Appendix 



At an auction sale, held in Philadelphia in the 

 spring of 1895, the editor of this volume secured a 

 copy of an autograph letter of Rafinesque which has 

 especial interest in connection with the Ichthyologia. 

 It appears that it had been the original plan of Rafi- 

 nesque to figure all the forms which he had described 

 as new from the Ohio ; but his plan was never con- 

 summated. The letter in question is introduced in 

 this place, because it has a characteristic drawing 

 illustrative of one of the species described in the 

 Ichthyologia, and is one of the very few in existence 

 thus definitely connected with specific descriptions 

 in the Fishes of the River Ohio. This letter was 

 addressed to ' ' The Western Museum Society, Care of 

 Dr. Daniel Drake, Secretary, Cincinnati, Ohio." It 

 bears the endorsement, in the handwriting of Dr. 

 Drake, of having been answered on the 29th of 

 August following. The letter reads : 



" Lexington, July 8th, 1820 — 

 ' ' Gentlemen of the Western Museum Society. 



" I have not yet rec'd your Anniversary Discourse, 

 but have seen one sent to Mr. Wilkins of this town. 

 It is upon the strength of your public invitation in 

 the appendix that I presume to address you. 



' ' I would be happy if you would put it in my 

 power to be useful to you, in the manner which you 

 intimate, and on the presumption of reciprocity. 



