How to Arrange the Shells in the Cabinet
When you have arranged your specimens in the order above indicated, proceed to place them in your boxes, arranging and labelling them after the manner shown in the accompanying diagram.
+——+——+——+——+——+
| Class. | | | | |
+——+ Species. | Species. | Species. | Species. |
| Order. | | | | |
+——+——+——+——+——+
| Family | | | | |
| Name. | | | | |
+——+ Species. | Species. | Species. | Species. |
| Generic | | | | |
| Name. | | +——+ |
+——+——+——+ Family +——+
| | | | Name. | |
| Species. | Species. | Species. +——+ Species. |
| | | | Generic | |
+——+——+——+ Name. +——+
| | | +——+ |
| | Generic | | | |
| Species. | Name. | Species. | Species. | Species. |
| | | | | |
+——+——+——+——+——+
| | | | | Generic |
| Species. | Species. | Species. | Species. | Name. |
| | | | | |
+——+——+——+——+——+
| | | Generic | | |
| Species. | Species. | Name. | Species. | Species. |
| | | | | |
+——+——+——+——+——+
| | | | | |
| Species. | Species. | Species. | Species. | Species. |
| | | | | |
+——+——+——+——+——+
On the lid, or on a slip of paper or card placed at the head of your columns of trays, write the class and order, with its proper number (I., II., etc., as the case may be); then at the top of your left-hand column place the family and its number, and under it the name of the first genus. The species (one in each tray) come next, then the name of the next genus following it, succeeded by its species, and so on.
The object of the young collector should be to obtain examples of as many genera as possible, since a collection in which a great number of genera are represented is far more useful and instructive than one composed of a great many species referable to but few genera. He will also find it very convenient to separate the British Shells from his general collection, sub-dividing them for convenience into “Land and Fresh-water,” and “Marine.” Of these he should endeavour to get every species, and even variety, making the thing as complete as possible. Or a separate collection may be made of all those kinds which he can find within a certain distance of his own home. A collection of this sort possesses, in addition to its scientific worth, an interest of its own, owing to the local associations that invariably connect themselves with it.
TABLE OF SOME OF THE MORE IMPORTANT GENERA, SHOWING THE APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF SPECIES BELONGING TO EACH GENUS AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION.
CLASS I.—Cephalopoda.
Order I.—Dibranchiata.
Section A.—Octopoda.
Family.
Genus.
No. of
Species.
Distribution.
1.
Argonauta
4
Tropical seas.
2.
Octopus
46
Rocky coasts in temperate and tropical regions.
Section B.—Decapoda.
3.
Loligo
19
Cosmopolitan.
4.
Sepia
30
On all coasts.
5.
Spirula
3
All the warmer seas.
Order II.—Tetrabranchiata
6.
Nautilus
3 or 4
Chinese Seas, Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf.
CLASS II.—Gasteropoda.
Order I.—Prosobranchiata.
Division a.—Siphonostomata.
Family.
Genus.
No. of
Species.
Distribution.
1.
Strombus
60
W. Indies, Mediterranean, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Pacific—low water to 10 fathoms.
Pteroceras
12
India, China.
2.
Murex
180
On all coasts.
Columbella
200
Sub-tropical regions, in shallow water on stones.
Mitra
350
Tropical regions, from low water to 80 fathoms.
Fusus
100
On all coasts.
3.
Buccinum
20
Northern seas, from low water to 140 fathoms.
Eburna
9
Red Sea, India, Australia, China, Cape of Good Hope.
Nassa
210
World-wide—low water to 50 fathoms.
Purpura
140
World-wide—low water to 25 fathoms.
Harpa
9
Tropical—deep water, sand, muddy bottoms.
Oliva
117
Sub-tropical—low water to 25 fathoms.
4.
Cassis
34
Tropical regions, in shallow water.
Dolium
15
Mediterranean, India, China, W. Indies, Brazil, New Guinea, Pacific.
Triton
100
Temperate and sub-tropical regions, from low water to 50 fathoms.
Ranella
50
Tropical regions, on rocks and coral-reefs.
Pyrula
40
Sub-tropical regions, in 17 to 35 fathoms.
5.
Conus
300
Equatorial seas—shallow water to 50 fathoms.
Pleurotoma
500
Almost world-wide—low water to 100 fathoms.
6.
Voluta
100
On tropical coasts, from the shore to 100 fathoms.
Cymba
10
West Coast of Africa, Lisbon, Straits of Gibraltar.
Marginella
90
Mostly tropical.
7.
Cypræa
150
Warmer seas of the globe, on rocks and coral-reefs.
Ovulum
36
Britain, Mediterranean, W. Indies, China, W. America.
Division b.—Holostomata.
Family.
Genus.
No. of
Species.
Distribution.
8.
