. contains an account of many shells found in a fossil state, with a great many figures.
OF CONCHOLOGY. 129
METHOD
OF
CLEANING SHELLS, éc.
SHELLs can only be expected per- fect, when they are found with the animal alive in them, or taken by the dredge or trawling-net from their na- tive beds; fine specimens are some- times found adhering to fishermen’s lines or nets. After violent storms many excellent specimens are often found on the beach, driven from their beds by the agitation of the waters; on such occasions perfect specimens are often to be met with; the Con- chologist ought, therefore, to avail himself of every opportunity, of walk- ing along the beach, immediately after
the tide begins to recede. The greater S
130 THE ELEMENTS
part of shells seen in collections, are picked up dead on the beach, and are therefore seldom very perfect, as they are tossed to and fro by the waves, and either worn or broken; and should they even be driven beyond the reach of the tide, in this situation they are exposed to the continual heat of the sua, by which their colours become faded.
River and land shells are mostly thinner than those of the sea: though this is by no means a general rule, as the Paper Nautilus, some of the Helices, and Pinn, are extremely thin and brittle.
_ Several of the land shells are very beautiful, aad elegant in their form, particularly those found in tropical climates In Africa they grow to an amazing size, and would be very un- welcome guests in our house gardens, as they commit great havoc among the esculent plants. The Bulla Ze-
OF CONCHOLOGY. +431
bra of Africa, is very frequently found seven inches from the apex to the base. A few of cur own land shells are very beautiful; but- from their being familiarized to us, we look on them with the greatest indifference ; for example, the Helices, Pomatia, - Arbustorum, and Nemoralis.
Some authors affirm, that the Cy- preea tribe abandon their shells every year, to form new ones of a larger size; but this seems rather a doubtful circumstance.
When shells are found with the animal in them, hot water should be poured upon the shells, and the ani- mal dies, and may be easily taken from bivalve shells ; but caution is required in the univalves; as should part of the animal be left in the volutions, it will be almost impossible to extract it; and the smell becomes very offensive.
Shells are to be met with, on almost every shore in the known world, but
i32 THE ELEMENTS
those of warm climates have in general a finer polish, and exceed all others in point of colouring.
There is great deception practised by the dealers in shells, by which means they easily impose on those who are unacquainted with them. If a shell happens to have the lip broken, they take a common file, and form it anew; thereby the character of the shell is completely altered. Some go so far as even to form a canal, to imi- tate rare shells, and also counterfeit strie: when they have accomplished this, they then imitate the external colouring, and finish the whole by a coat of varnish. The shelis they thus transform are, in general, worn speci- mens, which are of no earthly use though in some instances good shells are sacrificed to obtain their ends.
Much might be here said on the arts practised to alter, patch up, and beautify shells; but this has no con-
OF CONCHOLOGY: 13
nexion with the science, and may therefore with much propriety be omitted, as a Naturalist would prefer a worn, or even a broken specimen, to one either altered, or coloured and varnished ; to improve it, and make it pleasing to the eye. Surely the lover of nature must look with contempt on ali artificial means, employed either to alter or amend the sacred works of nature. It will be sufficient to point out the means of simply cleaning tes- taceous bodies.
When shells are perforated by sea worms, or when any other accidental circumstance occurs, to deform a good specimen, it is certainly desirable to use some means to improve it; and for this purpose a putty may be made of fine whitening, jiour, and glue ; the holes or cracks may be filled up with this composition, and aliowed to dry; it should always be a little above the surface, and cautiously scraped
134 THE ELEMENTS
down with a knife; when, ridges or striz can easily be imitated, if neces- sary. ‘The parts thus mended may be coloured with common water colours, and then brushed; or if on a smooth shell, polished with the palm of the hand, and afterwards rubbed over with FEiorence oil, which should be well dried off with a piece of flannel. If this mode is judiciously managed, it may be examined, and never disco- vered.
