94 THE NAUTILUS. 



Until within a few years, Mr. Van Nostrand resided at Green- 

 ville, near Jersey City, N. J., where he was a prominent and highly 

 esteemed citizen. There, in his beautiful and hospitable home on 

 the shore of New York Bay, he entertained many noted concholo- 

 gists, including the great collector, Hugh Cunning. 



He was one of the earliest members of the New York Lyceum of 

 Natural History, and among his intimate associates were Messrs. 

 Redfield, W. G. Binney, Robt. Swift, Wheatley and Haines, luit his 

 closest friend was the late Thomas Bland, for whom he had a most 

 affectionate regard which was reciprocated by that distinguished 

 naturalist. After the death of Mr. Bland, Mr. Van Nostrand 

 raised a fund to provide for the monument which now marks his 

 grave in Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn, near thatof Mr. Redfield. 

 He frequently expressed to the writer his affection for the memory 

 of his deceased friend, and only a short while before his death 

 planned a visit to Mr. Eland's grave, which he was not able to 

 carry out. 



Mr. Van Nostrand's cabinet is rich in many families, both marine 

 and terrestrial, particularly so in cones, olives, volutes, cyprteas and 

 mitras. It also contains the larger and better portion of the Bland 

 collection of West Indian land shells, the labels of which are in 

 the hand-writing of Mr. Bland. It also contains many choice speci- 

 mens obtained from the Perry Expedition. It is to be regretted 

 that Mr. Van Nostrand made no provision for the disposition of 

 this truly valuable collection which should adorn some one of our 

 great public institutions. Several species of shells have been named 

 in his honor, among them Helix Van Nostrundi Bland, of our 

 southern States. 



A gentleman of the old school, a kind and generous friend, he 

 will be missed and his memory cherished by those whose good for- 

 tune it was to know him. S. RAYMOND ROBEKTS. 



[COMMUNICATED.] 

 THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CONCHOLOGISTS. 



A number of representative members of the American Association 

 of Conchologists in various parts of the country, having expressed 

 their desire to renew the activity of the Association, the initiative 

 was taken bv a gentleman of Philadelphia, not a former officer, 



