REPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM. , 141 



2. In order and accessible for reference, but requiring new labels, the West American 

 collection prepared by Dr. Carpenter and originally mounted on glass, containing 

 many of his types. Also the types of Dr. Gould's descriptions of North Pacific mol- 

 lusks, from the Rodgers exploring expedition, so far as they are in the possession of 

 the Institution. The majority of the types of Dr. Gould, however, though the prop- 

 erty of the United States, have never reached the National Museum, and are believed 

 to be in private hands. 



3. In order, labeled, catalogued, and inaccessible (i. e., packed up), the collection 

 of North American land and fresh-water shells prepared by Dr. James Lewis for the 

 Centennial exhibit of the National Museum. 



4. Identified and labeled with rough labels, to be replaced by the standard Museum 

 label before exhibition, catalogued, but not unpacked, two boxes of the original 

 Carpenter collection of miscellaneous shells. 



5. Identified and labeled as above by the donors, packed up safely, but never yet 

 placed on the Museum catalogues or registers, the Binney collection of typical 

 American land shells; a large number of shells (between 2,000 and 3,000 species) 

 given to the Museum by W. H. Dall, being his own private accumulations by pur- 

 chase, collection, or exchange, when not connected with the Museum ; numbers of 

 small donations from many friends of the Institution, received from time to time; 

 typical land and fresh-water shells received from Dr. Isaac Lea, of Philadelphia, «fec. 



6. Unidentified virgin material received from definite localities, packed safely, but 

 not administered upon in detail, an immense stock from the United States, and di- 

 vers valuable lots of exotics. 



7. Separated, labeled with preliminary labels, registered, and in process of being 

 worked up, generally durtty, but in good order, the general Alaskan and northwest 

 coast collection contributed by W. H. Dall, his associates and friends, from original field 

 researches; a smaller but still valuable Californian collection from the same sources; 

 a North European collection of recent and Tertiary fossil species obtained by purchase 

 and exchange for special comparison with and identification of the preceding ; also 

 many Arctic species gathered with the same end in view. 



8. Injured and worthless specimens ; though notwithstanding the great mass of the 

 material belonging to the Institution, it is probable that there is unusually little trash 

 in it. 



9. Alcoholics, in good order, partly labeled. There is a large collection of alco- 

 holics, much of which is labeled and, thanks to the care and energy of Mr. Rathbun, 

 in excellent order. It may be worth while to remark that, all earlier alcoholics hav- 

 ing been removed by Dr. Stimpson to Chicago and subsequently burned in the historic 

 conflagration, when the curator returned to Washington, in January, 1875, there was 

 mo alcoholic collection except that made by himself in Alaska and California. (The 

 Fish Commission collection, not having reached Washington, is not included among 

 the assets of the Museum, though eventually to become so.) Special attention has 

 been given to this class of specimens ; and by a wide correspondence and the gener- 

 osity of the never-failing friends of the Smithsonian Institution, a good representa- 

 tion of most types of mollusks may now be found in the room devoted to inverte 

 brates in alcohol. A few species have lately been received from the collections of 

 the Fish Commission, and a larger number from Dr. R. E. C. Stearns, collected on the 

 Pacific coast. 



Having thus briefly reviewed the treasures of the National Museum in the present 

 curator's department, a few words as to facilities obtained during the year and re- 

 ■quired for the future are in order. 



Until the present year, the conchological department of the Museum has not been 

 provided with cases suitable for receiving and preserving shells free from dust, mice, 

 and sudden concussions from ill-fitting drawers. 



During the present summer the laboratory has been partly fitted up in excellent 

 shape. The middle and chief working room of the range of three in use for the 