Many shells, even when obtained alive, are incrusted with extraneous matter; the best and safest means of removing this is, first to steep them in warm water, and then to scrape them with a knife; a little sand paper may also be used, but care must be taken not to injure the shell.) When as much of the crust is in this way removed, as can with safety be done, recourse should be had to muwrtatic acid, very much diluted with water; by applying
4
4
OF CONCHOLOGY. 135
this cautiously with a feather, to the places you wish removed, for a very short period, it will soon decompose the extraneous matter: two minutes at a time is as long as it can with safety be applied, but one minute’s application often has the desired effeet: it should then be immersed in cold water, and the parts well scrubbed with a nail-brush and soap. Should the crust not be entirely removed, this process may be repeated, but the greatest care is to be used not to allow the acid to touch the inside, as it will instantly remove the fine enamelled surface. Some are so cautious. as to melt bees’ wax, and coat the parts of the shell they do not wish touched with the acid.
When water is used too hot, in the first process, it often makes the fine polished surface crack in a thousand | directions. '
After the process of corrosion, some
136 THE ELEMENTS
make use of flannel or a brush, and emery or tripoly, to polish the shell. ‘This may be done in cases where the polished insides happen to be touched with the corrosive fluid; but in all instances where the places cleared by the acid, are of a white or chalky appearance, they should be washed over with Florence oil, and then rubbed hard with flannel or a nail- brush. This mode gives the shell the appearance of nature, and at same time stops the action of the acid, _ should any remain in the shell, and is of great use in preserving it from decay. It is of infinite use in presery- ing the epidermis, which often, when it becomes dry from lying long in a cabinet, cracks and quits the external surface of the shell. It would not be amiss to rub them over with oil once a year.
This practice of oiling shells is a new one, and I believe I was the first
OF CONCHOLOGY. 137
who thought of it, and have communi-_ cated it to all my friends who collect shells; and it has been generally approved. Indeed one friend, who had a very large collection, was so pleased with the effect it produced, that he washed off the gum from all his shells, and oiled them. The com- mon practise of collectors is, when they obtain a specimen which is a little worn, to coat it over with a solution of gum arabic, which certainly height- ens the colours; but the gloss is by no means natural, and a judge may in a moment discover the deception. This varnishing system is carried to a great length by some, who have almost every shell in their cabinets daubed over with gum arabic, and they all shine with great lustre, even although many of the shells should themselves
be dim in a natural state. T
138 THE ELEMENTS
Simple Method of Arranging Cabinets.
"Tux most simple method of arrang- ing cabinets, is, by cutting white cards into the size you wish the boxes, (if they may be so termed ;) then take a pair of steel dividers which are fixed with a screw, and set them to the size the depth of the sides is wished ; place the card upon a piece of pasteboard, and draw the dividers along the sur- face, one leg being guided by the edge of the card; press pretty hard so as to make a deep groove; then cut out the corners, and press up the sides, which will be found to stand quite stiff; but if great nicety is wanted, a piece of paper may be pasted on the corners. On the bottom of every box should be written the name of the shell it con- tains, with the place it was found in ; a reference to some author who de- scribes it; and such other remarks as may be thought necessary.
OF CONCHOLOGY. 139
Explanation of Cerms
USED IN THE
SCIENCE OF CONCHOLOGY Ep Oen—
A
ABBREVIATED, shorter than some correspondent part.
Acini, granulations.
Acuelate, furnished with, or ending in, prickles.
Acuminated, ending in a sharp point, sharp pointed.
Adnate, adhering or growing together, adjoining.
/Bquilateral, where the anterior and posterior shells are equal in size and figure.
AEquivalve, where both valves are per- fectly similar.
140 THE ELEMENTS '
Alated, winged, applied to the ex- panded lip of the Strombus genus.
Ambitus, . the circumference or out- line of the valves.
Annulate, formed or divided into dis- tinct rings, or marked with differ- ently-coloured annulations.
Antiquated, longitudinally furrowed, but interrupted by transverse fur- rows, as if the shell had acquired new growth at each furrow.
Anus, a depression on the posterior side near the hinge of bivalves.
