Kingdom of the Seashell

Describes the evolution, behavior, and economic and aesthetic significance of numerous mollusk species

From the director of the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum on Sanibel Island off the coast of Florida comes an information-packed guide to the collecting of shells, their place in cultural and economic history, and the animal life they contain. Tucker enlivens his book with accounts of rare creatures, such as venomous cones that contain tiny creature whose harpoon-shaped proboscises are laden with poison. Lovely color and black-and-white photographs accompany the scientific text on mollusk development. Information is provided on starting a collection, looking for mollusks as a beachcomber and a diver, storing and labeling shells, and consulting professional museum collections. Denise Perry Donavin