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Text: Richard Henry Stoddard, “Appendix: Poe as Conchologist,” Select Works of Edgar Allan Poe, 1880, pp. clxxi-clxxvi

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APPENDIX.

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POE AS A CONCHOLOGIST.

[Title and Collation of POE’S Book, “First Edition.”]

COLLATION: Title as above, 1 leaf, on the verso, “Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1839, by EDGAR A. POE, in the clerk’s office for the eastern district of Pennsylvania,” and at the bottom of the page: “Printed by Haswell, Barrington, and Haswell.” Then follows the “Preface,” occupying 1 leaf, and signed “E. A. P.” Next, INTRODUCTION.” occupying 2 leaves; then follow 12 lithographic plates, comprising 215 specimens of shells, succeeded by “EXPLANATION OF THE PARTS OF SHELLS,” which occupies pp. 9 to 20, inclusive. “CLASSIFICATION,” pp. 21 to 24. “CONCHOLOGY,” pp. 25 to 146. “GLOSSARY,” pp. 147 to 162. “INDEX” and “ERRATA,” pp. 153 to 156. inclusive.

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“PREFACE.

“The term ‘Malacology,’‘ an abbreviation of ‘Malacoxoology,’ (sic) from the Greek [[Greek text]], an animal, and [[Greek text]], a discourse, was first employed by the French naturalist De [page clxxii:] Blainville to designate an important division of Natural History, in which the leading feature of the animals discussed was the softness of the flesh, or, to speak with greater accuracy, of the general envelop. This division comprehends not only the mollusca, but also the testacea of Aristotle and of Pliny, and, of course, had reference to molluscous animals in general, of which the greater portion have shells.

“A treatise concerning the shells, exclusively, of this greater portion, is termed, in accordance with general usage, a Treatise upon Conchology or Conchyliology; although the word is somewhat improperly applied, as the Greek conchylion, from which it is derived, embraces in its signification both the animal and shell. Ostracology would have been more definite.

“The common works upon this subject, however, will appear to every person of science very essentially defective, inasmuch as the relations of the animal and shell, with their dependence upon each other, is a radically important consideration in the examination of either. Neither, in the attempt to obviate this difficulty, is a work upon Malacology at large necessarily included. Shells, it is true, form, and for many obvious reasons, will continue to form, the subject of chief interest, whether with regard to the school or the cabinet. There is no good reason, why a book upon Conchology (using the common term) may not be malacological as far as it proceeds.

“In this view of the subject the present little work is offered to the public. Beyond the ruling feature — that of giving an anatomical account of each animal, together with a description of the shell which it inhabits, the Author has aimed at little more than accuracy and simplicity, as far as the latter quality can be thought consistent with the rigid exactions of science.

“No attention has been given to .the mere history of our subject; it is conceived that any disquisition on this head would more properly appertain to works of ultimate research, than to one whose sole intention is to make the pupil acquainted, in as tangible a form as possible, with results. To afford, at a cheap rate, a concise, yet sufficiently comprehensive, and especially a well illustrated school-book, has been the principal design.

“In conclusion, the author has only to acknowledge his great indebtedness to the valuable public labors, as well as private [page clxxiii:] assistance of Mr. Isaac Lea, of Philadelphia. To Mr. Thomas Wyatt, and his late excellent Manual of Conchology, he is also under many obligations. No better work, perhaps, could be’ put into the hands of the student as a secondary text-book. Its beautiful and perfectly well-coloured illustrations afford an aid in the collection of a cabinet scarcely to be met with elsewhere.

“E. A. P.”

[Title and Collation of POE’S Book, “Second Edition.”]

COLLATION: Title as above, 1 leaf, on the verso, “Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1839, by EDGAR A. POE, in the clerk’s office for the eastern district of Pennsylvania,” and at the bottom of the page; “Printed by Haswell, Barrington, and Haswell.” Then follows the “preface To This First Edition,” 1 leaf, occupying one page and a half, and signed “E. A. P.” The remaining half of the page contains the following

“PREFACE

TO THE SECOND EDITION.

“In issuing a second edition of this ‘Conchology’ in so very brief a period since the publication of the first large impression, the author has little more to do than to express the high pleasure with which he has seen his labors well received. The success of the work has been decided; and the entire design has been accomplished in its general introduction into schools.

“Many important alterations and additions are now made; [page clxxiv:] errors of the press carefully corrected; many more recently discovered American species added; and the work, upon the whole, is rendered more worthy the public approbation.

“E. A. P.”