Aperture, the mouth or opening of the shell.
Apex, the tip or point of the spire.
Apophysis, an excrescence.
Approximating, approaching near to, or near together.
Arcuated, béut’s in the form of an arch,
-incurvated. |
Arcuations, bendings, curvings.
Area, the surface contained hhetween lines or boundaries.
OF CONCHOLOGY. 141
Arenose, sandy.
Articulations, junctures, or joinings.
Ascititious, supplemental, additional.
Attenuated, thin, slender.
Attiguous, hard by.
Attrite, worn by rubbing:
Aurated, eared, having ears as in the scallops.
Auricled, having appendages like ears.
B.
Barb, any thing that grows in place of a beard.
Base, in univalves that part of the shell by which they are affixed to rocks, &c. and in multivalves the opposite extremity to the apex.
Biangulated, having two corners or angles.
Beak, the continuation of the body of univalves in which the canal is situate.
Beard, the process by which some univalves adhere to rocks, &c.
Bellying, distended in the middle.
142 THE ELEMENTS
Bidented, having two teeth.
Bifarious, parting ia opposite direc- tions.
Bifid, opening with a cleft.
Bilabiate, furnished both with an outer and inner lip.
Bilobate, divided into two lobes.
Bimarginate, furnished with a double margin as far as the lip.
Biradiate, consisting of two rays.
Bivalve, consisting of two valves or divisions. ’
Blotched, spotted in an irregular way.
Blunt, obtuse, opposite to acute,
Blush, of a red colour.
Borer, a piercer.
Brinded, streaked.
Bulging, gibbous, swollen out.
Bullate, of a blistered appearance.
Bunt, an increasing cavity, a tunnel.
Byssus, a beard, common in the Mytilus and Pinna.
oF CONCHOLOGY. 143 C.
Calcareous, relating to lime, of a limy nature.
Callus, is composed of two short ribs, united at the base, and converging at the apex towards the hinder part of the shell.
Campanulate, shaped like a bell.
Canaliculated, made like a pipe or gutter
Cancellated, surrounded with arched longitudinal ribs.
Cancelled, iatticed, or having longi- tudinal streaks or furrows, decus-
- sate by transverse ones.
Capacious, wide, vast, extended. Carinate, having a longitudinal pro- minence like the keel of a vessel.
Carinated, keeled.
Cartilage, a flexible fibrous substance by which the valves are united, situate near the beak.
Cauda, the elongated base of the ventre, lip and columella.
144 THE ELEMENTS
Cicatrix, the glossy impression in the inside of the valves, to which the muscles of the animal have been affixed.
Ciliate, edged with parallel hairs, bristles or appendages.
Cinerous, of ash colour, of the colour of wood ashes.
Cleft, divided in the centre, cloven.
Clovate, thicker towards the top, elongated towards the base.
Clivulus, a little cliff, or descent.
Coated, furnished with an outer deci- duous covering.
Cochlez, shells of one piece, univalves.
Cochleate, twisted like a screw or the shell of a snail.
Columella, the upright pillar in the centre of most of the univalve shells.
Commissure, a joint, a seam, a mould.
Complicate, membranaceous, bent to an acute angle, as in the tooth of the Mactra, &c.
Complicated, doubled together. |
OF CONCHOLOGY. 145
Compressed, squeezed together, one valve in general flatter than the other. ;
Concamerated, arched over, vaulted
Concamerations, the apartments of the Nautili.
Concave, hollowed out like a bowl.
Concentric, running to a centre.
Conche, shells consisting of two or more pieces or valves, bivalves, multivalves.
Cone, the form of a sugar-loaf.
Confluent, running into one channel.
Conoid, a figure like a cone, sugar- loaf-shaped.
Contorted, twisted, or incumbent on each other, in an oblique direction.
Contracted, shortened, shrunk up.
Convoluted, rolled upon itself, twisted spirally, like a piece of paper rolled between the finger and thumb.
Cordate, heart-shaped.
