An Account of a Book

V. An Account of a Book entituled, Jo. Ph. Breynij, M. D. &c. Dissertatio Physica de Polythalamis, nova Testaceorum classe, &c. Gedani, 1732, 4to, or a Physical Dissertation of a new Class of Shells, which he styles Polythalamiums, &c. with fourteen Copper Plates. By Richard-Middleton Massey, M. D. F. R. S. and Hon. F. C. Med. Lond. In the first Chapter he discourses of Shells in general, and premises a Method of placing them in different Classes, which he reduces to eight, viz. Tubulus, Cochlidium, Polythalamium, Lepas, Concha, Conchoides, Balanus, and Echinus. The second Chapter treats of Polythalamiums, which he defines a Tabulous Shell divided into several Cavities, conical, straight, or regularly Spiral, with a Pipe, or Canal, passing through each Cavity. This again he subdivides into four, viz. 1. Orthoceras, 2. Lituus, 3. Ammonia, and 4. Nautilus. The third Chapter treats of the Nautilus and Nautilites, which last he takes to be a Stone form'd under Ground in the Cavities of the Nautilus. The fourth Chapter is of the Ammonia and Ammonites. The fifth is of the Lituus (which he names from some Resemblance it has to the Lituus, or Croser, which which the ancient Roman Augurs used in their Ceremonies) and the Lituites or Stone form'd in its Cavities under-ground. The Shell is yet unknown, but of the Stone he has given a curious Draught, as it appears in a Marble which was brought from Oelandt, an Island of Sweden. The sixth Chapter is of the Orthoceras and Orthoceratites, or stony Concretion in its Cavity. Of these last Stones he produces nine different Species, which he distinguishes chiefly by the Pipe, or Canal, which runs through them. In his Note concerning the Belemnites Prussici, of which he describes two Species, he takes notice that the stony Cone, or Nucleus of it, is never found articulate, as in those that come from Sweden, and some other Countries. At the latter end of his Book he proposes a methodical Distribution of the Echini and Echinites, or Stones that are generated under Ground in the Cavities of the Echini. The whole Method he proposes for ranging Shells in general, may be seen in the following Table. Tabula Tabula Methodica TESTACEORUM. Tubulosae Monothalamia Tubulus Cochlidium Polythalamia Polythalamium Testa Vasculosa Simplex Concha Composita Conchoidea Balanus Echinus Lepas Concha Pholas Concha Anatfera Balanus Echinometra Echinoconus Echinocorys Echinanthos Echinospatagus Echinobrissus Echinodiscus Dentalia Entalia Solen-univalvis —unde Belemnites Nautilus tenuis Auris marina Nerita Cochlea Buccinum Murex Cassis * Cylindrum * Voluta * Porcellana * Nautilus Ammonia Lituus Orthocerata Patella Chama Mytulus Tellus Pinna Ostrea Pecten Anomia