, 1885-03-18
A MYRIAD OF SHELLS.
GAZING AT THE BEAUTIES OF A
GENEALOGICAL COLLECTION.


AAAA'A 80 Nf"HA 80 $50" 80"
Europe: shells from Asia and shells from
the Islands OF the Southern sea; shells
brought from the deepest depth of the ocean
by the Hassler's drodges and shells from hun
dreds OF feot above sea Lowell, shells that
climb trees and shells that bore holes In the
rocks: shells Of most beautiful shnpo and
color and shells surprising in ugliness the
direst creations Of a nightmare; shells OF all
sizes, from scarcely larger than a pins head
10 one or two feet In diameter; shells worth
800 apiece, and shells 100 OF which
would not be worth 81; shells Of
every imaginable shape and color, and
shells Of many uninmaginable shapes-theee
and many others TO tho number OF thousands
are what a reporter saw In an upper room OF
an unpretentious dwelling in ono OF tho
quieter portions Of Oakland ono day recently.
or all the manias for collecting by which
mankind is affected, perhaps one Of the most
seldom met with is that for conchology, and
while museums of coins, stamps, books,
plants, birds, antiquities OF all kinds, etc,
are not rare, a really fine collections OF shells
is something ~infrequently met with Indeed,
besides tho ono under discussion, there is, 1t
Is believed, but one other Of any magnitude
on this coast
For more than fifteen years has orlando
Button, a well known resident of Oakland,
assisted by his SON, been gathering. in his
leisure moments, from all parts OF the world,
specimens OF the mollusk family, until now
their collection embraces upward Of 5000
species and comprises nearly $1,000 spoci-
mems, none Of which are duplicates, but all
possessing distinct characteristics Of thor
own. Tho nucleus of this immense collec-
ton was formed by making trips to various
localities and personally gathering the shells
peculiar to this coast, and then by an ex-
tensive system OF correspondence with sci
entinc collectors and museums throughout
the globe a plan OF exchange was inaugur-
ated by which all parts OF the world were
laid under contribution. In the collection
are embraced specimens OF all degrees Of
pecuniary value, some raging as high as 800
for a single shell, which, in some cases. TO
the eye OF the ordinary observer would not
begin to compare in point Of beauty
with many worth not more than
% or 80 cents at most Besides, there are
some to which no money value can DO
attached, so exceedingly rare and unique are
they, and the possession Of which has led tho
lucky finder to become the object of the
deepest envy to his follow conchologists.
One Of the ~strangest and most interesting
shells in this museum Is called the Volvia
musica, and Is found in the West Indies. At
n first glance at the outside Of the she'll 1t
seems to be covered with the lines and notes
OF a piece OF muhlc iMutntp lub ndlltl anu
indeed, the markings of nature are most
wonderful in their resemblance 10 a musical
design laid on in beautiful colors Another
decidedly singular specimen is a spiral she'll
upward Of seven inches in length by two or
three inches in greatest diameter, which,
with other species Of its genus-Achatina-
Is a true climber and makes trips in search
Of food up certain kinds OF trees found in its
native lan~d-Zanzjbar.
Still another peculiar specimen Is a very
long and slender 6ivalvo shell, not much
moro than half an inch in diameter by four
or five inches in length, which, by the cor
rosivo action OF n peculiar acid which it
secrotes, Is enabled to eat or bore n hole
into the hardest rock and there take up It's
residence until removed by the ruthless
hand and hammer Of the concholo-m maniac.
This variety is found ON our own coast and
in his vicinity. Perhaps one of the most
beautiful, though not especially rare, of the
many shells seen is tho celebrated orange
cowry. This shell, as its name implies,
whom held up 10 the light, presents a won
perfully translucent appearance, with the
most delicate standings OF orange and pink
that can be imagined. Good specimens Of
this shell have sold at from $40 to 500
apiece.
Some idea of the extent Of this collection,
us well as the immense variety which nature
affords in this department of her realm, may
be gathered from the fact that it embraces
upward Of 800 species OF snails alone, com
prising 10, 900 specimens Il is utterly inn
possible to conceive without actual inspec-
ton OF the magnihed and seemingly endless
variety Of combinations OF shape and color
here shown. Many OF the specimens are so
fragile as 30 neccssitate the most careful
handling and require TO be kept packed in
cotton to avoid damage. Some possess tho
transparency and apparent consistency OF a
sheet OF tissue paper, and are marked in fig
ures and stripes of a delicacy impossible to
DO initiated by the most skillful han But
the limits of n newspaper article are all too
narrow to admit Of any extended descrip-
ton of the many rare and curious objects
to be seen and facts to be learned in connec-
ton with this interesting collection Of mol
lusks.
In considering this museum one fact not
commonly known should be borne in mind.
To the genuine conchologist the shells to be
gathered on the beach, cast up by the waves,
and devoid Of their one-time occupants, IRE
Of comparatively small value and are not
sought for. To possess any interest to them
they must be "live' shells, and a minute
knowledge of their habits Is necessary in
order 10 know just where to search for any
desired specimen Once obtained, these are
treated to a hot-water bath, the occupant
removed, and then, without a particle Of
polish or other preparation, the shells are
rendy for the museum, the design, Of course,
being 10 retain the shells as nearly in their
natural state rs possible. On many speci-
mems the natural polish Of the surface far
exceeds any that could be produced by any
artificial process