This “PREFACE” is succeeded by the “INTRODUCTION,” 2 leaves, ending on the verso of p. 7. Then follows, “EXPLANATION OF THE PARTS OP SHELLS,” occupying pp. 9 to 20, inclusive. Next, “CLASSIFICATION,” pp. 21 to 24, followed by 12 lithographic PLATES, containing 215 specimens of shells. Text, “CONCHOLOGY,” pp. 25 to 156, inclusive. “GLOSSARY,” pp. 157 to 162. “INDEX,” pp. 163 to 166, inclusive.

[Title and Collation of BROWN’S Book.]

COLLATION: Title as above, 1 leaf, on the verso, at the bottom of the page, “GLASGOW: Fullarton and Co., Printers, Villafleld.” Dedication “To Sir Thomas Dick Lauder,” dated “Edinburgh, May, 1833,” 1 leaf, verso blank. “CONTENTS 1 leaf, ending on verso, top of the page, followed by 19 Plates of Shells, engraved on Steel, numbered L to XIX. “PREFACE” 1 leaf, ending on verso, bottom of the page numbered X. Then follows the introductory matter, headed, “THE CONCHOLOGIST’S TEXT-BOOK.” “introductory,” occupying pp. 11 to27, including the “EXPLANATIONS OF THE PARTS OF SHELLS.” Text, pp. 28 to 170, inclusive. “Glossary,” pp. 171 to 176. “index,”pp. 177 to 180, inclusive. “THE END,” and at the bottom of the page, “FULLARTON AND CO., PRINTERS, VILLAFIELD.”

BROWN’S “Introduction.”

CONCHOLOGY OR TESTACEOLOGY, is that part of Natural History which treats of animals with a testaceous covering or shell.

POE’S “Introduction.”

The term “Conchology,” in its legitimate usage, is applied to that department of Natural History which has reference to animals with testaceous covering or shells.

Conchology has been sometimes confounded with Crustaceology, but the slightest attention to the subject will at once discover the obvious difference [page clxxv:] which exists between these two classes. Nature has not only well defined them by the composition of the shells, but also by a manifest difference in the construction of the animals which inhabit them. Testaceous shells are composed of carbonate of lime, combined with a small portion of gelatinous matter: while those of the Crustacea are composed of phosphate of lime, along with the animal matter. Testaceous shells are, in general, permanent coverings for the inhabitants, and the animal is of a soft and simple nature, without bones of any kind; and attached to its domicile by a certain adhesive prinoiple, possessed by some of the muscles. On the other hand, shells of crustaceous animals are cast, and renewed annually. The animals are of a fibrous texture, with articulated limbs, and covered, as it were, in a coat of mail. Besides, the shells of crustaceous animals are produced all at once; those of the Testacea, evidently, are formed by the animal gradually adding to them either annually nr at least periodically; as may be distinctly seen in the common muscle: and all shells, strictly so called, are composed of layers.

It is not unfrequently compounded (sic, misprint for confounded, corrected in Poe’s 2d Edit.) with Crustaceology, but the distinction is obvious and [page clxxv:] radical, lying not more in the composition of the animal’s habitation than in the organization of the animal itself. This latter, in the Crustacea, is of a fibrous nature, and has articulated limbs; the shell, strictly adapted to the members, covers the creature like a coat of mail, is produced at one elaboration, is cast or thrown aside periodically, and, again at one elaboration, renewed; it is, moreover, composed of the animal matter with phosphate of limp. In the Testacea, on the contrary, the inhabitant is of a simple and soft texture, without bones, and is attached to its domicile by a certain adhesive muscular force; this domicile, too, is a permanent one, and is increased, from time to time, by gradual adhesions on the part of the tenant; while the entire shell, which is distributed in layers, or strata, is a combination of carbonate of lime, with a very small portion of gelatinous matter.

The study of Conchology has, [page clxxvi:] by many, been considered as trifling, and tending to no useful purpose; but such an opinion could only emanate from persons who were ignorant of its great importance in a geological point of view, as fossil shells, coral, and wood are the only true remaining MEDALS OF CREATION — as Bergman elegantly expresses himself. “By these medals,” says Parkinson, “we are taught, that innumerable beings have lived, of which not one of the same kind does any longer exist, — that immense beds, composed of the spoils of these animals, extending for many miles under ground, are met with in many parts of the globe, — that enormous chains of mountains, which seem to load the surface of the earth, are vast monuments, in which these remains of former ages are entombed, — that though lying thus crushed together, in a rude and confused mass, they are hourly suffering these changes, by which, after thousands of years, they become the chief constituent parts of gems; the limestone, which forms the humble cottage of the peasant; or the marble, which adorns the splendid palace of the prince.” — BROWN’S Preface, p. ix.

