198 PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



Two parts of his "American Entomology" were published in Philadel- 

 phia before he went to New Harmony, and the third part was also completed 

 and soon afterwards published. 



Little or no time, however, was lost on account of his moving. New 

 contributions to entomological science began to appear soon, and continued 

 until his death. During these years Say described more than a thousand new 

 species of insects, some 400 of which are mentioned specifically as having 

 been found in Indiana. Doubtless many of the great number which he re- 

 corded simply "Inhabits the United States," were actually found by him in 

 the vicinity of New Harmony. 



Many of Say's entomological papers were printed at New Harmony, and 

 bear the imprint, "New Harmony, Indiana. Printed at the School Press." 



But Say was more than an entomologist. Besides being the foremost 

 American of his time in that field of zoological science, he was also the fore- 

 most American conchologist of his time. 



Perhaps the most pretentious single work undertaken by Say was his 

 "American Conchology, or Descriptions of the Shells of North America, 

 illustrated by colored figures from original drawings executed from nature." 

 "The object of this work," said the author, "is to fix the species of our mol- 

 luscous animals by accurate delineations in their ai)propriate colours, so that 

 they may be readily recognized even by those who have not extensive cab- 

 inets for comparison." 



It was Say's intention to elucidate the moUusks of all North America. 

 His plan was to introduce in the first part or number of the publication the 

 species found in the United States so that those subscribers who might wish 

 to limit their inquiries or expenditure to the shells of the Union might be 

 accommodated. 



The work was issued in i)arts or numbers and was sold by subscription. 

 The price [)er number was .SL.W, the subscril)er liaving the privilege of with- 

 drawing his name afU'V having received and paid for four numbers, should he 

 desire to do so. Th(! publishers, liowever, pledged themselves to reduce the 

 price of future luimbers to one dollar, "after the subscription list shall justify 

 a reasonable hope of a reimbursement of the actual expenditures.'^ 



I have not been able to determine that this very desirable situation was 

 ever realized; ai)parently it never was, as I find that No. 5 was advertised at 

 the usual price, $1.50. 



The plates in Say's American (\)nchology arc from drawings by 

 Mrs. Say, are all excellent in every way and faithfully portray the species 

 represented. They far surpass in artistic merit and scientific accuracy 

 many of the ilhistralions found in modern zoological i)ul)licalions. Mrs. 

 Say was Miss Lucy JVIay Sistare, evidently an accomplished and talented 

 woman of unusual artistic ability and her assistance was invaluable to her 

 husband in his scientific work. 



Although only about a dozen species are definitely credited to Indiana 



