38 INTRODUCTION. 
to it, it will be seen that the laborers in this branch of 
Natural History have been numerous, and that a respect- 
able amount of materials has been accumulated. No 
attempt has hitherto been made to combine these into 
a work upon American Conchology, or upon the partic- 
ular branch of it which is now presented. In bringing 
together these materials for the first time, it would be 
interesting and proper to give some history of them and 
of their authors, and thus to trace the science from its 
first dawnings in this country to the present time ; but 
there are circumstances which render it inexpedient to 
do so. It is only within a few years that any considera- 
ble attention has been given to such subjects, and con- 
sequently, these publications are so recent, that with 
few exceptions, their authors are yet upon the stage, 
and have not yet passed the active period of fife. Such 
an account woidd almost necessarily partake of a critical 
character, and would therefore place the author in the 
position of a self-appointed judge of the labors of his 
contemporaries and friends, an office which he would 
not willingly assume, and for which he is but ill qualified. 
There are, however, two names, both connected with the 
rise of Natural History in the United States, and both 
having exercised an influence hi its promotion, but with 
far different results in usefulness to science, and in honor 
to themselves, about winch it is necessary to make some 
remarks, and to which the objections above indicated do 
not apply. These are the names of Thomas Sat, and 
of Coxstantine Schmaltz Rafixesqtje. The latter 