Natica
90
Arctic to tropical regions, on sandy and gravelly bottoms, from low water to 90 feet.
Sigaretus
26
E. and W. Indies, China, Peru.
9.
Cancellaria
70
W. Indies, China, S. America, E. Archipelago—low water to 40 fathoms.
10.
Pyramidella
11
W. Indies, Mauritius, Australia, in sandy bays and on shallow mud-banks.
Odostomia
35
Britain, Mediterranean, and Madeira—low water to 50 fathoms.
Chemnitzia
70
World-wide—low water to 100 fathoms.
Eulima
26
Cuba, Norway, Britain, India, Mediterranean, Australia—5 to 90 fathoms.
11.
Solarium
25
Sub-tropical and tropical—widely distributed.
12.
Scalaria
100
World-wide—low water to 100 fathoms.
13.
Cerithium
100
World-wide.
Potamides
41
Africa and India, in mud of large rivers.
Aporrhais
3
Labrador, Norway, Britain, Mediterranean—20 to 100 fathoms.
14.
Turritella
50
World-wide—low water to 100 fathoms.
Vermetus
31
Portugal, Mediterranean, Africa, India.
15.
Melania
160
S. Europe, India, Philippines and Pacific Islands—in rivers.
Melanopsis
20
Spain, Australia, Asia Minor, New Zealand—in rivers.
16.
Paludina
60
Northern Hemispheres, Africa, India, China, etc.—in lakes and rivers.
Ampullaria
50
S. America, W. Indies, Africa, India—in lakes and rivers.
17.
Litorina
40
On all shores.
Rissoa
70
World-wide—in shallow water on sea-weed to 100 fathoms.
18.
Calyptrea
50
World-wide—adherent to rocks, etc.
Crepidula
40
West Indies, Mediterranean, Cape of Good Hope, Australia.
Pileopsis
7
Britain, Norway, Mediterranean, E. and W. Indies, Australia.
Hipponyx
70
W. Indies, Galapagos, Philippines, Australia.
Phorus
9
W. Indies, India, Javan and Chinese Seas—in deep water.
19.
Turbo
60
On the shores of Tropical seas.
Phasinella
30
Australia, Pacific, W. Indies, Mediterranean.
Imperator
20
S. Africa, India, etc.
Trochus
150
World-wide—from low water to 100 fathoms.
Rotella
18
India, Philippines, China, New Zealand.
Stomatella
20
Cape, India, Australia, etc.
20.
Haliotis
75
Britain, Canaries, India, Australia, California—on rocks at low water.
Stomatia
12
Java, Philippines, Pacific, etc.— under stones at low water.
21.
Ianthina
6
Gregarious in the open seas of the Atlantic and Pacific.
22.
Fissurella
120
World-wide—on rocks from low water to 5 fathoms.
Emarginula
26
Britain, Norway, Philippines, Australia—from low water to 90 fathoms.
23.
Nerita
116
On the shores of all warm seas.
Neritina
110
In fresh waters of all warm countries, and in Britain.
Navicella
24
India, Mauritius, Moluccas, Australia, Pacific—in fresh water, attached to stones.
24.
Patella
100
On all coasts—adhering to stones and rocks.
25.
Dentalium
30
World-wide—buried in mud.
26.
Chiton
200
World-wide—low water to 100 fathoms.
Order II.—Pulmonifera.
Division a.—Inoperculata.
Family.
Genus.
No. of
Species.
Distribution.
27.
Helix
1,600
68
650 ┐
├
┘
World-wide—on land in moist places.
Succinea
Bulimus
Achatina
120
World-wide—burrowing at roots and bulbs.
Pupa
236
World-wide—amongst wet moss.
Clausilia
400
Europe and Asia—in moist spots.
28.
Limax
22
Europe and Canaries—on land in damp localities.
Testacella
3
S. Europe, Canaries, and Britain— burrowing in gardens.
29.
Oncidium
16
Britain, Red Sea, Mediterranean—on rocks on the seashore.
30.
Limnæa
50
Europe, Madeira, India, China, N. America—in ponds, rivers, lakes, etc.
Physa
20
America, Europe, S. Africa, India, Philippines—in ponds, rivers, lakes, etc.
Ancylus
14
Europe, N. and S. America—in ponds, rivers, lakes, etc.
Planorbis
145
Europe, N. America, India, China—in ponds, rivers, lakes, etc.
31.
Auricula
50
Tropical—in salt marshes.
Siphonaria
30
World-wide—between high and low water.
Division b.—Operculata.
Family.
Genus.
No. of
Species.
Distribution.
32.
Cyclostoma
80
S. Europe, Africa
India, Philippines
Philippines, New Guinea ┐
├ —on land.
┘
Cyclophorus
100
Pupina
80
33.
