A Monograph of the Trilobites of North America: with Coloured Models of the Species

A scholarly yet approachable survey of the ancient trilobites that once crawled the seas of North America, this work blends meticulous description with vivid, hand‑coloured illustrations. The author begins by acknowledging the gratitude owed to a fellow naturalist, then sets the stage with a thoughtful discussion of how fossils record Earth’s deep history without claiming to solve the grand debate over geological chronology. Readers are guided through a parade of species—Trimerus, Calymene, Asaphus and others—each rendered in detailed plates that were first published in a leading geology journal of the day.

Beyond the striking images, the text offers a clear‑cut account of the anatomy that gave trilobites their name, and it explains why their fragmented remains appear in a surprising variety of rock types. By focusing on observable facts rather than speculative theory, the monograph invites listeners to appreciate both the beauty of these extinct creatures and the early scientific methods used to study them.