62 INTRODUCTION. 



cies have been named anew, varieties have been erected 

 into species, and localities which have been carefully 

 explored for twenty years, and whose productions are 

 as well known as those of the neighborhood of London, 

 have been considered as fertile of novelties as a 

 newly discovered land. The errors which have thus 

 arisen are so nutnerous, that it would be impossible, 

 and useless if it were possible, to notice them all ; 

 but the writings of MM. Rossmassler, Menke, and Des 

 Moulins, where treating of American species, afford in- 

 stances sufficient to confirm the remark. This iimorance 

 of American authorities appears to have continued to the 

 present time. M. Pfeiffer, in his Symholce, pubHshed 

 at Cassel in 1841 and 1842, gives descriptions of about 

 twenty of Mr. Say's species, some of them, as he 

 seems to suppose, for the first time. They were origin- 

 ally described in this country twenty-five years ago, and 

 of nearly all of them several other descriptions, with 

 figures, have been pubHshed from time to time. This 

 evil is hkely to increase, until a systematic effort is made 

 on the part of American naturalists to correct it. The 

 remedy is, to rely more upon themselves, and less 

 upon the savans of other countries ; to assume that 

 they are as likely to understand the things before and 

 around them as those who are so far removed ; and 

 to claun the same notice and respect for what is done 

 in the United States, as is accorded to the labors of nat- 

 urahsts in Europe. If these volumes should aid in excit- 

 ing tliis spirit they -will not have been entirely useless. 



