540 Mr. Lea on the Naiades. 



among all the labours of this kind, both for extent and nicety of 

 discrimination." 



The decision thus made ex-cathedra, will probably, as I shall 

 take occasion to show, not be acceded to by practical concholo- 

 gists. The kind of pre-eminence due to Mr. Lea, will perhaps 

 more clearly appear when it has been shown with what sort of 

 a spirit Mr. Lea and his eulogist have displayed their concholo- 

 gical information. But first I must go a little back. 



In the early part of this year, Mr. C, A. Poulson published the 

 translation of " a Monograph of the fluviatile bivalve Shells of 

 the River Ohio," which has been already noticed in your Jour- 

 nal (Feb. 1832.) In the dedication to William Hembel, Esq. Mr. 

 Poulson says, 



" In publicly addressing to your notice a translation of Prof. Rafinesque's 

 Monograph of the bivalve Shells of the river Ohio and its tributaries, it 

 seems proper to remark, that this paper was originally published at Brussels, 

 in September, 1820, in 'les Annalcs Generales des Sciences Physiques.' 

 Extra copies were transmitted to the author in this country, who distributed 

 them among individuals, and the libraries belonging to scientific institutions 

 in this city and elsewhere. It is therefore a curious circumstance in the 

 history of American Conchology, that this singular evidence of the author's 

 acumen, zeal and industry, should thus liave existed for more than eleven 

 years, while but four of the numerous species (above sixty) discovered and 

 described by him, are known by his names, either in the works of American 

 authors, or in our collections." 



It is to be remembered, that Mr. Lea's papers were all pub- 

 lished some time previous to the publication of Mr. Poulson's 

 translation. We have seen that this gentleman considered Mr. 

 Lea's silence respecting Rafinesque's discoveries made in 1820, as 

 a curious circumstance, and now in April, 1832, some months sub- 

 sequent to the appearance of Mr. Poulson's translation, we find 

 Mr. Isaac Lea's eulogist stating — '* The first persons who occupied 

 themselves with the scientific examination of this family (Unio) 

 were Messrs. Barnes and Say." The name of Rafincsque, even all 

 notice of his Monograph and Mr. Poulson's translation of it, are 

 liere carefully excluded. I ask, quo animo, Mr. Isaac Lea and 

 his eulogist have done this? Is this intelligent, is this honest, is 

 this what is due to science and the public ? Is this a dubious 

 way to obscure the reputation of another, or a sure way to pile 

 loads of darkness upon your own? 



The true order, as to time, of the labours of our conchologists 



