.formerly of Selma, has taken up the . subject and afforded 

 ibbdh valuably information. At Tuscumbia, L. B. Thorn- 

 ton, Esq., arid' Mr. B. Pybas have made many useful dis- 

 ; cp\ cries. ;A.t Tukcalkosa, Dr. Eugene A. Smith, State 

 Geologist of Aiatia'ma, has recently made additions to the 

 subject. There are, no doubt, portions of the State that 

 have not been explored, and very likely unknown species 

 remain to be brought to light. The shells of the Chatta- 

 hoochee River, and of streams in the eastern part of Ala- 

 bama were very diligently studied prior to 1861, by Dr. 

 Hugh M. Neisler, Mr. Garrett Hallenbeck and Wm. Ges- 

 ner, at Columbus, Ga. The late Et. Rev. Stephen Elliott, 

 of Savannah, Ga., also materially aided in contributions to 

 our knowledge of the shells of Alabama, Georgia and 

 other Southern States. A study of the shells of Alabama 

 necessarily involves a portion of the fauna of Georgia and 

 other States on the borders of Alabama. To isolate them 

 in cases in which there is a doubt as to the extent of Geo- 

 graphical Distribution is sometimes difficult. Species may 

 have been credited to Alabama that may hereafter not be 

 verified. Unquestionably a few species that were referred 

 to Georgia at the time they were described, will hereafter 

 also be found in Alabama, though not so recorded here. 



The fascinating character of the study of this branch of 

 Natural History will assuredly bring new collectors into 

 the field, and bring to light many new facts which at some 

 future time will make a revision of the present list neces- 

 sary. 



JAMES LEWIS. 



Mohawk, N. Y., October 24th, 1876. 



