OF CONCHOLOOY. 185 



was made to our building, nearly all of tliese numbers were so 

 displaced as to be useless. This confusion (certainly unavoid- 

 able, as the Academy has never possessed adequate means to 

 ensure the proper care of its collections) is deeply to be re- 

 gretted, as the Committee have been compelled to substitute 

 their own instead of the original more authentic labels. The 

 Academy has not recently been able to continue to supply its 

 library with Conchological works, which has increased our 

 difficulties. 



"The cabinet now contains upwards of 13,000 species, and 

 is the largest in America. 



"Having no published Catalogue of our collection and its 

 duplicates, a necessary basis for extensive exchanges, the 

 Committee have effected very little in this way. There is 

 probably no other department of the Museum possessing such 

 numerous duplicates, so that the collection could be greatly 

 enlarged by exchanges. 



" The systematic classification of the shells was, until this 

 year, chiefly Lamarckian, but the Committee have substituted 

 for this the more scientific arrangement of recent systematists. 

 At present the marine shells are classified according to the 

 system of Messrs. H. and A. Adams, with modifications ; the 

 terrestrial shells according to that of Dr. Louis Pfeiffer, and 

 the Unionidse and fresh water Gasteropods to those of Messrs. 

 Lea, Binney, and Tryon. The Committee have not been able, 

 however, to exhibit the families and genera in their proper 

 sequence, on account of the over-crowded condition of the 

 cases ; but this can be readily remedied at any time that we 

 possess more space. 



" We also regret the want of space exceedingly, because it 

 debars us from exhibiting those interesting geographical series 

 which, to a naturalist, are not less instructive than a collection 

 of species, enabling us to acquire a knowledge of the limits 

 and variations of species, as determined by climatal and other 

 influences. 



"Nearly double our present space is required for the proper 

 exhibition of the collection which we already possess, and a 

 small appropriation to publish a catalogue would enable us to 

 increase largely and rapidly. 



" AVhile we deem it but right that the Academy, through 

 you, should be made acquainted with our wants, the Commit- 

 tee forbear to press them at this time, being well aware that 

 other departments of the collection require the first and imme- 

 diate pecuniary aid of the Academy. 

 Eespectfullv yours, 



GEORGE W. TRYON, Jr., 



For Committee on Conchologyr 



