Thomas Say

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Thomas Say (June 27, 1787 - October 10, 1843) was an American naturalist. He is often considered to be the founder of descriptive entomology in the United States.

Say described over 1,000 new species of beetles and over 400 species of insects of other orders. He was the author of American Entomology (1824-28) and American Conchology (1830-34).

Say was chief zoologist on the expedition led by Stephen Long to the tributaries of the Missouri River in 1819. The official account of this expedition included the first descriptions of the Coyote, Swift Fox, Western Kingbird, Band-tailed Pigeon, Rock Wren, Say's Phoebe, Lesser Goldfinch, Lark Sparrow, Lazuli Bunting and Orange-crowned Warbler. He also made expeditions to Florida (with George Ord and Titian Peale) and Mexico.

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