1904.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 847 



keys. The specimens have been determined and studied, and it is 

 hoped that the results, suitably illustrated, will be published during the 

 coming year. 



A series of Japanese mollusks, some 650 lots, received from Mr. Y. 

 Hirase, of Kyoto, has also been studied, but only the new forms have 

 been publislied, comprising about 140 new species and about 30 new 

 subspecies. 



Mr. J. H. Ferriss has generously divided his valuable Arizona col- 

 lections with us. The study of this material, with that collected by 

 Mr. FerrLss and the Special Curator in 1903, is nearly complete. An 

 unexpectedly large number of new and interesting forms were found. 



Early in the year an attempt was made to increase our collection of 

 fresh-water bivalves of the genus Pisidium. Some 70 lots were 

 obtained from various correspondents, 10 of them cotypes and a large 

 number of them topotypes. With the specimens already in our pos- 

 session, these additions probably make our collection the most com- 

 plete in existence. 



A series of the mollusks of the Alabama river system, collected this 

 year by Mr. H. H. Smith, has been purchased. It consists of about 

 17,000 specimens. These remain to be determined and installed. 



During the spring the Special Curator explored a portion of central 

 Cuba for mollusks, obtaining a collection of some 500 lots, about 10,000 

 specimens. This collection also remains to be studied. 



The chief work in the Museum has been the revision of the African 

 Achatinidce. Much other work of correction and relabelling has been 

 done in connection with studies on new" material. 



Four papers have been published in the Proceedings of ithe Academy 

 by the Special Curator, one with Mr. Vanatta, and one in conjunction 

 with Mr. Hirase, while ten have been published by the Special Curator 

 in the Nautilus. These have chiefly dealt with the classification and 

 description of new material. 



The time of the Special Curator has been largely occupied, as hitherto, 

 in the publication of the Manual of Conchology. The volume for this 

 year treats of the African family Achatinidce. 



The efficient assistance of Mr. E. G. Vanatta in the work of the 

 department throughout the year should be acknowledged, 



H. A. PiLSBRY, 



Special Curator of the Department of Mollusca. 



