MITCHILL ON THE FISHES OF KEW-YORK. 489 



peatedly enriched the pages of the Medical Repository. Since his re- 

 moval from Philadelphia to Palermo, he has published, among other 

 works, in the Italian tongue, a tract entitled, Caratteri di alcuni nuovi 

 generi el nuove specie di animali e piante delle Sicilia con varie osscrva- 

 tioni sopra i medesimi ; that is, characters of some new genera, and spe- 

 cies of Sicilian animals and plants, accompanied with various observa- 

 tions. He has paid particular attention to the fishes in the Mediterra- 

 nean, near the place of his residence ; and has given figures and descrip- 

 tions of fifty-nine species, which appear to him to have been overlooked 

 by former writers. 



It would scarcely seem possible, that so great a number of fishes, inha- 

 biting that sea, should have remained unknown until the year 1810 ; and 

 that the book, containing the plates, with the generic and specific marks 

 of each, should have been so little noticed. 



I take pleasure, as it lies hefore me, in giving a brief account of this 

 able, though neglected performance. Immediately on his arrival at Pa- 

 lermo, he found there was much employment for a naturalist, in all the 

 departments. Minerals, vegetables, and animals, each stood in need of 

 illustration. For five years he employed himself with the greatest in- 

 dustry, in making journeys and excursions, and in procuring facts and 

 specimens. The new information was so considerable and important, that 

 he meditated an improved edition of Cupani's Panphyton Siculum, which 

 was confined to plants, and converting it into a Panphysis Sicula that 

 should embrace every sort of natural knowledge. He, however, aban- 

 doned that project, and determined to publish his zoological and botani- 

 cal discoveries by themselves. It would hardly be expected, yet he 

 declares it to be true, that he has discovered among the cetaceous ani- 

 mals, birds, amphibia, and fish, one hundred and seventy-eight new 

 species, out of which he has found it necessary to constitute fifty-one 

 new genera. A. B. Bernardi, one of the secretaries of state, has the. 



64 



