Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-03-01
A MYRIAD OF SHELLS.
GAZING AT THE BEAUTIES OF A
CoNcHoLoGIcAI COLLECTION.
Specimens of the Nollusk Family from
all Parts of the WorId-Al Degrees
of Pecuniary Value Represented
Marvellous Creations.


TSan Francisco Chronicle
Shells from Alaska and shells from South
America; shells from China ami shells from
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 dredgeS and shells from hun
dreds Of feet above sea level; shells that
climb tree and shells that bore holes in the
rocks: shells of most beautiful shape and
color AMI shells rpaSsiug IA ugilneSS the
direst creations of nightmare; shells of all
sizes, from scarcely larger than pms head
to one OF two feet in diameter: shells worth
500 apiece. and shells 100 of which
would not be worth 81; shells of
every imagina5 5le shape and color, and
shells of many uninmagInable shapeS-these
and many others 10 the number of thousands
are what a reporter saw IN an upper room OF
an unpretenti5us dwelling in one of the
auieter portions of Oakland one day recently.
OF all the manlas for collecting by which
mankind is affected, perhaps one Of the most
seldom met with is that for concholo..y, and
while museums of coins, STAMPS books,
plants. birds, antiquities of all kinds, etc,
are not rare. a really fire collection of shells
is something infrequently met with. Indeed,
besides the one under discussion, there is it
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 speci-
mems, none of which are duplicates, but all
possessing distinct characteristics Of their
own. The nucleus Of this immense collec-
tion was formed by making trips 10 various
localities aud personally gathering the shells
peculiar 70 this coast, and then by an ex-
tensive system of correspondence with sci
entifc collectors and museums throughout
the globe plan of exchange was lnaugur-
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
25 OF 50 cents at most Besides, there are
some TO which no money value can be
attached, SO exceedingly rare and unique are
they and the possession of which has led the
lucky finder TO become the object of the
deepest envy to his fellow cOnchologiStS.
One of the strangeSt and most interesting
shells in this museum Is callei the No!via
musica, ami is found in the West Indies. At
a first glance at the outside of the shell it
seems to be covered with the lines and notes
of a piece of music (whence the name), and,
indeed, the markings of nature are most
wonderful in their resemblance tO a musical
design laid on in beautiful co!orS Another
decidedly singular specimen l. spiral shell
upward of seven inches in length by two or
three inches in greatest diameter, which,
with other species of its Senus-Achatina-
is a true climber and makes trips in search
of food up certain kinds Of trees found in its
native land-ZanZlbar.
Still another peculiar specimen is a very
long and slender bivalve shell, not much
more than half an inch in diameter by four
or five inches in length, which, by the cor
rosive action of a peculiar acid which it
secretes, is enabled to eat or bore hole
into the hardest rock and there take up its
residence until removed by the ruthless
hand and hammer Of the concholo-maniac.
This variety is found on our own coast and
in this vicinity. Perhaps one Of the most
beautiful, though not especially rare, of the
many shells seen is the celebrated orange
cowry This shell. as its name implies,
when bed up 10 the light, presents won
perfully translucent appearance, with the
most delicate shadings of orange and pink
that can be imagined. Good specimens of
this shell have sold at from $40 10 500
apiece.
Some idea of the extent of this collection,
as 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 2 500 species OF snailS alone, COM
prising 10 00O specimens 1t is utterly im-
possible to conceive without actual inspec-
aon of the mGgnified and seemingly endless
variety of com moinatiJns OF shape and color
here shown Many of the specimens are so
fragile as to necesSitate the most careful
handling and require to be kept packed in
cotton to avoid damage. Some possess the
Transparency and apparent consistency of a
sheet of tissue paper, and are marked in tig-
ures and stripes of a delicacy impossible to
be initiated by the most sSiilful hand But
the limits of a 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-
tion 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, are
of comparatively small value and are not
sought for. To possess any interest TO them
they must be live shells, and minute
knowledge of their habits is necessary in
order to 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
ready for the museum, the design, OF course,
being to retain the shells as nearly in their
natural state as possible. On many speci-
mems the natural polish of the surface far
exceeds any that could De produced by any
artificial process