Dear Nora,
     Ditto....I totally agree...especially about the contributors who
are so kind to the newbies.
         Jennifer (in Phoenix, where it's another Perfect day)
 
 
>From: NORA BRYAN <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Conchologists of America List <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Periostraca and Opercula
>Date: Sun, 28 Mar 1999 16:24:12 -0700
>
>As a landlocked shell collector I've rarely seen living shells and so,
I
>have a few questions that maybe some of you experienced shell
collectors
>and malacologists can answer:
>About Periostraca - what function does the periostracum have, and do
all
>gastropods and bivalves have one?.  I suspect that cones and cowries
>never do.
>About Opercula - these little doors are clearly for defense and
possibly
>also to prevent dehydration in the case of exposure.  Any other uses?
>In families where the operculum is present, is it present in all
>species? For example, do all trochids and turbinids have opercula?
>And Happy birthday to Conch-L!  What an excellent resource for
beginners
>like me.  I feel like I have a few E-friends now!  I know that some
>members get impatient with the same "newbie" questions every so often
as
>more beginners find the site, but I'd really like to express my
>gratitude to people like Tom Eichhorst, Paul Monfils, Gary Rosenberg,
>Andrew Rindsberg and numerous others (I don't mean to leave anyone out
-
>there have been so many people) who always try and help us beginners
>out.  It is expensive to get all the books one needs all at once, even
>if one knew which ones those are.  I am starting to get my books, and
>using the net and libraries also, so hopefully eventually I'll be able
>to contribute more and ask questions less.  Thanks again for a great
>site!
 
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