1 8 The Life and Writings of 



uralist, was stationed for some time in Sicily, and with 

 him Rafinesque had the most intimate and cordial coop 

 eration. They collected and studied and wrote together. 

 On one occasion, when the vicissitudes of business pre 

 vented personal attention on the part of Rafinesque, 

 Swainson supervised the printing, at Messina, of one 

 of his friend s books, &quot;The Index of Sicilian Ichthy 

 ology &quot;. During these years, too, the habit of mind 

 engendered by indiscriminate reading and delving into 

 every thing natural bore its proper fruit; for a time he 

 worked at volcanic rocks and eruptions, anon found 

 recreation and employment in tracing the remains of 

 ancient settlements, hunted plants, drew and described 

 them, collected fish, secured large numbers of shells, 

 assisted Swainson in hunting insects, worked on the 

 reptiles, and withal kept up a voluminous correspond 

 ence with other naturalists in France, in America, and 

 in Italy. In truth these ten years were very busy 

 ones, an estimate of the work of which is offered in its 

 proper place. His experiences with the natives of his 

 chosen home do not appear to have been of the most 

 pleasant character. In his description of Sicily occurs 

 almost the only epigrammatic writing I have ever noted 

 in Rafinesque s works; says he, &quot;she offers ... a fruitful 

 soil, a delightful climate, excellent productions, perfidious 

 men, deceitful women,&quot; 



