PROSPECTUS. 



CONTUIBUTIONS TO THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, 



IN TEN VOLS. QUARTO. 



BY LOUIS AGASSIZ. 



To be published by Messrs. Little, Broicn <j" Co., of Boston, Mass. 



FOR more than eight years, I have now beou in this country, devoting my attention chiefly to the study of those classes of 

 the Animal Kingdom vrhich American naturalists have, thus far, not fully investigated. The amount of materials I 

 have already brought together is so great, that the time seems to me to have come when I should proceed with the publicatiou 

 of the more important results of these investigations. Desirous of contributing my share to the rapid progress natural sciences 

 are making at present in this part of the world, I wish to present my work to my fellow-labourers in this field in the form 

 most easily accessible to them. It has therefore appeared to me desirable to bring it out in a series of independent volumes. 

 This plan will, moreover, leave me entirely free to present my contributions to science with such minute details, and to such 

 an extent, as I shall deem necessary to the fullest illustration of my subject. 



Without entering into a detailed account of the contc nts of this work, it may be sufficient here to .state, that it will 

 contain the results of my embryological investigations, embracing about sixty monographs, from all the classes of animals, 

 especially selected among those best known as characteristic of this continent; also descriptions of a great number of new 

 genera and species, accompanied with accurate figures, and such anatomical details as may contribute to illustrate their natural 

 afiinities and their internal structure. 



I shall not extend my publications to classes already illustrated by others, but limit myself to offering such additions 

 to the Natural History of the States I have visited as may constitute real contributions to the advancement of our knowledge. 



From a careful estimate of the materials I have now on hand, I am satisfied I shall be able to include the most 

 valuable part of my investigations in ten ([uarto volumes ; each volume containing about three hundred pages, with at least 

 twenty plates. I therefore now open a subscription for .such a work, in ten volumes, quarto, in cloth binding, at the price 

 of twelve dollars each volume, payabloon delivery. Each volume shall be complete in itself, containing one or several inde- 

 pendent monographs ; so that, if any unforeseen dilEculties should interrupt the publication of the whole, the paris already 

 published shall not remain imperfect. As far as possible, I shall always select first such of my papers as contain the 

 largest amount of new matter, or may contribute most directly to the advancement of science. Having devoted the greatest 

 part of my time to the investigation of the embryonic growth of our animal.^, I .shall make a beginning with the embryology 

 of our turtles, several of which I have traced through all their changes. I trust this monograph will afford our medical 

 students a fair opportunity of making themselves familiar with the modern results of one branch of physiology, which has 

 the most direct bearing upon their science, and for which the different species of the family of turtles found in every part of 

 the Uuitod States will afford them a better opportunity even than the artificial breeding of hens' eggs. Moreover, the extent 

 of my embryological researches, covering, as they do, all the classes of the animal kingdom, will furnish, I trust, a new foun- 

 dation for a bettor appreciation of tlie true affinities, and a more natural cla.ssifioatiou, of animals. I foresee the possibility, 

 upon this basis, of determining, with considerable precision, the relative rank of all the orders of every class of animals, and 

 of furnishing a more reliable standard of comparison between the extinct types of past geological ages and the animals now 

 living upon earth. 



I shall have frequent opportunities of acknowledging the many favors I have received from naturalists of all parts of 

 the country, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Coast, and from the shores of our great Lakes to those of the (iulf of Mexico ; 

 and also of mentioning the many specimens which have been furnished to me from every part of the Union, and of which I 

 shall publi.sh descriptions. 



It is a matter of course, that a work like this, illustrated by a large number of plates, cannot be published without a 

 liberal and extensive patronage. As it has been prepared solely with the view of throwing additional light upon the wonder- 

 ful diversity of the animal creation of this continent, its structure, and its general relation to that of the other parts of the 

 world, without the slightest hope of compensation for my.scif, I tru.st I may meet with the a])probation of those conversant 

 with the importjuice of the .subject, and receive suflicicut encouragement from the enlightened part of the community to 

 enable me to bring to a successful close an undertidiing upon which I enter now, and in this form, for no other purpose than 

 to contribute my share towards increasing the love of nature among us. 



As the printing of this work cannot begin until a sufficient guarantee is secured for the publication of the whole, I 

 take the liberty of making an appeal to the lovers of science to send to the publishcre their own subscriptions, and such 

 others as they may procure, as .soon as convenient, and, if possible, before the first of August next, that I may be able to 

 proceed at once with a work which, relating to animals pecidiar to America, I wish to make, in every respect, an American 

 contribution to science, fostered and supported by llie patronage of the community at large. 



To render this work more generally acccssitde, it is intended to publisii at the rate of about one volume a year. Such 

 an arrangement will bring the whole within reach of every student of Natural History, and of every friend of the progress 

 of science in the country. The periods of publication, however, cannot be more definitely fixed, because the required 

 uniformity of execution of tlie jilates, to which particular attention will bo paid, will demand that they be all intrusted to 

 the same artist, who has drawn on stone most of the plates of my former works. 



CAMimiufiK, May28,1855. L. ^VGr^SSIZ. 



