History of Conchology in the United States. 29 



and also separately, a "Supplement to the Terrestrial Mollusks," 

 forming vol. iv of that work in 8vo, pp. 207, with six colored 

 plates. This volume, which exhibits great ability and an inti- 

 mate knowledge of his subject, placed its author at once in the 

 foremost rank of American conchologists. It not only describes 

 all the more recent species, but also includes a thorough revision 

 of those contained in his father's work, giving additional synony- 

 my and localities. 



Mr. Binney has published a number of papers in the Proceed- 

 ings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, 1857-61, under the 

 general title of " Notes on American Land Shells." These pa- 

 pers contain descriptions of many new species, and a complete 

 synonymy of our Helices. He has prepared for the Smithsonian 

 Institution lists of the Terrestrial and Fluviatile Gasteropoda of 

 North America. He also edited, recently, in an able manner, a 

 new and splendid edition of the conchological writings of Say. 

 See ante, page 163. 



Mr. Binney is at present engaged in an extensive work for the 

 Smithsonian Institution. He is preparing for them descriptions 

 of our Terrestrial and Fluviatile Gasteropoda, for cheap publi- 

 cation and free distribution. He has also just completed a work 

 on the Synonymy of American Shells, forming a very large 

 paper — the MSS. extending to several hundred pages. 



The publication of these works will mark a new era in the 

 progress of Conchology among us, as it is believed that their 

 distribution will very much enlarge the number of students of 

 the science ; the scarcity and high cost of works of reference 

 having hitherto proved a discouraging barrier to persons of lim- 

 ited means. Now, however, the Smithsonian Institution intends 

 providing the proper works of reference, free of cost. 



Mr. Binney is very methodical in his writings — which, without 

 any pretension, reveal the utmost deliberation and profound 

 study on the part of the author. He possesses a nice discrimina- 

 tion of specific values, and is exceedingly well informed in the 

 general history and bibliography of the science. 



Philip P. Carpenter, of Warrington, England, well known 

 by his comprehensive Report to the British Association, on our 

 West Coast Mollusca, prepared a list of those shells for the Smith- 

 sonian Institution. It has also published, recently, a volume of 

 " Lectures on Mollusca," by this gentleman. 



A. D. Brown, of Princeton, N. J., has just published in the 

 Proceedings of the Academy of Nat. Sciences, descriptions of 

 new species of Helix. Mr. Brown is a close student of the Ter- 

 restrial Mollusca, and will doubtless become one of our leading 

 conchologists. 



We have thus noticed the principal writers on shells, in Amer- 

 ica, to the present time. We must regret that want of space has 

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