Helicina
150
W. Indies, Philippines, Central America, Islands in Pacific—on land.
34.
Acicula
5
Britain, Europe, Vanicoro—on leaves and at roots of grass.
Geomelania
21
Jamaica—on land.
Order III.—Opisthobranchiata.
Division a.—Tectibranchiata.
Family.
Genus.
No. of
Species.
Distribution.
35.
Tornatella
16
Red Sea, Philippines, Japan—in deep water.
36.
Bulla
50
Widely distributed—low water to 30 fathoms.
37.
Aplysia
40
Britain, Norway, W. Indies—low water to 15 fathoms on sea-weed.
38.
Pleurobranchus
20
Britain, Norway, Mediterranean.
Division b.—Nudibranchiata.
39-44.
All shell-less.
Order IV.—Nucleobranchiata.
Family.
Genus.
No. of
Species.
Distribution.
45.
Firola
8
Atlantic, Mediterranean.
Carinaria
5
Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
46.
Atlanta
15
Warmer parts of the Atlantic.
CLASS III.—Pteropoda.
Order I.—Prosobranchiata.
Division a.—Thecosomata.
Family.
Genus.
No. of
Species.
Distribution.
1.
Hyalea
19 ┐
Cleodora
12 ┘
Atlantic, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean.
2.
Limacina
2
Arctic and Antarctic Seas.
Division b.—Gymnosomata.
3.
Clio, etc.
Shell-less.
CLASS IV.—Lamellibranchiata.
Division a.—Asiphonida.
Family.
Genus.
No. of
Species.
Distribution.
1.
Ostrea
100
World-wide—in estuaries, attached.
2.
Anomia
20
India, Australia, China, Ceylon— attached to shells from low water to 100 fathoms.
Placuna
4
Scinde, North Australia, China—in brackish water.
3.
Pecten
176
World-wide—from 3 to 40 fathoms.
Lima
20
Norway, Britain, India, Australia—from 1 to 150 fathoms.
Spondylus
70
Tropical seas—attached to coral-reefs.
4.
Avicula
25
Britain, Mediterranean, India—25 fathoms.
Perna
18
In tropical seas—attached.
Pinna
30
United States, Britain, Mediterranean, Australia, Pacific—low water to 60 fathoms.
5.
Mytilus
70
World-wide—between high and low water mark.
Modiola
70
British and tropical seas—low water to >100 fathoms.
6.
Arca
400
In warm seas—from low water to 200 fathoms.
Pectunculus
58
West Indies, Britain, New Zealand—from 8 to 60 fathoms.
Nucula
70
Norway, Japan—from 5 to 100 fathoms.
7.
Trigonia
3
Off the coast of Australia.
8.
Unio
420
World-wide—in fresh waters.
Anodon
100
North America, Europe, Siberia—in fresh waters.
Division b.—Siphonida.
9.
Chama
50
In tropical seas on coral reefs.
10.
Tridacna
7
Indian and Pacific Oceans, Chinese Seas.
11.
Cardium
200
World-wide—from the shore line to 140 fathoms.
12.
Lucina
70
Tropical and temperate seas—sandy and muddy bottoms—from low water to 200 fathoms.
Kellia
20
Norway, New Zealand, California—low water
to 200 fathoms.
13.
Cyclas
60
Temperate regions—in all fresh waters.
Cyrena
130
From the Nile and other rivers to China—and in mangrove swamps.
14.
Astarte
20
Mostly Arctic—from 30 to 112 fathoms.
Crassatella
34
Australia, Philippines, Africa, etc.
15.
Cyprina
1
From Britain to the most northerly point yet reached—from 5 to 80 fathoms.
Circe
40
Britain, Australia, India, Red Sea—8 to 50 fathoms.
Isocardia
5
Mediterranean, China, Japan—burrowing in sand.
Cardita
54
Tropical seas—from shallow water to 150 fathoms.
16.
Venus
176 ┐
World-wide—buried in sand, from low water to 100 fathoms.
Cytherea
113 ┘
Artemis
100
Northern to tropical seas—from low water to 100 fathoms.
Tapes
80
Widely distributed—burrowing in sand, from low water to 100 fathoms.
Venerupis
20
Britain, Canaries, India, Peru—in crevices of rocks.
17.
Mactra
125
World-wide—burrowing in sand.
Lutraria
18
Widely distributed—burrowing in sand.
18.
Tellina
300
In all seas—from the shore line to 15 fathoms.
Psammobia
50
Britain, Pacific and Indian Oceans—from the littoral zone to 100 fathoms.
Sanguinolaria
20
W. Indies, Australia, Peru.
Semele
60
Brazil, India, China, etc.
Donax
68
Norway, Baltic, Britain—in sand near low water mark.
19.
Solen
33
World-wide—burrowing in sand.