Cordiform, resembling the form of a
heart. U
146 THE ELEMENTS
Coriaceous, of a leather-like consist- ance. |
Corneous, of a horn colour, resembling a horn.
Coronated, crowned, or girt towards the apex with a single row of emi- nences.
Costated, ribbed, baving large ribs.
Corpus, the body of the shell, the last or great wreath in which the aper- ture is situate.
Cortex, the anterior skin or epidermis.
Corticvated, covered with an epidermis.
Crenated, notched at the margin, or scalloped.
Crenulated, notched, jagged as. some
- leaves are.
Crispated, rough with waving lines.
Cuneiform, shaped like a wedge.
Cylindrical, round like a roller.
D.
Decorticated, worn, divested: of epi- dermis or skin.
Decussated, generally applied to striz,
OF CONCHOLOGY. 147
which is crossed, or intersects each other at acute angles.
Dentile, a small taothy such as the tooth of a saw.
Denticulated, set with small teeth, as
-in the Area.
Depressed, pressed down, low, shal- low, flat.
Dexter valve, is the right valve.
Diagonal, a line from angle to angle.
Diaphanous, transparent, clear, pel- lucid.
Digitated, fingered or clawed, as in the lobes of the outer lip of the Strombi, &c.
Disk, the middle part of the valves or that which lies between the umbo and the margin.
Divaricated, straddling, idrvtisis out widely.
Divergent, tending to various parts, from one point.
- Dorsum, the back, it generally means
the upper surface of the body of the
148 THE ELEMENTS
shell, when laid upon the aperture or opening.. In the genera of Pa- tella and Haliotis, the back means the upper convex surface.
Dotted, punctured like a thimble.
Dual, expressive of the number two.
Duplicated, deeply divided as if bifid.
Duplicature, a fold, any thing doubled.
Duodecuple, consisting of twelve, twelve fold.
Echinated, bristled like a hedge-hog, set with spines. | |
Effuse, generally applied to where the aperture is not whole behind, but the lips are seperated by a gap so that water poured in runs out at it.
Elliptical, having the form of an ellip- sis, oval.
Elongated, lengthened, Jom out.
Emarginate, to take away the margin or edge of any thing; without a margin.
Ensiform, two-edged, sabre-shaped,.
OF CONCHOLOGY. 149
and tapering towards the point like a sabre.
Entire, whole, undivided, not broken.
Epidermis, the outer coat of the shell, which is found in many species ; which often falls off of its own ac- cord without any injury to the sur- face of the shell ; the beauty of many shells is hidden by this outer coat.
Equidistant, being at the same dis- tance.
Equilateral, having all sides equal.
Equitans, folded one upon another
Essential character, is a single cir- cumstance serving to distinguish a genus from every other genus.
Esurine, corroding, eating.
Exoleted, worn or faded.
Expanding, standing in a direction between upright and horizontal. Extraneous, not belonging, to a par-
ticular thing.
150 THE ELEMENTS F.
Fasciated, filleted, or covered with bands.
Fascicled, clustered together as in a bundle.
Fastigate, flat and even at top.
Faux, what can be seen of the cavity of the first chamber of the shell, by looking in at the aperture.
Ferruginous, of an iron colour, or rust coloured.
Filament, a slender thread-like pro- cess.
Filiform, thread-shaped, slender and of equal thickness.
Fissure, acleft, a little slit, or narrow chasm.
Flexous, zigzag, with angles gently winding.
Fluviatic, of or belonging to a river.
Foliated, bent into laminz or leaves.
Fornix, the excavated part under the umbo. It likewise signifies the upper, or convex shell in the Ostea.
OF CONCHOLOGY. 151
Fragil, brittle, easily broken.
Front, in univalves, when the aperture is turned towards the observer.
Furcated, forked.
Furrow, a small trench or hollow.
Fuscated, darkened, obscured.
Fusiform, spindle-shaped, intermedi- ate between the conical and oval.
G.
Gap, an opening, in multivalves and bivalves when the valves are shut as in the Pholades, Mye, &c.
