Zoological Writings of Rafinesque. 285 



larly beg for complete sets of the natural orders and families of 

 orchideons, ombelliferons, liliaceous, grasses, mosses, lichens, ma- 

 rine plants, Jabiated, leguminous, &c., and for specimens, or the 



characters of all the new genera 1 beg the cooperation of all 



my friends and correspondents; inviting them to communicate 

 every particular, even of the most trifling nature, or obsolete, re- 

 lating to the properties, qualities, uses, employments, &.C., of all 

 plants and animals ; provided they are unpublished, else it will 

 be sufficient to let me know (or send me if rare) in which works 

 or pamphlets they are already published." 



These extracts show that our author was preparing to get as 

 many materials from every quarter as possible, evidently with 

 the intention of getting new genera, species, and observations, 

 from the labors of others. That he had an especial interest in 

 getting assistance from all parts, is evident from the avidity with 

 which he attacked every subject.* 



There are two prizes offered on the cover of the Atlantic Jour- 

 nal, which place the intention of these requests in a still stronger 

 light. They are, " Fif^y dollars in bpoks for the best memoir 

 on the effects on the earth and mankind of the geological flood 

 or floods, all over the globe as far as known ; including all ac- 

 coitnts loithout exception, preserved by history or traditions, among 

 all the nations of the earth. Twenty Jive dollars in botanical 

 books and herbariums, to the author of the best synopsis of all 

 nsiiiv e phenogamous plants of the U. S. as far as known ; provi- 

 ded that not a single one already described or published in Amer- 

 ica or Europe be omitted ! !" 



The absurdity of these prizes is sufficient to make one doubt the 

 sanity of the man ; for who could be induced to write a synopsis 

 of American plants for such a reward ! Judging from the appear- 

 ance of the specimens, his method of preserving plants was more 

 simple than any recommended in books, as it consisted in placing 



* Thus among his MSS. lost by shipwreck are the following, most of which he 

 intended to re-write ! A greater piece of presumption than this list indicates, can- 

 not be cited, when we consider the talents and the means of the man. His indus- 

 trious habits would never have compensated for his extreme carelessness and want 

 of method, and his poverty prevented him from obtaining the requisite works, his 

 library containing scarcely any thing modern. — Critiques dcs genres, <^c. An in- 

 vestigation of all generic names of plants and animals. — Amenities. Nearly one 

 hundred tracts on Zoology and Botany. — Fauna Sicula, with nearly four thousand 

 species. — Genera of Birds, with many new genera. — Synopsis of all known speciea 

 of quadrupeds and fishes. 



