que” 
Zoological Writings of Rafinesque. 281 
Rafinesque was a most industrious man, and passed a great 
deal of work through his hands, relating to almost every subject. 
His life was made up of a series of vicissitudes, and _ his efforts 
Were retarded by poverty, and the consequent necessity of making 
aliving. His greatest fault asa naturalist was not so much, per- 
haps, the shortness and resulting obscurity of his characters, as his 
passion for ‘new species,’ and the recklessness with which he pro- 
posed them, without sufficiently examining the works of his pre- 
decessors. The author who pursues such a course, treats his fel- 
low-laborers with disrespect, and prevents his works from being 
as much consulted as they may deserve ; for there is nothing to 
compel other authors to wade through unsatisfactory descriptions, 
which must, in many instances, be referred to established species. 
Rafinesque was very credulous, which led him to believe the ex- 
aggerated accounts of the vulgar; and to write essays and found 
‘species,’ upon grounds which should be beneath the notice of 
any naturalist. : 
In giving a list of his zoological works, it is more with a view 
to point them out for the use of those who follow him in the va- 
rious branches upon which he touched, than to write a critique 
upon the whole, as this would be impossible ; and nothing would 
be gained by it, as each department must eventually be consulted 
by those interested. We notice them as nearly as we are able, in 
chronological order, and believe the omissions will be but few. 
1810. Caratteri di aleuni nuovi generi ¢ nuove specie di ana- 
mali, §c., 8vo. pp. 105. "This work is principally devoted to fish, 
illustrated by many rude figures, upon seventeen quarto copper- 
plates. It isa good work. Thirty pages, and three plates, are 
devoted to botany. 
Indice D’Iitiologia, §*c., Svo. pp. 70, and two plates. This 
Work contains about three hundred and ninety species of Sicilian 
fishes, (one hundred and ninety of which are marked as new,) 
and twenty eight new genera. It is noticed at length by Swain- 
son, in Fishes, éc. Vol. 1, pp. 60-3 of the Cabinet Cyclopedia. 
Mr. S., who spent several years in Sicily, states that Rafinesque 
anticipated many of the genera of Cuvier, and thinks most of his 
_ Species will yet be brought to light, he having identified many of 
them himself. 
“tett. Description of two new genera of Crustacea, and a new 
Species of Atlantic fish. Sent to the Lin. Soc. 
Vol. xx, No, 2.—Jan.-March, 1842. 36 
