ON MOLLUSCA OF THE WEST COAST OF NORTH AMERICA. 159 



Report on the present state of our knowledge with regard to the 

 Mollusca of the West Coast of North America. By Philip P. 

 Carpenter. 



1. The duty of preparing a Report "On the present state of our know- 

 ledge of the Mollusca of California," was entrusted to the writer simply in 

 consequence of an opportunity which accident had thrown in his way, of 

 obtaining accurate information on the Mollusca of one spot only on the 

 Pacific shores of N. America. Almost entirely destitute of technical know- 

 ledge, and living at a distance from collections and libraries, he would not 

 have ventured to undertake it but for the promised aid of one, whose early 

 death, just as he was entering on that field which seemed of all others most 

 adapted to develop his peculiar powers, still leaves a most deeply-felt void 

 in Malacological and Geological Science. This spot is neither politically 

 nor conchologically in California, strictly so called, but belongs in its fauna 

 to the province which culminates in the Bay of Panama and extends south- 

 wards to Peru ; while many shells of the real Californian fauna extend north- 

 wards towards Behring's Straits, and are found on the Asiatic coasts in the 

 Okhotsk Sea. This Report will therefore take cognizance of all that is known 

 of the Mollusca of the West Coast of North America, from the Boreal shores 

 to Panama. 



Before results can be obtained of permanent value, and general deductions 

 drawn from them that shall bear on the great questions of the condition of 

 our globe in this and previous ages, it is necessary that the foundations 

 should be laid by patient and accurate examination of every minute point in 

 our inquiries : else, as the wrong measurement of a degree nearly prevented 

 Newton's elimination of the great law of gravitation, so the deficiency or 

 hasty examination of details respecting particular species and their abodes, 

 may lead the great master-minds of science to erroneous conclusions, which, 

 through their well-earned influence, retard rather than stimulate the progress 

 of future research. It is proposed therefore — (J) to state the physical con- 

 ditions, and the cautions to be observed in the inquiry ; (2) to present the 

 different sources of information in historical order; and (3), after tabulating 

 these geographically and zoologically, to draw such inferences as the present 

 state of our knowledge may warrant*. 



* On receiving the request of the Association, I issued a circular seeking information as to — 



1. What species are found on the north-east shores of the Pacific, especially at Vancouver's 

 Island. 



2. What near the mouth of the Columbia river, and in the Oregon territory. 



3. What near San Francisco and Monterey. 



4. What near San Diego. 



5. What along the Pacific shores of the peninsula to Cape St. Lucas. 



6. What at La Paz, Guaymas, and other stations in the Gulf of California. 



7. What at Acapulco and other stations along the coast towards Panama. 



8. What species of land and freshwater shells are found in different parts of Oregon, 

 California, and West Mexico. 



And, in order to compare with these, as to — 



9. What species are found on the eastern (Atlantic) shores of Mexico. 



10. What at the Galapagos. 



11. What at the Sandwich Islands (distinguishing what are brought there from other 

 places). 



12. What in Polynesia. 



13. What fossil species are found in the Tertiary deposits of the United States, which 

 may throw light on the existing Pacific species. 



This circular was sent to every accessible station on the West N. American coast, and to 

 naturalists in this and foreign countries. The replies are on most points extremely meagre : 

 but I have pleasure in recording great obligations to Hugh Cuming, Esq., for the most liberal 