Geminated, marked with a double ele- vated stfize connecting the wreaths.
Genus, a distinct division or tribe of any class, which may comprehend many species, or individuals, agree- ing in their generic character.
Genera, the plural of genus.
Generic description, consists of an accurate description of the parts composing a shell, and all the shells, whose essential parts agree with this
152 THE ELEMENTS
description, are species of the same genus.
Gibbous, bulged or ailing
Glabrous, smooth, of a smooth surface, opposed to hairy, downy, &c.
Globose, globular.
Granulated, beaded, in small grains or beads.
Groove, a hollow channel.
Hemispheric, in the shape of a half globe.
Hersute, rough, beset with strong hairs.
Heteroclitical, synonymous with he- terostrophe.
Heterostrophe, reversed, erliod to ‘shells whose spires turn in a con- trary direction to the usual way.
Hisped, beset with rather stiff bristles.
Hollow, like a straw.
. I.
Jagged, denticulated, uneven, toothed
like a saw.
OF CONCHOLOGY. 153
Imbricate, placed over each other at the edges like the tiles of a house.
Imperforate, not pierced with a hole, wanting the umbilicus.
Ineequilateral, when the anterior and posterior sides make different an- gles with the hinge.
Invequivalve, where one valve is more convex than the other, or dissimilar in other respects, as in the common oyster.
Inarticulate, indistinct, not properly formed.
Incumbent, one lying over the other.
Incurvated, bent inwards, crooked.
Indented, unequally marked, such as
‘rows of teeth.
Inflated, tumid, swollen, as if blown out.
Inflected, bent inwards.
Inflexed, bent towards each other.
Internode, the ‘space between one knot or joint and another.
Interrupted, a separated.
154 THE ELEMENTS
Interstice, space between one part and another, a crevice.
Intortion, the turning or twisting in any particular direction.
Involucel, a small or partial involucre.
Inyolution, that part which involves or inwraps another.
Involuta, where the exterior is lip turned inwards, at the margin, as in all the Cyprez.
Juncture, the joining of the whorl of the spire, &c.
K.
Keel, the longitudinal prominence in the Argonaute.
Knob, a protuberance, any part blunt- ly arising above the rest.
Knobbed, set with knobs, haying pro- tuberances.
> lla.
Labra, the lip.
Lacinate, jagged or cut into irregular segments.
OF CONCHOLOGY. 155
Lacunose, having the surface covered with small pits.
Lamillated, divided into distinct plaits’ or foliations.
Lamine, thin plaits, one coat laid over another.
Lanceolate, oblong, and. gradually ta-
_ pering to each end like the head of a lance.
Lateral, extending to one side, from the centre.
Lapideous, stony, of the nature of stones.
Latticed, having longitudinal lines or furrows, decussate by transverse ones.
Lenticular, doubly convex, of the form of a lens.
Ligament, the membranaceous sub- stance which connects the valves together.
Limb, the circumference of the valves, within or behind the margin.
Line, a longitudinal extension, it is
156 THE ELEMENTS
sometimes applied to lines of colour only, at others to a grooved line.
Linear, composed of lines, being marked with lines.
Lineate, marked with lines.
Lip, the outer edge of the aperture of univalves.
Littoral, of or belonging to dae shore.
Livid, discoloured, black and blue.
Lobated, rounded at the edges.
Longitudinal, the length of the shell from the apex to the base.
Lubricity, slipperiness, smoothness of surface.
Lunated, formed like a half moon.
Lunulated, crescent-shaped.
Lunule, a crescent-like mark or spot, situated near the anterior and pos- terior slopes in bivalve shells.
M.
Margin, the whole circumference or outline of the shell in bivalves.
Marginated, having a prominent mar- gin or border.
OF CONCHOLOGY. ey
Membrane, a web of several sorts of fibres.
Membranaceous, consisting of mem- branes.
Mottled, clouded or spotted with various colours.
Mucronate, ending in a sharp rigid point.
Muricated, clothed with sharp rigid points.
N.
