A ee: Neat ius. 
VOL. Il. MAY, 1889. No. 1. 
INTRODUCTION. 
HE publishers of Tue Nauritus feel that no explanation of 
their object in offering this journal to the scientific public is 
necessary. ‘The need of an American publication devoted especially 
to the interests of Conchologists is felt throughout the country. 
One of the greatest difficulties which the student of science has to 
overcome is found in the scattered and fragmentary character of 
scientific literature. The “Proceedings” or “ Transactions” of a 
hundred societies, and the pages of innumerable journals must be 
searched through before one can be certain that a given fact or 
observation has or has not been recorded. 
The simplest way to better this condition of things will be to 
limit by some means the number of publications in which a certain 
subject is likely to be treated upon; and this is most easily done by 
establishing journals devoted to special branches of science. It is 
the aim of THE Nautrvus to afford such a medium for all who are 
interested in studying the Mollusca; and to this end the co-operation 
of all friends of science is solicited. 
All subscribers to the Conchologists’ Exchange (of which this paper 
is the successor) will be credited on the books of THe Naurrius 
with the amounts due them upon the suspension of that journal. 
All subscribers will be allowed one insertion of twenty-five words in 
the Exchange Column, free of charge. 
