LNTKODUCTION. ^q 



indeed, not an American, but for a quarter of a ccnturj 

 a resident in the United States. 



Mr. Sat, a native of Philadelphia, the son of a phy- 

 sician, but himself for some years a merchant, seems to 

 have been the earliest scientific naturalist, of the modem 

 school, which the country has produced. He possessed 

 a well-balanced mind, powers of accm-ate observation and 

 discruninating perception, and a facility of expressing his 

 thoughts in a brief and condensed style. He was trained 

 to habits of industry and perseverance ; his temper was 

 mild and equable ; and liis manners were so modest and 

 retirmg as to excite remark. His acquii-ements as a 

 naturahst were due to his private studies alone ; for at 

 the period when Ms character was foruung, there were 

 few or none engaged in kindred pursuits, — no associa- 

 tions of naturalists, in the bosom of which he could find 

 sympathy and support, and few libraries to which he 

 could resort for knowledge and assistance. The gi-eat 

 zoological names which have illustrated the nineteenth 

 century had not then appeared, or, in consequence of 

 the disturbed relations of this government with European 

 powers, their works were mostly unknown here. But, 

 notwithstanding the deficiency of his means and oppor- 

 tunities, he possessed himself of the learning and accom- 

 phshments of the day, in a much greater degree than 

 could have been expected in his position ; and was ready 

 and prepared, at the commencement of the new career 

 of science on which his country entered soon after the 

 termination of the European wars, to make that advance 



