INTRODUCTION. 



He who would become, versed in the marine Tertiary geology 

 and paleontology of this country must first of all have a thorough 

 understanding of Conrad's FOSSIL SHELLS OP THE TERTIARY FOR- 

 MATIONS OP NORTH AMERICA : it marks the beginning of system- 

 atic research into this period of our continent's history. 



This work, published in parts, in small editions and subjected 

 to unusual vicissitudes, is extant now, after the lapse of sixty 

 years, only as " partial " or " fragmentary " copies.* Such 

 scarcity and incompleteness in a work that cannot be ignored, 

 render its very existence a sorious impediment to research into 

 the subject of which it treats. Therefore it is believed that the 

 present volume, including as it does all that Conrad ever pub- 

 lished under the above mentioned title, will be welcomed by 

 students of Tertiary geology. 



Herein the pagination, lining, italicizing, punctuation, orthog- 

 raphy, and capitalization correspond throughout with Conrad's 

 editions though the exact form and size of typo and page could 

 not well be duplicated. For convenience in reference, a new 

 paging has been given this volume as a whole ; the numbers 

 used are placed at the bottom of each page and inclosed in 

 brackets to avoid confusion with the old numbering. Moreover, 

 an index to genera and species has been appended. 



The following brief and somewhat miscellaneous notes relating 

 to dates of publication and other important matters of this work, 

 are here inserted insomuch as it is believed thoy will bo found 

 convenient for reference : V 



" Aug. 27th, 1833. Mr. Lea road his paper on Tertiary For- 

 mation of Alabama ' before the Academy of Natural 

 Sciences, describing 202 species. 



*Tho following copies, all Incomplete, huvu boon examined by the present author. -That 

 formerly boloiitfliiK to F. It. Meek, and W. 11 hall's, botli now at the Smithsonian Institution; 

 thut formerly owned by C. A. White, now W. It. (Uurk's, Johns Hopkins Univ. ; tho two at the 

 WiiKner Kre.'- hint. Si-i., uiul the oiut itt the 1'hila Ao. Nar. So., Philadelphia, i'a. ; the one ut tho 

 MUM Nut. Hint., N. V. : that at tho Mus. Comp. /o !., Harvard Univ. ; (Jubli'n old coiy, now 

 owned by B. A. Mniih, TuHcaloosa, Ala. ; Holmes' old copy now owned by T, H. Aldriuh, Ilir- 



A low notes have been obtained from four inoru. copies, via., that ow nod by Oupt. Votfdos, that 



. 



ut the ('ill. Au. Nat. Ho.. and (lit) two owned by do QrutfOnO, 1'alormo, Mlolly. 

 dipt. Vourdes .-lutes that t here Is a copy ill the library of the Blllott 800., 

 IB ulso known that Otto Meyer UUB a oopy in New V ork City. 



Charleston, 8. C. It 