Writers have not been wanting [page clxxvi:] to decry this study as frivolous or inessential; .. but it is, beyond all doubt, in a geological point of view, that Conchology offers the most interest to the student.

“By this,” says Parkinson, “we are taught that innumerable beings have lived, of which not one of the same kind does any longer exist — that immense beds composed of the spoils of these animals, extending many miles underground, are met with in many parts of the globe — that enormous chains of mountains, which seem to load the surface of the earth, are vast monuments, in which these remains of former ages are entombed — that, though lying thus crushed together, in a rude and confused mass, they are hourly suffering those changes, by which, after thousands of years, they become the chief constituent parts of gems, the limestone which forms the humble cottage of the peasant, or the marble which adorns the splendid palace of the prince.” Fossils, wood, coral, and shells, are, indeed, as Bergman has very forcibly remarked, the only true remaining “medals of Creation.” — POE’S Introduction, pages 6, 7, and 8.

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BROWN’S

“Explanation of the Parts of Shells.”

MULTIVALVE.

“VALVES OR CHITONS. — Chitons in general have eight transverse, broad, but very short valves, placed on the back of the animal, and inserted at their sides into a marginal tough ligament. Plate 1. fig. 1, AAA.

POE’S

“Explanation of the Parts of Shells.”

MULTIVALVE.

... “Chitons have eight transverse, broad, but very short valves, placed on the back of the animal, and inserted at their sides into a marginal tough ligament. Plate 1. fig. 1, A A A.

“Operculum consists of four small valves on the summit of the lepas, which shut up the superior orifice; it is in a certain degree stationary, and different from the operculum of univalve shells, which will hereafter be described. Plate i. fig. 1, A. Fig. 9, represents a profile view of the operculum removed from its place, A the front valves, B the back valves. Pig. 10, a front view of the operculum.

“Operculum consists of four small valves on the summit of the lepas, which shut up the superior orifice; it is in a certain degree stationary, and different from the operculum of univalve shells, which will hereafter be described. Plate 1. fig. 1, A. Fig. 9, represents a profile view of the operculum removed from its place, A the front valves, B the back valves. Fig. 10, a front view of the operculum.

“Base, is that part of the shell by which it is fixed to rocks and other bodies. Plate 1. fig. 1 and 2, B B B.’ — H is a piece of stone to which the base is fixed, and G a piece of wood to which the shells of this section are generally attached.

“Base, is that part of the shell by which it is fixed to rocks and other bodies. Plate 1. fig. 1 and 2, B B B. — H is a piece of stone to which the base is fixed, and G a piece of wood to which the shells of this section are generally attached.

“Ligament, is the membranous or tendinous substance by which the valves or parts of [page clxxviii:] the shell are attached. Some multivalve shells are connected by the parts of one valve locking into another. Plate 1. fig. 2, D D D. The ligaments vary considerably in their texture, being scaly, prickly, smooth, or punctated.

“Ligament, is the membranous or tendinous substance by which the valves or parts of [page clxxviii:] the shell ure attached. Some multivalve shells are connected, by the parts of one valve locking into another. Plate 1. fig. 2, D D D. The ligaments vary considerably in their texture, being scaly, prickly, smooth, or punctated.

“Ridges, are certain convexities in many of the Lepas tribe, sometimes longitudinal, and sometimes transverse. Plate 1. fig. 1, F F.

“Peduncle. A sort of stem by which the shells of the second division of Lepas are attached to wood, etc. It is a membranaceous substance, similar to a bladder, but materially thinner, and filled with a liquid which evidently affords nourishment to the animal. Plate 1. fig. 2, c c, the peduncle is usually affixed to a piece of wood as represented at G.” — BROWN’S Introduction, pp. 15 and 16.

“Peduncle. A sort of stem by which the shells of the Anatifera are attached to wood, etc. It is a membranaceous substance, similar to a bladder but materially thinner, and filled with a liquid which evidently affords nourishment to the animal. Plate 1. fig. 2, C C, the peduncle is usually affixed to a piece of wood as represented at G.” — POE’S Introduction, p. 9.

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Notes:

None.

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[S:0 - SWEAP, 1880] - Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore - A Poe Bookshelf - Appendix: Poe as Conchologist (R. H. Stoddard, 1880)