A treatise on malocology, or the natural classification of shells and shell-fish / By William Swainson.

  • Swainson, William, 1789-1855.
Date:
1840
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A treatise on malocology, or the natural classification of shells and shell-fish / By William Swainson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    in their zeal for describing new species, and too little known to the scientific world, from being scattered in detached papers, or unpublished, are all incorporated and acknowledged in this volume.* To this accom- plished zoologist and exquisite artist are we indebted, among many other things, for the discovery of the extraordinary genus Herpa; and for drawings of the animals of Oliva, Volutella, Marginella, Triton, and Trochella; as also of several other groups, originally characterised from the shells alone, but now confirmed by the difference of their animals. The name of Mr. {.owe, the natural historian of Madeira, deserves honourable mention in this place, as connected with the illustration of many interesting facts on the Mollusca of that island. A most magnificent, but extravagantly expensive, work on the land and freshwater shells, was commenced, several years ago, by the late baron de Ferussac.t As it was patronised by Royalty, some hopes were entertained of its completion, notwithstanding the grand scale it set out upon ; but the undertaking was evidently too vast for the very moderate abilities of its projector ; the parts came out less and less regularly, until, after it had cost the subscribers near 501., it was (virtually) given up, and the author died. This striking example is surely sufficient to convince any sober judging person of the utter impracticability of completing a General Conchology, or of carrying it on beyond a few numbers. It is, in fact, a physical impossibility for any one or five men to accomplish such a work in the ordinary term of human life; and even if brought to a termination, unless conducted on the most economic scale, would involve an outlay to the projectors, and an expense to the public, which the latter, at least, would never incur. We are, in truth, heartily set against all these magnificent under- takings : they are absolutely detrimental to science ; * A large collection of highly finished drawings, and several MSS., are now in the possession of Mr. Guilding’s late widow. t Ferussac Hist. Nat. generate et particuliere des Mollusques Ter- jestres et Fluviatil.es, 27 parts, published, Paris, 1819—33.