THE NAUTILUS. 99 



results, and thus form a permanent record, which should show at a 

 glance all that was known of the distribution of every species belong- 

 ing to the State. These maps it was believed would be of value in 

 studying the various questions which might arise in regard to (he 

 present distribution of the fauna and the means by which it has 

 been brought about. Up to the present time there have been filed 

 twelve reports, which include all the private collections of the State 

 and nearly all the public museums. The collection of the Univer- 

 sity of Michigan is now being worked over and arranged by Mr. H. 

 E. Sargent, and the report from the Kent Scientific Institute of 

 Grand Rapids is expected during the coming winter. As soon as 

 these are received, the Section will be in possession of all existing 

 data to be obtained from State sources in regard to the extent and 

 distribution of the molluscan fauna. 



These reports aggregate more than 4,500 entries, and include 

 nearly every species that has ever been quoted from Michigan. 



It is proposed also that every member of the Section shall 

 annually file a supplemental report containing such additional in- 

 formation as he can supply. In this way it is expected that the 

 records of the Section will be continually kept up to date, and at all 

 times afford the collectors of the State and others interested in the 

 subject, not only a correct statement of what is actually known of 

 the State fauna, but also indicate in what sections of the State field 

 work should be done and what species require further investigation. 



The value of this work has already been demonstrated by a series 

 of charts which have recently been completed showing the distribu- 

 tion of the Unionidce. Some of the results deduced from them were 

 quite unexpected, and are believed to be of great value in deter- 

 mining the manner in which geological and geographical factors 

 have influenced the present range of many of the species. This will 

 be made the subject of a special report to the Academy at its An- 

 nual Meeting. 



It has been suggested that there are undoubtedly in the cabinets 

 of many of the readers of the NAUTILUS interesting material from 

 Michigan, a record of which would be a valuable addition to the 

 data now in the possession of the Section. In all probability a large 

 amount of collecting has been done in the State at one time or 

 another by those who were not residents, and whose collections are 

 not represented in any of the reports thus far received. It is very 

 desirable that every possible source of information should be made 



