INTRODUCTORY NOTICE, 
Tue Moxwusca, or Shells and Shell-fish as they are usually called, although 
several have no shells or calcareous coverings, present many objects of interest 
to the naturalist, and are not unimportant in their various uses to man. 
The history of American Conchology must be necessarily brief. The earliest 
notices are derived from the labors of Garden, Michaux, and more especially 
of Bosc. Within our own times, we are chiefly indebted to Thomas Say, who 
occupies in this department the same eminence which he attained in every 
other branch of Natural History to which he directed his attention. The 
names of Lea and of 'Totten, of Adams, Couthouy, Haldeman, Barnes, Binney 
and Gould, will always be associated in the history of the progress of American 
Conchology. To the last named naturalist, it will be seen that I have been 
largely indebted for much valuable information derived from his History of the 
Invertebrata of Massachusetts. 'To the excellent cabinet of shells belonging 
to Dr. J. C. Jay of New-York, I have been chiefly indebted for opportunities 
of comparing our own with foreign species. My obligations to Dr. B. W. Budd, 
for many friendly services and important communications, will be found in the 
course of the work. 
In giving a succinct account of such of the Mollusca of the State of New- 
York as have fallen under my notice, I have also endeavored to render it more 
extensively useful, by furnishing the student in every part of the Republic with 
increased facilities, by directing his attention to the species already described 
in many scattering volumes beyond his reach. In the progress of the work, I 
have been obliged to correct and revise so frequently what had been previously 
written, that at the conclusion I cannot dare to hope I have attained what I 
[Fauna— Part 5.] B 
