Constantine Samuel Rafinesq^le. 9 



whether he had much enjoyment in the association with 

 other youths, whether these facts had not great influ 

 ence in determining his attitude toward social events 

 in after years can all be but matter of conjecture. In 

 recounting the facts connected with his early life Raf- 

 inesque omits very many important things which we 

 should enjoy knowing, but enough is told us to explain 

 the system or rather the lack of system in his studies. 

 Perhaps this will explain the apparent want of those 

 closer habits of application which characterize the best 

 work of men of science. The record simply discloses 

 that he essayed every branch of natural science, read 

 oinnivorously, made copious notes, formed ideas which 

 were often vague and never afterward matured, and 

 always had before him the travels and work of the great 

 men of his own and preceding decades; it appears, too, 

 that he fondly imagined himself about to become, or 

 that he had already become, a great traveler. It is 

 really believed that this period of great mental activity 

 and developing powers of observation, for such it cer 

 tainly was, had he been firmly guided by some master 

 hand, would have given the world one of its greatest 

 naturalists. But the lack of coordination of powers led 

 to habits, both of thought and literary effort, that had 

 a serious influence, in after years, on his life and work. 



