32 History of Conchology in the United States. 



Mr. D. Jackson Steward of New York, has also an extensive 

 cabinet. It embraces that of the late Mr. Lounsbury, and the 

 interesting collections, especially of marine species, made for 

 Mr. Steward in Trinidad, Barbadoes, &c, by Mr. Theodore Gill. 



It would much transcend the limits of this article to enumer- 

 ate the numerous excellent conchologists and collectors, who 

 though writing but little or nothing themselves, have yet, by 

 furnishing materiel to our authors, and by the distribution of 

 specimens, much aided the progress of the science. Among 

 these are men of high attainments, such as the late Dr. K. E. 

 Griffiths, P. H. Nicklin, and John S. Phillips of Philadelphia, Dr. 

 Lewis of Mohawk, N. Y., Mr. Theodore Gill, Dr. E. E. Showal- 

 ter, Uniontown, Ala., Bishop Elliot, of Georgia, Edmund Ra- 

 venel and Lewis R. Gibbes of Charleston, S. C., Thomas Nuttall, 

 &c. The works of Messrs. Lea, Binney, Conrad, Stimpson, and 

 others, contain man)' acknowledgments of specimens sent and 

 information rendered by these and numerous other persons in 

 all parts of the Union. 



The present condition and prospects of conchological science 

 in America are very encouraging, and its pursuit offers a fine 

 field for the investigation of our young naturalists. The largest 

 part of this continent is still unexplored for Mollusca, and rich 

 discoveries will continue for years to reward the labor of inves- 

 tigators. 



It may be asked — what benefit to mankind has resulted from 

 the pursuit of this-science ? "We might perhaps answer, that its 

 great merit consists in affording an innocent recreation to the 

 mind of man. But there is surely a nobler object to be gained 

 by the study of conchology. God, who created man in His own 

 image, has also placed around us a host of living things, each 

 after its own kind, an exemplification of divine wisdom, in the 

 admirable adaptation of means to ends, as shown in their organ- 

 ism and mode of life ; and who shall say that it is profitless for 

 man to examine these animals, endeavor to indicate among them 

 groups approaching each other in various degrees of relation- 

 ship, and to learn, as far as we may know it, the plan of the 

 Creator in their formation. As God has not considered these 

 animals unworthy His attention, surely they are worthy of our 

 earnest study. 



Besides this ethical view of our science we must not forget to 

 what a wonderful degree Conchology has become the handmaid 

 of Geology. Through every geological horizon, from the ear- 

 liest dawn of life to the deposits now forming, the palaeontolo- 

 gist is of necessity a conchologist. If certain organic forms merit 

 the distinction of 'Medals of Creation' — Mollusca, from their 

 abundance in all geological ages, may be called its current coin. 