Nemoral, of or belonging to a wood.
Nited, glossy.
Nodous, a knot.
Nucleus, a kernel.
Nymphe, the cartilage to which the hymen is attached; they are con- cealed by the hymen.
O.
Ob, in composition is used for in- versely or inverted ; as obconic, in- versely conic ; obcordafe, inversely heart-shaped, &c.
Oblique, slanting
158 THE ELEMENTS
Oblong-ovate, oblong egg-shaped.
Obsolete, indistinct, not well defined.
QOcelated, applied to eye-like spots.
Ochreous, resembling ochre.
Offuscated, darkened, clouded, dim- med.
Olivaceous, being of an olive colour, resembling whet
Operculum, a lid by which some of the turbinated univalves close the aperture; and is applied to some of the tops of multivalves.
Orbed, circular, formed in a circle.
Orbicular, spherical, circular, round- ish and flat. |
Order, a subdivision of a class, or second branch of systematical ar- rangement,
Orifice, an opening or perforation.
Ovate, shaped like the longitudinal section of an egg.
PR
Palmate, webbed, like the feet of some
water birds; deeply divided into
OF CONCHOLOGY. 159
lobes like the fingers on the hand. This character is very conspicuous in some of the Strombi.
Papillous, having the surface covered with dots or pimples.
Papulous, pimply or blistered.
Patulous, with a gap or opening.
Pearlaceous, of or like mother-of- pearl.
Partitions, are calcareous processes, dividing the shells of the Nautili and Serpula into different apartments.
Pectinated, resembling a comb, cut into regular straight sezments like the teeth of a comb.
Pedicle, the support of the Lepas Anatifera and its corresponding species, by which they are attached to wood, X&c.
Peduncle, synonymous with Pedicle.
Pellicle, the skin or film.
Pellucid, transparent, clear, bright.
Pentacapsular, having five cavities.
Penteedrous, having five sides.
160 THE ELEMENTS
Pentagonal, having five angles.
Perforated, pierced with holes.
Pervious, admitting passage.
Phosphorescent, emitting light in the dark.
Pillar, the columella, or perpendicular centre which extends from the base to the apex, in most of the spiral shells.
Plaits, folds.
Plicated, folded or plaited, as in the pillar of the volute tribe.
Prismatic, generally applied to the colours of shelis, being like those of the prism.
Poreate, marked with raised longi- tudinal lines.
Protrude, to thrust forward. Protuberances, plaits higher. or more elevated than the parts adjoining. Punctated, with small dots or punc-
tures like a thimble.
OF CONCHOLOGY. 161
Q. Quadrangular, having four right an- gles. Quadriplicated, having four plaits. Bee ye
Radiate, furnished with rays.
Radicated, is when the shell is fixed by the base to another body.
Rectangular, having right angles.
Recurvated, turned backwards.
Recurved, bowed back.
Reflected, thrown backwards.
Reflexed, the same as recurvated.
_ Refracted, abruptly bent as if broken.
Reniform, kidney-shaped.
Repand, with a serpentine margin.
Replicated, folded or plaited, so as to form a groove or channel.
Reticulate, marked like a piece of net work.
Retroflected, bending in different directions.
Retuse, ending in an obtuse sinus; bluntly sine
162 THE ELEMENTS
Retundated, blunted, or turned at the edge.
Reversed spire, is when the volutions are the reverse way of a common cork screw.
Reversed spires, when the spires are turned upwards.
Revolute, rolled backwards.
Ribbed, longitudinal, and sometimes transverse ridges.
Ridge, the upper part of a slope.
Rima, theinterstice between the valves, when the hymen is removed.
Rostrated, having a beak; the exten- sion of the shell, in which the canal is situated. -
Rotund, round, circular, spherical.
Rudiment, the first part of a thing; generally applied to the indistinct teeth of shells.
Rufous, of a reddish colour.
Rugose, rugged, full of wrinkles.
OF CONCHOLOGY. 163 S.
Sanguinaceous, of a blood colour, or resembling blood.
