Tita,

Welcome to Conch-L! And yes, I agree with you. Even when finding a
common shell such as money cowrie, I have to continually have to remind
myself to leave it alone and that I have enough of them...it's just
gorgeous. Shell collecting is addicting. Beware!

Perhaps this is obvious but when it comes to shell books with listed
values, the prices are often outdated.

Cheers,
Bob Abela
Tamuning, Guam
http://www.guamcell.net/~babela/bobsguamshells

 -----Original Message-----
From: Conchologists of America List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Tita Massie
Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2003 12:39 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Help


Thanks, Kay.  I will look for Johnstone's book.   I just got the Golden
Field Guide and one called 'Shells and Shelling' by Sandra Romashko that
seems quite good - even has the $ value of the shells, I guess for those
who buy shells.  Personally, I find the value of a shell is in the joy I
have when I find it - and that's priceless.
I do still teach - biology.  I no longer teach public school (middle and
high school) but adjunct at the College of Charleston (biology for
non-majors, but maybe some future shellers?)
Tita

----- Original Message -----
From: Kay Peterson
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Sunday, September 07, 2003 9:55 PM
Subject: Re: Help


My motto is:  "Never chunk a shell book!"  You may find that you use
some less as you find others you prefer.  You'll like the Golden Field
Guide Seashells of North America, by R.T. Abbott.  The Sandstrom
illustrations are great, and you will have scientific names (as well as
common names.)

The Audubon book's major drawback for me was the lack of the Author's
name (the person who gave it its scientific name.)  I guess that such
details are not important for birders.  But the finger-index was fun for
the kids to use to quickly find a similar-shaped shell.

If you should run across a copy of Kathleen Yerger Johnstone's book,
Collecting Seashells, you will be interested in her chapter on learning
Latin names.  It's a good book to add to your library, too.

Do you still teach?  What grades?

Have fun!

Kay Peterson