PREFACE. 
The present work was committed to my charge in the spring of 1843 ; but 
the unfinished state of m'y Report on the Geology of the Fourth District 
rendered it impossible to devote myself entirely to the Palaeontology, during 
the remainder of that year. From the limited time at first allotted to the 
completion of the work, it became necessary to examine cursorily all the 
strata of the system, with a view of giving several representative species or 
typical forms of each group. This plan was continued until the end of the 
year 1844 ; at which time I had materials prepared for a single volume, to 
be illustrated by about 70 plates, giving figures of fossils from all the strata 
from the Potsdam sandstone to the Coal formation. I then became satisfied 
that such a work would afford but a very imperfect and incomplete re¬ 
presentation of the extensive and rich fossiliferous series of New-York. In 
consideration of this circumstance, the time originally contemplated for 
completing this work was extended by the Legislature at the session of 1845; 
and I commenced a re-examination of the lower strata, with a view of giving 
a more complete representation of their organic contents. The result of these 
subsequent investigations has more than doubled the number of species at 
that time known to me, and has increased the plates from 40, the number 
originally contemplated for illustrating these groups, to more than 90. 
In the present volume, I have, in many instances, given much detail in 
regard to surface and internal structure, changes of form resulting from age, 
nature of sediment, and other circumstances. To geologists and palaeontolo¬ 
gists, already acquainted with these facts, some portions of this may appear 
unnecessary ; but it should be remembered, that of the 3000 copies printed, 
probably 2500 will go into the hands of persons unlearned in any department 
of natural science. The work is published expressly for the benefit of the 
people of the State of New-York; and I have, in this difficult subject, en¬ 
deavored to point out to the apprehension of all, the differences of character, 
j Palaeontology. 1 b 
