THE COLLECTION OF MOLLUSKS 



BY 



W. J. CLENCH 



The first report of this department appeared in the Museum's annual 

 report for 1863. At this time A. S. Bickmore was in charge of the 

 mollusks. But long prior to this date a vast number of shells had been 

 brought together to make the nucleus of the collections which form 

 what is now the department of mollusks. 



The growth of the collection has not always been constant. Dur- 

 ing Mr. Anthony's term of office the collection developed to a re- 

 markable degree. Mr. Anthony's industry and interest instituted a 

 large correspondence with malacologists in all parts of the world and 

 through them he obtained a vast amount of very important ma- 

 terial. His recognition of the value of type specimens led him to 

 exchange for material of this sort, which has resulted in a collection 

 of considerable historical value. His chief interest was in freshwater 

 mollusks, and he built up a series of American freshwater forms that 

 for its time was superior to any collection in this country. 



His successor, Mr. Hamlin, divided his time between recent and 

 fossil species and as a consequence the collection did not advance 

 with the same rapidity. 



From the death of Mr. Anthony in 1877 until 1898 there was very 

 little growth in the department. Dr. Walter Faxon's chief interest 

 was in crustaceans, and little was added until the acquisition of the 

 R. E. Call collection. At this time Faxon started the first catalogue 

 of the shells. From the date of receipt of the Call material until 

 1923 the department's growth has been very rapid. Several very 

 large collections were obtained and incorporated into the main body 

 of material. 



Mr. Clapp (191 1-22) revised the collection and a vast amount of 

 work was accomplished by him. 



In 1926 William J. Clench took charge, and a very large amount of 

 material has since been added. 



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