Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from Annals of Nature, 1820: Or Annual Synopsis of New Genera and Species of Animals, Plants, Etc; Discovered in North America
The following lines shall contain many of my unpublished discoveries, made be tween'1816 and 1819.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, but sever al must still be delayed, as well as the figures. As my Ichthyology, or natural history ofthe 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 micated 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, 8: 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. Clifi'ord 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, aregbelow 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 afford me the means of gratifying their peculiar taste, and when they do, 1 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 amass 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.
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