514 



Rafinesque* s Atlantic Journal, 



known intelligence, and who are eminent for their disinterested 

 labours in the cause of natural science. 



At page 20 of the Atlantic Journal, is the following passage, 

 in a letter which he states to have written to Baron Cuvier. 



*' I send you, as you request, the figure, descripti^, and a specimen of my 

 Trinectes Scabra, a new genus of fish near to Achirus found in the river Schuyl- 

 kill ; it has only three fins, dorsal, anal and caudal. Also the description and 

 figure of a large and beautiful new cat-fish from the river Tennessee, discovered in 

 1823, Pimelodus Intescens : it was three feet long, excellent to eat, of an olivaceous 

 yellow colour, belly white, jaws equal, eyes round, tail forked, first dorsal falciform, 

 second dorsal nearly as large as the anal." 



By what means Mr. Rafinesque was enabled to send the figure, 

 description, and specimen of this fish to France, may be learnt 

 from the communication to us, which appears below as a note.* 

 It will be observed that he has not even mentioned the name of 

 Dr. Harlan, to whom alone he was indebted for the knowledge 

 of the existence of this fish. His conduct is of a piece with what 

 we find at page 28, speaking of the caves in Kentucky : — 



* Philadelphia, March 28, 1832. 



Dear Sir, — ^In that strange production, the Atlantic Journal, edited by Mr. Rafinesque, 

 he states that the Megalonyx laqueatus, described by me in March 1831, in the Journal 

 of the Academy of Natiaral Sciences, was previously named by him Aulaxodon speleum. 

 It is difficult to make such a man responsible for any thing he does. I feel it necessary, 

 however, to explain what his conduct has been towards me in this, and in another 

 instance, that the public may understand what is due to him. 



When 1 was engaged in the examination of the fossil bones alluded to, and had al- 

 ready placed the species in Mr. Jefferson's genus megalonyx, Mr. Rafinesque called upon 

 me, and asked a great many questions concerning their nature and locality : he ac- 

 knowledged himself utterly ignorant of them, and was evidently unapprized of the 

 characteristic difference between the genus megatherium and megalonyx. These bones 

 were personally collected by the late Mr. ClifToxd ; and when they were purchased from 

 his collection, the labels, stating that fact, were attached to them. Yet Mr. R., without 

 giving any authority for it, states they were found in another place. 



During the summer of 1830, 1 obtained from Mr. Carr, proprietor of Bartram's botanic 

 garden, several species of fresh water fishes, among which was a specimen of Flounder 

 [Pleuronectes] never before noticed as an inhabitant of the Schuylkill. Mr. R. called 

 upon me one day, and as he was generally supposed to have some knowledge of ichthy- 

 ology, I showed it to him. He asked permission to take it home that he might examine 

 it at leisure. Since that time I have never seen the specimen, nor been able to get any 

 account of it from him, that I could rely on. It appears, however, at page 20 of the 

 Atlantic Journal, that he sent it to Baron Cuvier previous to March, 1831, as a new 

 genus Trinecl.es Scahra, without mentioning the fact to me, or mentioning m]^ name in 

 the communication. 1 was, as I yet am, disposed to think this fish a new species of the 

 genus Achirus of Lacep. or of Soles, totally deprived of pectorals, but a new genus it 

 Certainly ir, ^lo^. Mr. Ranfraesque appears detei-mined to gratify his appetite for notoriety 

 by unusual means, and altogether inconsistent with the respect due to the property of 

 others. It is a course that will bring its own punishment with it. I remain, dear sir, 

 yours very sincerely, RICHARD HARLAN. 



