Thanks for the advice, I'm still kind of new at shell collecting and I have very
few books so far.  Can anyone tell me where one could find Gary Rosenburg's book
and "Millards' Update on Vaughns Book".  I had an idea that Rosenburg's was on the
net but I couldn't find it.  As for the other, what is it's complete name and
reference? If it's not available in print or online maybe I can do a library
search. Also, would the Millard update be sufficient or would I also need Vaughn's
book.
 
Charles Sturm wrote:
 
> Nora,
>   In the discussion concerning the genera one part of your question was
> not answered; is there a book that covers all these changes.  Alas, the
> answer is no.  There are some books that will help, but there is no
> current up-to-date reference that has all the changes or ever will.  If I
> published such a bok, as soon as it came off the press changes in
> nomenclature will have occured that would be at odds with what I wrote.
> This is the nature of taxonomic and systematic research.
>   I try not to get too hung up on the names.  I tend to use a generic name
> that helps me put a specimen in my collection where I can find it.  For
> families that I have greater knowledge about I may be more up to date on
> the currently acceptable manes, for other families I may use only one
> genus such as Cypraea.  I do not study this family in great enough detail
> that I am up on the subgenera-genera debates and have not labeled these
> shells with any genus name other than Cypraea.  Use what works for you.
> More important than the correct name is precise locality data.
>  Some books to reference are Rosenberg's book mentioned erlier and
> Millard's update of K. Vaughn's book on classification.  If the Treatise
> of Invertebrate Paleontology ever get the updates on the Mollusca
> published, they will be of tremendous assistances.
>   Until then, enjoy the shells and don't get too hung up on placing
> everything in a neat tiny box.
>
> Charlie
> ******************************************************************************
> Charlie Sturm, Jr
> Research Associate - Section of Invertebrate Zoology
>                      Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, PA
> Assistant Professor - Family Medicine
>
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