A Guide to Worldwide Cowries

“I RECENTLY PURCHASED THE 2d REVISED EDITION OF THAT BOOK, AT LUTRY (SHELL SHOW, JULY 02, 2000), AS TO RELY ON IT FOR MY INVESTIGATIONS AND COLLECTION. IN REGARD I HAVE A COMPLAIN AND SUGGESTIONS, WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR REACTION. 1 --COMPLAIN ERRORS IN THE LAYOUT/COMPOSITION/EDITING SHOULD HAVE LED TO AT LEAST AN ERRATUM AND EXCUSES TO THE BUYERS, OR EVEN OTHER SIGNALS... TO BE LISTEN BY THE BUYERS. INSTEAD OF, BUYERS WERE PRESENTED WITH A WELL WRAPPED BOOK (YOU CAN'T THEN CHECK UP THE BOOK ; BUYER ARE TRUSTFUL IN YOU), WITHOUT ANY NOTICE. I DIDN'T WENT THROUGH AN IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF THE BOOK BUT CAN GIVE TWO EXEMPLES OF ERRORS : page 528, Tesselata is missing under the Genus LURIA , is that OK ? pages 216 to 218 are dedicated to (top of pages) EROSARIA instead of STAPHILAEA 2 -- SUGGESTIONS That book sounds good : a huge amount of works and the willingness of skillful and patient persons. Nevertheless, a synoptic table is missing for a quick review of the species classification /search of a species: subfamily/genus/species + page n° where to find it. Yes, the book gives access to such a review, but partial only : one should dip forth and back into the book to succeed. This suggestion is made since that book is meant as a guide to taxa and an aid for collectors and scientists. I do not share the point of view exposed in the introduction (page 5), about the motives to not include an extensive treatment of the animal characteristics : be practical, bearing in mind the users, and there are sufficient possibilities (material, technical, computers, sofwear) to be able to add significant information to what is available (we passer over ten years since Burgess commited his book), at least to better explore what is still in the dark. 3 -- I am also quite disturbed by : (i) numerous new-born/aknowledged species, subspecies, varieties, forms --that is also many shiftings-- and, in the meantime, (ii) under "synonyms", a lot of such splitting cases were removed ; always with arguments I must agree. But it is questionning, and I don't feel satisfayed with the result. One should be very careful with the promoting of new species (too much relying on the shell), pay more attention to the ecological factor and the vast parts of the oceans yet "missing on record" with their potential of inhabitants and links towards our records... Regards, C. L.”

If I were you I would not worry too much about negative comments on your revised book. Some comments may be OK and constructive (put them in the next revision!). Many people are very very envious and only know how to criticize. They never do anything but easily talk talk talk. E.P.

Felix, Do not pay any attention to those naysayers about your new book. I think it is great and very helpful. Keep up the good work. We need experts like you . I have the other cowrie books, but I use yours the most because of the varitey of specimens , it makes it far easier to use for identification. Your Name : D. R.

Your book is outstanding. Some critique is important but some get carried away with minutia in their comments. You have done an outstanding job of putting together the best work on cowries ever. Thanks for all your time and effort and for sharing your expertise with us amateurs. P.N.

Complaining is always easy, doing the job always difficult ! You' ve done the job and it' s a wonderfull job . All other comments have ,for me ,no interest. Congratulations again felix and when you will thinck to the third edition ( of course it will arrive ) remember that a huge majority have a great admiration and respect for this trumendous amount of work . JRL

It needs perseverance, expertise and dedication to produce a book like yours. Everybody who buys it must do so because it is one of the best if not THE best cowry book available.I am sure that you know better than anyone else that it is not perfect, and the job is never finished. It will be a lifetime job...and to go one long after you will be gone I suppose. And I do not know of anything perfect in this world. Take a road map, it is very imperfect due to its scale but everyone is using it happily. The perfect one would be ona 1:1 scale...would that be practicable ? If other experts have positive criticism, call it suggestions, why do they not join hands with you in makeing an even better 3rd edition. It is easier to criticise or make suggestions than to do a job, because that takes time, creativity, expertise and courage. Thank you so much for giving the Cowry lovers the best book available and for your constant endeavours to get it better. Sincerely. RVDB

I just wanted to take a moment of your time and tell you how much I enjoy your book “A Guide To Worldwide Cowries” second edition. The web site is awesome, very helpful, and extremely informative. The generosity you have shown by sharing your knowledge of cowires is a wonderful contribution for all shell collectors. I am so very thankful and appreciative! LS.

By the way, i am in agreement with most hopefully, when i say that i think your guide is fabulous, and C.L. is wrong about tesselata missing. Maybe he should write his own damn book.(you may quote me if you like:) ) RB

Unless my eyes deceive me, the title of the book is “A GUIDE to ...”. This is very appropriate as the author(s) make no claims to infallibility. On the contrary, a reading of the PREFACE and INTRODUCTION and OVERVIEW acknowledges that and further solicits corrections, additional information and comments in order to further our knowledge. In this regard, it has been my experience that reasoned dialogue is much more effective in furthering that effort than emotional diatribes. Furthermore, the comprehensive and up-to-date data contained in the Guide provides the collectors/students of cypraea an unparalleled opportunity to decide individually how they wish to organize their efforts and to form their own opinions on various species, subspecies and forms. What could be better? Lastly, this is obviously a work of passion, rather than commerce. I feel deeply grateful for all the effort that has gone into this work. JDD