102 Tin: XAUTiLus. 



perplexing confusion of nomenclature. Hundreds of synonyms en- 

 cumber the literature on the subject, disputes as to specific and 

 varietal rank and even whether or not some inotfending little shell 

 belongs to this or that genus or family, confuse the student and al- 

 most compel him to throw up his studies in despair. 



The very thought of these disputes almost deferred the writer 

 from making a beginning, but as faint heart never won fair lady, we 

 have plunged into the work, and with the help of our colleagues 

 throughout America will do our best to successfully carry it on. 

 And out of this determination has grown another idea, viz. : the settle- 

 ment of the nomenclature of American shells, by means of the 

 publication, from time to time, as the shells are received, of carefully 

 compiled catalogues of the different species arranged into genera and 

 families and the elimination of the hundreds of useless synonyms 

 now to be met with in " shell literature." 



As everything must have a beginning, we have concluded to start 

 the work with this number of the Nautilt:s, and taking the first 

 family that is already represented in the Collection by all the United 

 States species, -^the Haliotidis — give a catalogue of the species, 

 synonym}^ etc., connected with it. 



As a sample of the method of procedure, we will state that out of 

 diffidence concerning our own knowledge, we have consulted such 

 specialists as Dr. J. G. Cooper, G. W. Lichtenthaler, H. A. Pilsbry, 

 ]Mrs. JI. Burton "Williamson, Professor Josiah Keep, 11. E. C. Stearns 

 and Henry Hemphill and after comparing the information gathered 

 from them, have passed judgment, and commited our own views to 

 the kind consideration of the readers of the Nautilus, inviting 

 their friendly criticism, and promising them that we are sufficiently 

 humble in spirit to cheerfully correct any eri'ors in our lists which 

 may be pointed out to us. 



With this long preamble we present the Haliotidae, and from 

 time to time as the collection grows and it contains the material to 

 make comparisons, we will continue to print other lists of the same 

 character. 



FA:\nLY HALIOTID.E. 



The latest monograph of the family is contained in Pilsbry's con- 

 tinuation of Tryon's Manual of Conchology, Vol. XII, p. 72, etc. 

 The ft\mily contains but one genus — Haliotis. 



