The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-07-28
Shells.

\ collection of shells is a beautiful and
surprising sight beautiful, since more
exquisite samples IF elegance of form
and brilliancy of color cannot be found
through the wide range of natural OBJ
jects, whether organized or unorganized
surprising. when we consider that all
these durable relics were constructed by
soft and fragile animals, among the most
perishable of living creatures. Still
more surprising is such an assembage
when we reflect upon the endless varia-
tion of pattern and scul pture which it
displays, for there are known to natural
lists more than $4,000 perfectly distinct
kinds of Shells each presenting somc
popularity Of contour or ornament. dis
tinguisling it from every other sort
Then. again. whilst multitudes of species
present constant and nvariable features,
others, as numerous, are capable Of chang
ing their dress so capriciously that scarce
ly two individuals can be found exactly
alike. Some. too, obey in the coling Of
their whorls the most exact geometrical
rules. whilst others are twisted and
twirled into fantastic likenesses of cor.
nucopie aud trumpcts, without regard TO
symmetry or direction. Yet every one
Of the fifteen thousand and more kinds
has a rule of its own, a law which every
individual of each kind through all its
generations implicitly obcys. Thus there
is liberty to vary given to some whilst
others are rigidly bound by immutable
rules of the utmost simplicity but to
none is allowed the license to depart. un-
less in the exceptional case of useless
and abnormal monstrosities, from tho
law of its specific organization
The researches of the naturalist have
made him convcrsant not merely with
the fact Of these myriads of notifications,
of the type Of the molusc ous shell, but
also with the laws obeycd by whole groups
Of forms. and the principles which may
be evoked from the careful and minute
study Of species and genus Thus
science arises out of the knowledge of
Genealogical details, and truths arc
elected which bear importantly upon the
elucidaton Of the laws of life and being
throughout organized nature. The for
nation of the shell itself is but an exam-
pie of process at work equally in tho
animal and vegetable Kingdoms. \
shell, whether simple or complicated in
contour or color, is the aggregate result
of the functional operations of number.
less minute membranous cells. the larg-
est of which does not exceed one-hun-
dredth Of an inch in diameter, AMI in
the maj j1rity of instances is less than
one-thousandth of an inch In the cav
tiles Of these microscopic chambers is
deposited the crystalline carbonate Of
lime, which gives compactncss to the
beautiful dwelling house, or rather coat
of mail, that protects the tender mol
| lusk.
How astonishing is the reflection that
myriads of exactly similar aud exceed.
lngly minute organs should so work in
combination that the result Of their la.
bors should present an edifce rivalling.
nay exceeding. in complexity yet order
of details AID perfection of elaborate
finish, the finest palaces ever constructed
10y man Throughout nature we find the
same complicated results attained by
the same simple mechanism. The how
er of the field, the shell of the sea, the
bird Of the air, tie beasts of the forest,
and man himself, are all so many cell
constructions, wings of the one wonder
full animated editice, whose masors We
may behold through the aid of instru-
ments of human construction. but whose
architect is beyond the power of mortal
science to comprehend Everywhere the
naturalist discovers the hand-prints of
an omniscient Designer, but must hum.
bly, content himself with endcavorh g to
dc'elope the unity and benevolence Of
the dcsi gu.