INTRODUCTORY NOTICE. 



The Mollusca, or Shells and Shell-fish as they are usually called, although 

 several have no shells or calcareous coverings, present many objects of interest 

 to the naturalist, and are not unimportant in their various uses to man. 



The history of American Conchology must be necessarily brief. The earliest 

 notices are derived from the labors of Garden, Michaux, and more especially 

 of Bosc. Within our own times, we are chiefly indebted to Thomas Say, who 

 occupies in this department the same eminence which he attained in every 

 other branch of Natural History to which he directed his attention. The 

 names of Lea and of Totten, of Adams, Couthouy, Haldeman, Barnes, Binney 

 and Gould, will always be associated in the history of the progress of American 

 Conchology. To the last named naturalist, it will be seen that I have been 

 largely indebted for much valuable information derived from his History of the 

 Invertebrata of Massachusetts. To the excellent cabinet of shells belonging 

 to Dr. J. C. Jay of New- York, I have been chiefly indebted for opportunities 

 of comparing our own with foreign species. My obligations to Dr. B. W. Budd, 

 for many friendly services and important communications, will be found in the 

 course of the work. 



In giving a succinct account of such of the Mollusca of the State of New- 

 York as have fallen under my notice, I have also endeavored to render it more 

 extensively useful, by furnishing the student in every part of the Republic with 

 increased facilities, by directing his attention to the species already described 

 in many scattering volumes beyond his reach. In the progress of the work, I 

 have been obliged to correct and revise so frequently what had been previously 

 written, that at the conclusion I cannot dare to hope I have attained what I 

 [Fauna — Part 5.] b 



