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Read Ebook: A Manual of Conchology According to the System Laid Down by Lamarck with the Late Improvements by De Blainville. Exemplified and Arranged for the Use of Students. by Wyatt Thomas
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A MANUAL OF CONCHOLOGY, ACCORDING TO THE SYSTEM LAID DOWN BY LAMARCK, WITH THE LATE IMPROVEMENTS BY DE BLAINVILLE. EXEMPLIFIED AND ARRANGED FOR THE USE OF STUDENTS.
BY THOMAS WYATT, M.A.
NEW-YORK:
HARPER & BROTHERS, CLIFF-STREET.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1838, by
THOMAS WYATT,
in the Clerk's Office of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
INTRODUCTION.
Conchology or Testaceology is a numerous and beautiful branch of Natural History, treating of the testaceous covering of animals; perhaps none but the department of Flora can vie with it in variety, symmetry of form, and rich colouring. It has ever excited admiration, and obtained a prominent situation in the cabinet; and so great are the facilities afforded at the present day to procure specimens and obtain a knowledge of this science, that it has become one of the requisites of a finished education. Shells are found in all parts of the world, both on land and in water; but the most beautiful and valuable species are found between the tropics.
At first they were regarded as pleasing curiosities, and prized only on that account; but the investigations of scientific men have proved that the study of this science is not only interesting, but useful. Much valuable information has already been obtained, and, from the investigations of modern naturalists, much more may be anticipated.
So intimate is the connexion between Conchology and Geology, that a knowledge of the one is indispensable to the study and acquirement of the other. The geologist will draw much advantage from a close study of the testaceous covering of molluscous animals to aid him in determining the identity or the superposition of the different strata of the earth and the extraordinary changes it has undergone; for, as Bergman elegantly says, "fossil shells, coral, and wood are the only three remaining medals of Creation." He will see in the innumerable quantity of these animals, succeeding each other from generation to generation in the depth of the seas, one of the evident causes of the growth and increase of islands and continents.
But man may find in the knowledge of Mollusca applications still more direct to his well being in society, both as to the advantages and disadvantages to be derived from them: thus a great number of species are proper for food, as oysters, mussels, &c., which are objects of commercial speculations. The Pinna furnishes the Italians with materials for a rich dress, and the pearl, so much prized by the Orientals, by princes, and particularly by the ladies, as a modest and beautiful ornament, is produced by a disease of the animals in certain species of shells. It was this knowledge which made the celebrated Linnaeus imagine that it was possible to form an artificial pearlery in the rivers of Sweden. The mother of pearl, so much employed as an ornament in articles of luxury, is only the interior lining of certain univalve or bivalve shells. Painting draws from some of these animals many colours, valuable not so much for their beauty as their usefulness, as Chinese ink and sepia.
The brightest and richest colour known by the ancients, and used by them for the celebrated Tyrian purple dye, is produced by animals at this time known by the name of Purpura.
The Teredo attacks the wood of our vessels, and often does much injury; therefore the knowledge of its manners, habits, and customs must be of great importance in countries infested with them, so as to be able to provide a remedy against them. Snails and slugs are also enemies much to be dreaded in our gardens.
Lamarck, in his last work, the result of the successive and continual labours of his whole life and those of his contemporaries, has rendered a very great service to science, but especially to conchology, by describing, or, at least, characterizing the numerous species of shells in his own splendid cabinet. It may be proper here to remark, that a part of Lamarck's cabinet is now in the possession of Isaac Lea, Esq., of Philadelphia, to whom we are much indebted for valuable assistance. To Dr. Comstock, and the Rev. W. Turner, of Hartford, Conn., we are much indebted for kind favours; their aid has greatly facilitated our labours.
In this Manual of Conchology we have endeavoured to give a free translation of Lamarck's system, as simplified by De Blainville; and, in order to facilitate as much as possible the study of this beautiful and interesting science, we have divested it of numerous technicalities, and divided it into four classes: Annelides, Cirrhipedes, Conchifera, and Mollusca.
To each class we have assigned its various families, to each family its genera, and to each genus its living species; thereby making it plain and within the reach of the meanest capacity. A type of almost every genus is given, excepting only those shells which, from their similarity to other genera, may easily be classed.
It was deemed advisable, as this is intended for an easy introduction to the science, to omit many divisions and subdivisions, which would only serve to perplex and render the attainment more difficult.
As the Naiades, or shells of this country, are given in several valuable scientific works lately published, we have only slightly touched them in the place they are intended to occupy.
We cannot expect that the work now presented to the public is free from imperfections; but we ask for their lenity and kind forbearance to excuse whatever defects there may be in our humble attempts to advance the cause of science. Conchology, like other departments of natural history, is progressing; and that which is given to-day is almost always susceptible of being modified to-morrow; should this work be well received, it is our intention to give, as soon as practicable, an enlarged work, containing even the minute microscopic shells and the fossils, with plates containing types of as many species of the genera as can possibly be obtained.
The plates were drawn and coloured with great care and accuracy from the natural shells in our own cabinet, under the superintendence of Mr. James Ackerman, artist.
T. W.
ARRANGEMENT.
FOUR FAMILIES.
Fam.
ONE FAMILY.
TWENTY FAMILIES.
TWENTY-TWO FAMILIES.
CONCHOLOGY.
A. piscatorium.
Shell very thin, conical, tubular, involuted in a loose and irregular spiral manner; aperture circular, edges sharp, interrupted in the middle by a notch prolonged like a slit through nearly all its length, stopped abruptly at some distance from the summit.
Siliquaria anguina. S. muricata. S. laevigata. S. lactea.
Shell tapering, undulating, spiral at the extremity.
Species armed with short spines or prickles; aperture sometimes margined; usually of a rosy or pink colour.
Tube thin and slender, open at both ends; incrusted externally with sand and fragments of shells.
This genus took its name from its resemblance to an elephant's tooth. It is an attenuated conical tube, slightly bent, and open at both ends.
Shell tubular, regular, symmetrical, lightly curved longitudinally, conic, attenuated insensibly posteriorly, and open at each extremity by a round orifice.
Dentalium elephantinum. D. aprinum. D. fasciatum. D. entale. D. Tarentinum. D. corneum. D. octoganum. D. novemcostatum. D. dentale. D. nigrum. D. politum. D. eburneum.
Species in which the tube is striated or ribbed longitudinally; the ribs are generally ten in number; green colour.
Species very minutely striated; white or yellowish colour.
Species narrow and thin; pale topaz colour.
Species finely pointed, solid, striated annularly; generally rosy or pink colour.
Species entirely straight, with longitudinal ribs.
Species of a reddish or pale yellow colour, with the tip frequently tinged with orange or pink.
The similarity of the four genera comprising this family is such, that it was thought sufficient to give only one type , as the student may easily recognise the others.
A membranous or papyraceous tube, in the form of a reversed cone; unfixed; exterior covered with sandy adhesions.
Pectinaria Belgica. Pectinaria capensis.
Tube inversely conic, membranous, and covered with sand.
The covering of the animal belonging to this genus is composed of fragments and particles of marine substances, adhering to a tubular membrane; some are detached and others are fixed. The tubes are cellular at the base, and the orifice expanded.
Sabellaria alveolata. Sabellaria crassissima.
Consists of numerous parallel tubes, nearly straight, communicating by an aperture, forming when in mass the appearance of a honeycomb; it adheres to rocks in clusters.
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