Sorry Barbara, it sounds like Belva beat Meg to the punch.  A quote
from Dr. W.S. Strode (Nautilus May Volume 12 No. 1, 1898:8), pioneer
Illinois conchologist....

"In two hours' time we had found over fifty of the multiplicatus, one
good U. capax and one M. confragosa four inches long.  The doctor's
bird dog Belva, partook of our enthusiasm and manifested a desire to
also search for shells.  After a little showing she understood how it
was done, and it was amusing, indeed to see her with head submerged
hunting a shell and then after securing it the air of importance
assumed as she waddled ashore with it.  We hope, the coming season,
to make an expert collector of her."

I want to get me one of them "bird dogs"

Kevin

>From:    Barbara Jouvernaux <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: Pets and shells
>
>These stories of pets and shells have had me smiling lately. I thought I
>would tell you about my Springer Spaniel "Meg" who is perhaps the world's
>first canine conchologist. In the 9 months I have had her she has "stolen"
>shells from boxes in the garage on numerous occasions. Never once has she
>damaged them - she always hides them under the blanket in her basket and
>seems very put out when I reclaim them!
>
--
Kevin S. Cummings
Illinois Natural History Survey
607 E. Peabody Drive
Champaign, IL 61820
[log in to unmask]
http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cbd/collections/mollusk.html

Join the Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society Today!
http://ellipse.inhs.uiuc.edu/fmcs/