Zoological Writings of Rajinesque. 281 



Rafinesque was a most industrious man, and passed a great 

 deal of work through his hands, relating to almost every subject. 

 His life was made up of a series of vicissitudes, and his efforts 

 were retarded by poverty, and the consequent necessity of making 

 a living. His greatest fault as a naturalist viras not so much, per- 

 haps, the shortness and resulting obscurity of his characters, as his 

 passion for ' new species,' and the recklessness with which he pro- 

 posed them, without sufficiently examining the works of his pre- 

 decessors. The author who pursues such a course, treats his fel- 

 low-laborers with disrespect, and prevents his works from being 

 as much consulted as they may deserve ; for there is nothing to 

 compel other authors to wade through unsatisfactory descriptions, 

 which must, in many instances, be referred to established species. 

 Rafinesque was very credulous, which led him to believe the ex- 

 aggerated accounts of the vulgar ; and to write essays and found 

 ' species,' upon grounds which should be beneath the notice of 

 any naturalist. 



In giving a list of his zoological works, it is more with a view 

 to point them out for the use of those who follow him in the va- 

 rious branches upon which he touched, than to write a critique 

 upon the whole, as this would be impossible ; and nothing would 

 be gained by it, as each department must eventually be consulted 

 by those interested. We notice them as nearly as we are able, in 

 chronological order, and believe the omissions will be but few. 



1810. Caratteri di alcuni nuovi generi e nuove specie di ana- 

 malt, Sfc, 8vo. pp. 105. This work is principally devoted to fish, 

 illustrated by many rude figures, upon seventeen quarto copper- 

 plates. It is a good work. Thirty pages, and three plates, are 

 devoted to botany. 



Indice D'' Ittiologia, Sfc, 8vo. pp. 70, and two plates. This 

 work contains about three hundred and ninety species of Sicilian 

 fishes, (one hundred and ninety of which are marked as new,) 

 and twenty eight new genera. It is noticed at length by Swain- 

 son, in Fishes^ &c. Vol. I, pp. 60-3 of the Cabinet Cyclopedia. 

 Mr. S., who spent several years in Sicily, states that Rafinesque 

 anticipated many of the genera of Cuvier, and thinks most of his 

 species will yet be brought to light, he having identified many of 

 them himself. 



1811. Description of two new genera of C7'iistacea, and a new 

 species of Atlantic fish. Sent to the Lin. Soc. 



Vol. xLii, No. 2.— Jan.-March, 1842. 36 



