Notice o/Bntish Nahiralists. 163 



genus, (Balamis,) and followed Pennant in some cases in pref- 



erence. 



1 ne only other work ot which he appears to have been the 

 mthor, is entitled," The Sportsman's Dictioiiary, or Tractate on 

 Gil)} powder j'^^ which we have never seen. His collection of 



London. 



deposited in the British Museum 



In 1S04, appeared the " Natural History of British shells, 

 inchidmg figures and descriptions of all the species hitherto dis- 

 coveied in Great Britain^ systematically arranged in the Linn- 

 (Can manner^ with scientific and geriei^al observations on each, by 

 E. Donovan, in five octavo volumes. This is a beautiful work, 

 and was among the first of the kind which was issued in period- 

 ical numbers. The figures are the size of life, well engraved on 

 copper, and faithfully colored. The letter press is, however, of 

 comparatively small value ; and the volumes are chiefly referred 

 to at present, for the plates. He describes in all, two hundred 

 and nineteen species.* 



Shortly after, in 1808, there followed by the same author, 

 ^' The Natural History of British fishes, including scientific and 

 general descriptions of the most interesting species, ^c.'' This 

 work is likewise in five octavo volumes ; and as he appears to 

 have limited it to that number, he excluded many of the com- 

 moner species. The figures are one hundred and ten in all, whereas 

 it is ascertained that two hmdred and twenty-six exist in the 

 British seas and rivers. The work is beautifully executed, and 

 the same remarks as are made on the above may apply to this. 



* Tlie researches of Loa, Conrad, Say, Totten, Morton, Vannxem, Binney, Cou- 

 thouy, Kirtland, Ward, Hiidreth and others, in relation to our recent and fossil 

 conchology, have disclosed most interesting treasures, and we highly appreciate 

 their labors : while it is still much to be desired, that Bome general work on the 

 conchology of liiis country were published ; were it but a list of what lias already 

 been described, with references to the periodical works in which the descriptions 

 may be found. As It is, the student is without a guide to American conchol- 

 ogy. A great variety of transactions and journals must be searched through, to 

 collect the scattered fragments, and as this is in the power of very few, an insur- 

 mountable barrier is thrown in the way of farther improvement. Upwards of 600 

 Bpecies, have, we believe, been described as belonging to the United States ; the 

 number might, we well know, be greatly increased ; but from want of an acquaint- 

 ance with what has hitherto been noted, every student is at a loss whether to con- 

 fiider the species he may find as new, or at present known. Would not such 

 work be patronized ? 