Scabrous, rough, rugged, harsh, or like a file.
Scalloped, indented at the edges.
Scorbiculate, pitted, having the sur- face covered with hollows.
Scorbiculus, a depression or cavity.
Seam, the line formed by the union of the valves.
Semi-cylindrical, a cylinder cut through lengthways.
Semi-orbiculate, in the shape of a half globe.
Semi-lunar, the shape of a half moon.
Semi-pellucid, somewhat pellucid, though not fully so.
Serrated, like the teeth of a common saw.
Serrulated, very minutely serrated.
Setaceous, bristle-shaped.
Sinister valve, is the left valve.
Sinus, a groove or cavity.
164 THE ELEMENTS
Siphunculus, a cylindrical canal _per- forating the partitions in polytbala- mous shells; for instance the Nau- tilus Spirula.
Solitary, generally applied to a single tooth,
Spatulate, rounded and broad at the top, and becoming narrower like a spatula or battledore.
Species, the division of a family or genus, containing such as agree with it in generic characters.
Spiny, thorny, covered with thorn-like processes.
Spire, all the whorls of univalve shells, excepting the one in which the aperture is situated, which is termed the body.
Spiral, twisted like a cork screw.
Squamous, scaly.
Squarrose, consisting of scales spread- ing every way, or divided into pieces standing upright and not parallel with the plane.
OF CONCHOLOGY. 165
Stillate, radicating like the spokes of a wheel.
Striated, scored, or covered with fine thread-like lines.
Sub, in composition, it means almost or approaching to, as sub-glabose, somewhat globular.
Subrotund, nearly globular.
Subulate, somewhat awl-shaped, or tapering gradually to a point.
Suleated, furrowed, marked with broad furrows or ridges.
Sulci, furrows or ridges.
Summit, the tip or apex.
Suture, the hollow line which sepa- rates the wreaths.
OS
Taper, gradually tapering to a point.
Tentaecule, the feelers of worms, which inhabit shells.
Tesselated, chequered like a chess board. |
Testacea, the third order of worms,
166 THE ELEMENTS
including those which are covered with a testaceous shell.
Tetragonal, four cornered.
Torose, swelling into knobs or pro- tuberances.
Transverse, placed across, or cross- ways.
Truncated, stunted, cut short or ab- ruptly off at the end,
Tubercle, a little knot or pimple.
Tubular, in the shape of a hollow tube.
Tunicated, coated.
Turbinate, shaped like a top or pear,
Turgid, swollen.
V.
Valve, the whole of univalve shells, or shells in one piece ; and the half of bivalves, or shells in two divi- sions, &c.
Varices, sutures of the wreaths, trans- verse and gibbous. -
Variety, is when a shell differs so
OF CONCHOLOGY. 167
little from another that it cannot be called a distinct species.
Vaulted, like the roof of one’s mouth.
Venter, the belly, situated in the body of the shell; being the most promi- nent part, when the aperture is turned to the observer.
Ventricose, inflated, swelling in the middle.
Vertex, in the Patella the top or most prominent part, situated in general nearly ia the middle. Inthe Bulla it is used for the apex.
Verrucose, warted.
Verticulated, whirled.
Umbilicated, having a depression in the centre like a navel.
Umbo, in bivalve shells, the round part which turns over the hinge. Umbonate, bossed, having a raised
knob in the centre.
Undulated, waved, having a waved surface.
Ungulate, shaped like a horse’s hoof.
“
168 THE ELEMENTs, &c.
Unilocular, with a single cavity.
Univalve, shells of one valve, or com- plete in one piece.
Volutions, the wreaths, or turnings of the shells of univalves.
Urceolate, swelling in the middle like a pitcher.
Vulva, a spatulated mark in the Venus tribe ; formed when the valves are united on the posterior and anterior slopes.
W.
Whorl, one of the wreaths or turning
of the spire of univalves. Z.
Zigzag, having contrary turnings and windings.
Zoned, surrounded with one or more
girdles.
J. Gleave, Printer, Manchester.
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