THE WEST AMEEICAN SCIENTIST. 85 



EMINENT NATURALISTS. I. 



By Prof. Josiah Keep. 



The name of a species is very closely connected with that of its discoverer, or 

 at least, with that of the one who first gave it a name and published the same to 

 the scientific worl I. 



His own name or initials are henceforth universally appended to the name of 

 the species, and while this is done primarily to prevent mistakes, and to show whose 

 original description is to be relied upon as authentic, still these initials carry with 

 them to the thoughtful naturalist, many interesting memories and inspiring 

 suggestions. 



The name no longer simply designates a particular species, beautiful and inter- 

 esting though that species may be. It has a human element as well, and comes 

 close to the life and heart of the student. 



It may tell of struggles and privations in the pursuit of knowledge; it may 

 speak of indefatigable labors and boundles: courage; it may come as a note of 

 warning against disobeying the laws of life, even in the desire to accomplish great 

 things for science; it may provoke a laugh, as the oddities of its owner are recalled; 

 or, best of all, it may cause the heart to glow with a new feeling of manliness, as 

 one recollects the nobility and pure devotion of some revered teacher and writer. 



The study of nature is an ennobling occupation when viewed from either of 

 three stand points. First: The objects of nature are pure aud beautiful themselves. 

 Second: They point us to the Creator, and manifest forth his goodness, wisdom 

 and power. Third: They refer us to men who have lived and labored an I searched 

 and studied; noble men, men of rich lives and exemplary character, men whom we 

 would do well to know and think about, and whose virtuous and manly lives we 

 might well strive to imitate. 



In order to feel an interest in a person we must first know something about 

 him, and to promote an interest in eminent naturalists it is proposed to briefly 

 present a few facts concerning some of the men whose initials are appended to the 

 names of many of our species, particularly of the mollusks of our Pacific Coast. 

 The writer makes no claims to originality, but simply for reaching out and b inging 

 together the facts from any available source. Let us begin with 



THOMAS SAY. 



There are two names connected with the rise and fall of Natural History in the 

 United States, both of whose ownert exercised an influence in its promotion, but 

 with far difi"e: ent results in usefulness to science and in honor to themselves. The 

 first name is that of Thos. Say, a name to be held in profound respect by every 

 American naturalist. 



Mr, Say, a native of Philadelphia, born in 1787, seems to have been the earliest 

 scientific naturalist of the modern school which the country has produced. 



He possessed a well balanced mind, powers of accurate observation, and a 

 facility of expressing his thoughts in a brief and condensed style. He was trained 

 to habits of industry and perseverance, and his manners were so modest and retiring 

 as to excite remark. 



