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Article A BRIEF SYSTEM OF CONCHOLOGY. ← Page 2 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Brief System Of Conchology.
rough state , and in its yellow appearance , as different species of shells . The violet shells , so common among the curious , is a species of porcelain , or common cowry , which does not appear in that elegance till it has been polished ; and the common aims' marina shows itself in two or three different forms , as it is more or less deeply wrought . In its rough state it is dusky and coarseof a pale brown on the
out-, side , and pearly within ; when it is eaten down a little waj- below the surface , it shows variegations of black and green ; and when still farther eroded , it appears of a fine pearly hue within and without . The nautilus , when it is polished down , appears ail over of a fine pearly colour ; but when it is eaten away but to a small depth , it appears of a fine yellowish colour with dusky hairs . The burgauwhen
, entirety cleared of its coat , is of the most beautiful pearl colour ; but when slightly eroded , it appears of a variegated mixture of green and red ; whence it has been called the parriqud shell . The common helmet-shell , when wrought , is of the colour of the finest agate ; and the muscles , in general , though very plain shells in their common
appearance , become verv beautiful when polished , and show lame veins of 1 . * ' • * the most elegant colours . The Persian shell , in its natural state , is all over white , and covered with tubercles ; but when it has been ground down on a wheel , and polished , it appears of a grey colour , with spots and veins of a very bright and highly polished white . The limpetsin generalbecome very different when polishedmost
, , , of them showing very elegant colours ; among these the tortoise-shell limpet is the principal : it does not appear at all of that colour or transparency till it has been wrought . That elegant species of shell called the junquil-cbama , which has deceived so many judges of these things into an opinion of its being a new speciesis only a white chama with a reticulated surface ; but
, when this is polished , it loses at once its reticular work and its colour , and becomes perfectly smooth , and of a fine bri g ht yellow . The violet-coloured chama of New England , when worked down and polished , is of a fine milk-white , with a great number of blue veins , disposed like the variegations in agates .
The asses-ear shell , when polished after working it down with the file , becomes extremely glossy , and obtains a fine rose colour all about the mouth . These are some of the most frequent among an endless variety of changes wrought on shells by polishing ; and we find there are many of' the very greatest beauties of this part of the creation which must have been lost but for this method of searching deep in the substance of the , shell for them .
The Dutch are very fond of shells , and are very nice in their manner of working them : they are under no restraint , however , in their works ; but use the most violent methods , so as often to destroy all the beauty of the shell . The ] ' file ( hem down on all sides , and often take them to the wheel , when it must destroy the very characters ot the species . Nor do they stop at this : but , determined to have
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Brief System Of Conchology.
rough state , and in its yellow appearance , as different species of shells . The violet shells , so common among the curious , is a species of porcelain , or common cowry , which does not appear in that elegance till it has been polished ; and the common aims' marina shows itself in two or three different forms , as it is more or less deeply wrought . In its rough state it is dusky and coarseof a pale brown on the
out-, side , and pearly within ; when it is eaten down a little waj- below the surface , it shows variegations of black and green ; and when still farther eroded , it appears of a fine pearly hue within and without . The nautilus , when it is polished down , appears ail over of a fine pearly colour ; but when it is eaten away but to a small depth , it appears of a fine yellowish colour with dusky hairs . The burgauwhen
, entirety cleared of its coat , is of the most beautiful pearl colour ; but when slightly eroded , it appears of a variegated mixture of green and red ; whence it has been called the parriqud shell . The common helmet-shell , when wrought , is of the colour of the finest agate ; and the muscles , in general , though very plain shells in their common
appearance , become verv beautiful when polished , and show lame veins of 1 . * ' • * the most elegant colours . The Persian shell , in its natural state , is all over white , and covered with tubercles ; but when it has been ground down on a wheel , and polished , it appears of a grey colour , with spots and veins of a very bright and highly polished white . The limpetsin generalbecome very different when polishedmost
, , , of them showing very elegant colours ; among these the tortoise-shell limpet is the principal : it does not appear at all of that colour or transparency till it has been wrought . That elegant species of shell called the junquil-cbama , which has deceived so many judges of these things into an opinion of its being a new speciesis only a white chama with a reticulated surface ; but
, when this is polished , it loses at once its reticular work and its colour , and becomes perfectly smooth , and of a fine bri g ht yellow . The violet-coloured chama of New England , when worked down and polished , is of a fine milk-white , with a great number of blue veins , disposed like the variegations in agates .
The asses-ear shell , when polished after working it down with the file , becomes extremely glossy , and obtains a fine rose colour all about the mouth . These are some of the most frequent among an endless variety of changes wrought on shells by polishing ; and we find there are many of' the very greatest beauties of this part of the creation which must have been lost but for this method of searching deep in the substance of the , shell for them .
The Dutch are very fond of shells , and are very nice in their manner of working them : they are under no restraint , however , in their works ; but use the most violent methods , so as often to destroy all the beauty of the shell . The ] ' file ( hem down on all sides , and often take them to the wheel , when it must destroy the very characters ot the species . Nor do they stop at this : but , determined to have