1894.] NATURAL SCIENCKS OF PHILADELPHIA. 473 



The following gentlemen were elected to fill the various offices for 

 the ensuing year: — 



Director, ..... Benjamin Sharp, M. D. 



Vice- Director, .... John C. Wilson. 



Treasurer, ..... Chas. P. Perot. 



Corresponding Secretary, . . John G. Rothermel. 



Conservator, .... Geo. A. Rex, M. D. 



Recorder, M. V. Ball, M.D. 



Respectfully submitted. 



M. V. Ball, 



Recorder. 



REPORT OF THE CONCHOLOGICAL SECTION. 



During the year 1894 specimens of mollusca have been re- 

 ceived from 45 persons, and a large number of species new to the 

 collection have been added to the museum, as well as a few new to 

 science. As usual, a great many specimens illustrating geographic 

 distribution and variation have increased the study series; and as 

 the growth of this series, which is arranged in drawers under the ex- 

 hibition cases, exceeds the growth of the exhibition series, we are 

 again in urgent need of space for its proper disposal. 



The principal accessions during the year have been several send- 

 ings from Dr. J. C. Cox of shells from Australia and Tasmania, a 

 large series of marine shells of Japan which we have been allowed to 

 select from the collection of Mr. Frederick Stearns, a series of 

 Japanese land mollusks in alcohol, and a very valuable collection of 

 shells from the Liukiu Is. , also due to the liberality of Mr. Stearns. 

 A considerable number of South Australian land shells and chitons 

 we owe to Mr. W. T. Bednall. Finally, the Conservator, with the 

 co-operation of Mr. C. W. Johnson, was enabled to collect very ex- 

 tensive series of the mollusks of the middle St. Johns River, Florida. 

 Many thousand specimens were collected from numerous localities 

 and the material amassed will prove of great importance in the study 

 of the variable and ill-defined species of Floridian Unionidse. An 

 especial object of the journey was to procure certain peculiar local 

 races of Vivipara ; and a number of varieties new to science were 

 found, including one of the most divergent forms of the genus yet 



