Eminent Naturalists. lOi 



phy," describing, under an assumed name, that most singular 

 man, Constantine Schmaltz Rafinesque, the contemporary of 

 Mr. Say. 



He was born of French parentage, in Turkey, near Con- 

 stantinople, in the year 1784. During his early life he 

 showed a love for the study of natural objects, which overcame 

 his interest in mercantile pursuits. Coming to the United 

 States on a trading voyage in 1803, he was known as a 

 botanist. He remained two years, and cultivated the acquaint- 

 ance of the i^v^ naturalists then residing in the country. He 

 then established himself as a merchant on the island of 

 Sicily, and remained there until 181 5, when he took his final 

 departure for America. 



During his stay in Sicily he industriously investigated the 

 natural history of that island, and published many works on 

 the same. He embarked with a great collection of speci- 

 mens, books, and manuscripts, but suffered shipwreck off the 

 coast of Long Island, and his precious possessions, for which 

 he had labored so long and so hard, were swept into the 

 ocean. 



His property was so much impaired that he never recov- 

 ered from the blow, but sunk from poverty even to destitu- 

 tion. His death occurred in 1840. 



The writings of Rafinesque are admitted to show great tal- 

 ent and sagacity in certain respects, but they lack the sound 

 judgment of Mr. Say. He was possessed with a passion for 

 finding new species, and for combining into new groups all 

 the objects which came within his observation. He especially 

 erred in supposing that distinct species should be formed of 

 natural objects, which present but trifling and unimportant 

 variations, and his disregard for the previous work of other 

 naturalists led them to withdraw their confidence, and, at last 

 to relinquish all intercourse with him. 



His passion for new species became a confirmed mono- 

 mania, and though of late years more credit has been given 

 to his writings, he doubtless created much confusion by need- 

 lessly multiplying genera and species, and by his brief, imper- 

 fect, and uncertain descriptions ; so that comparatively few of 

 the numerous names which he bestowed are now acknowl- 

 edged as having any value. 



Mr. Rafinesque's later years were noted for the projection 

 of many visionary financial and literary schemes. "With 

 harmless egotism he magnified the importance of his own dis- 

 coveries, and ascribed his reverses to machinations of secret 



