[2 ], 



motive urges me then to hasten to divulge my discoveries, & to continue it annu- 

 ally on the present plan, although I should prefer a better one if I had the choice. 



The principles of these tracts shall belong to the true linnean school of im- 

 provement. I shall follow all the improvements that the worthy Linneus would 

 have adopted if he had lived in this age ; but I shall carefully avoid any deviations 

 from the fundamental, rational and everlasting rules of nomenclature and descrip- 

 tive history. 



The following lines shall contain many of my unpublished discoveries, made be- 

 tween 1816 and 1819, in the states of New- York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New 

 Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, &c ; but sever- 

 al must still be delayed, as well as the figures. As my Ichthyology, or natural 

 history of the Fishes of the Ohio, (containing 100 new species) is now under the 

 press, the fishes of that river shall not be mentioned here. If I should occasion- 

 ally repeat the descriptions of some few new animals and plants, already commu- 

 nicated to some societies, or journalists, the blame is their own. Why do they 

 delay the publication of them? and how am I to know if they ever received them, 

 & mean to publish them ? Do they wish me to wait until somebody may follow the 

 path which I have opened, and anticipating my publications, deprive me of the 

 fruit of my labor, (as it has been already attempted) and of the only reward I ever 

 hope for my individual exertions, the esteem of the friends of knowledge? I 

 shall very seldom mention again those which have been already published, ex- 

 cept when they are only to be found in journals of very limited circulation; or 

 when it will be needful to illustrate more carefully their characters or history. 

 Very few Reptiles, Shells and Fossils will be introduced, although they include 

 some of my most numerous discoveries ; because I have already prepared several 

 letters on our Erpetology for the American Journal of Science ; I am besides en- 

 gaged in writing a general Conchology of the land shells and fresh water shells of 

 the United States, and I have undertaken with Mr. John D. Clifford to de- 

 scribe all the fossil remains of the western states. 



To those who may happen to regret the continual increase of new genera and 

 new species, I shall observe, that unless we detect and fix all the unknown genera 

 and species of beings existing in our country and on earth, we cannot extend and 

 secure our researches after their properties, qualities and manners. Those who 

 deplore the increase of natural knowledge, or knowledge of any kind, are below 

 our notice ; they ought to be ranked with the enemies of mankind and of our 

 moral powers. But from those who prefer to see new beings and materials Ap- 

 pear under a handsome and prolix shape, I shall request to afEord me the means of 

 gratifying their peculiar taste, and when they do, I shall not fail to comply. Yet 

 I shall add, that it is better for the science and our purse, that many new objects 

 should be introduced under a small compass, than when a. few are scattered 

 through a mass of extraneous or compiled matter. My constant aim has been the 

 extension of knowledge rather than the compilation of old materials. I wish that 

 many naturalists and philosophers would always have the same object in view. 



C. S. RAFINESQUE. 



Transylvania University, ) 



March 1, 1820 



ANIMALS. 



I CLASS. MASTOSIA.— THE BUCKLERS. 



1. T>i . Sp. Atalapha fuscata. Ears longers than the head, auriculated and black- 

 ish ; tail three-sevenths of total length, jutting only by an obtuse point ; body 

 brownish above, greyish beneath, shoulders and cheeks dark brown; hind feet 

 blackish, hairy above ; wings blackish brown. — Found in the northern parts of 

 the state of New York and in Vermont. Total length three and an half inches. 

 My germs Atalapha (Prec. dec.) contain all the Bats without fore teeth; there 

 are 3 or 4 species of them in the United States all blended undei: the name of 

 Vespertilio (or NoctilioJ novehoracensis bythe writers. 



I. N. G. Eptesicus. Four acute fore-teeth to the upper jaw, in two equal 

 pairs, separated by a great interval and a large flat wart, each' pair has two une- 

 qual teeth, the outside tooth is much larger and unequally bifid, the outside one 

 much larger, inside tooth small and entire. Six fore-teeth to the lower jaw, equal 



