Thaddeus William Harris Correspondence To Thomas Say PDF Download

Correspondence from Massachusetts entomologist Thaddeus William Harris (1795-1856; Harvard AB 1815, MD 1820) to American entomologist and conchologist Thomas Say (1787-1834), dated October 15, 1830, while Say was living in New Harmony, Indiana, in which Harris encourages him to continue his scientific writing and revisions of his previous publications on insects. Harris writes that Yale College professor and American Journal of Science editor Benjamin Silliman (1779-1864) "would undoubtedly be glad to publish your papers," adding, "it would promote the cause of science if you were to transfer to him any unpublished manuscripts that may remain in Philadelphia, or that you may hereafter prepare." Of particular interest would be works on Diptera, Harris writes. He also describes the principle of priority in entomological nomenclature as "perfectly correct" and questions the naming practices of fellow entomologist Baron Pierre Dejean (1780-1845), who opposed the rule of priority. He further asks Say for assistance researching species of Cremastocheilus, including descriptions and illustrations of each; and relays information about "supposed new species" he was sending to Major John Eatton Le Conte (1784-1860) and insects he proposed to send to Say. Harris explains that he hopes to write a paper describing these new species and publish an "amended account of our Cremastocheili."