Solecurtus
25
Britain, Africa, Madeira, Mediterranean—burrowing in sand.
20.
Mya
10
North Seas, W. Africa, Philippines, etc.—river mouths from low water to 25 fathoms.
Corbula
60
United States, Britain, Norway, Mediterranean, W. Africa, China—from 15 to 80 fathoms.
21.
Anatina
50
India, W. Africa, Philippines, New Zealand.
Thracia
17
Greenland to Canaries and China—from 4 to 120 fathoms.
Pandora
18
Spitzbergen, Panama, India—from 4 to 110 fathoms, burrowing in sand and mud.
22.
Gastrochæna
10
W. Indies, Britain, Red Sea, Pacific Islands—from shore line to 30 fathoms.
Saxicava
Arctic Seas, Britain, Mediterranean, Canaries and the Cape—in crevices and boring into limestone and rocks.
Aspergillum
21
Red Sea, Java, New Zealand—in sand.
23.
Pholas
32
Almost universal—from low water to 25 fathoms.
Xylophaga
2
Norway, Britain, S. America—boring into floating wood.
Teredo
14
In tropical seas—from low water to 100 fathoms.
SOME WORKS OF REFERENCE.
Mollusca in General.
“A Manual of Mollusca.” By Dr. S. P. Woodward.
“Tabular View of the Orders and Families of the Mollusca.” Published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
“Cassell’s Natural History,” latest edition, article on the Mollusca. By Dr. Henry Woodward.
British Mollusca.
“A History of British Mollusca and their Shells.” By Professor E. Forbes and S. Hanley.
“British Conchology.” By J. G. Jeffreys.
“Common Shells of the Sea-shore.” By Rev. J. G. Wood.
British Land and Fresh-water Mollusca.
“Land and Fresh-water Mollusca indigenous to the British Isles.” By Lovell Reeve.
“A Plain and Easy Account of the Land and Fresh-water Mollusca of Great Britain.” By Ralph Tate.
BY
B. B. WOODWARD.
Contents
| Section | Page |
| INTRODUCTORY. | 65 |
| THE CABINET. | 66 |
| IMPLEMENTS REQUIRED WHEN COLLECTING. | 66 |
| HOW TO USE YOUR IMPLEMENTS. | 69 |
| HOW TO PREPARE THE SPECIMENS FOR THE CABINET. | 74 |
| TABLE OF THE PRINCIPAL FOSSILIFEROUS STRATA. | 78 |
| NOTES ON THE DIFFERENT FORMATIONS MENTIONED IN THE TABLE. | 79 |
| TABLE OF THE PRINCIPAL DIVISIONS OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. | 94 |
FOSSILS.
Geology is of all “hobbies” the one best calculated not only to develop the physical powers, but also, if pursued with any degree of earnestness, to train and extend the mental faculties. To study geology properly, the rocks themselves must be visited and carefully observed, their appearance noted, and the fossils, if any, which they contain, collected. This necessitates many a pleasant walk into the open country to quarries and cuttings, or rambles along the sea-shore to cliffs which may be worth investigating, whilst botany, entomology, or any other congenial pursuit, may be followed on the way; for natural science in its different branches has so many points of connection that it is impossible to study one of them without increasing one’s interest in, and knowledge of, all the others. Again, in arranging, classifying, and studying at home the specimens collected on these expeditions, many an hour may be usefully spent; habits of exactitude and neatness are acquired; whilst in endeavouring to draw correct conclusions as to the way in which particular rocks were formed, and by what agencies brought to their present position, the reasoning faculties are exercised and developed.
The existence of fossil shells and bones in various strata of the earth’s crust attracted attention at a very early date of the world’s history; the Egyptian priests were aware of the existence of marine shells in the hills bounding the Nile valley, and from this fact Herodotus drew the conclusion that the sea formerly covered the spot. The bones of the larger mammalia (rhinoceros, elephant, etc.), were, however, thought by the ancients to be human, and hence arose the idea of a race of giants having existed at some previous period of the earth’s history. It was not, however, until near the end of the last century that geology began to be recognised as a science, and the true bearing of fossils in relation to the rocks in which they were found was conclusively proved. William Smith in England, and Werner in Germany, while working independently of each other, both came to the same conclusion, viz. that the numerous strata invariably rested on each other in a certain order, and that this order was never inverted,1 whilst William Smith in addition proved that each group of rocks, and even each stratum, had its own peculiar set of fossils, by which it might be recognised wherever it occurred. From that time forth the study of the various fossils began to be considered as a separate science apart from that of the beds containing them; this is now known as Palæontology, the study of the composition of the rocks themselves being termed Petrology.
At this moment, however, we are less concerned with the study of rocks and fossils than with the best and simplest way of collecting, preparing, and arranging specimens as a means to this study.