220 REPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Alabama, and representing two or three species. Also several varieties 

 of Cambarus virilis from IVIinnesota. 



Prof. D. S. Jordan, Blooinington, Ind., has furnished si)ecimens of 

 sqnilla and cuttlefish from Venice, Italy; shrimps and crabs, from Ma- 

 zatlan, Mexico; and shrim])s, squids, and Physalia, from Galveston, 

 Tex. 



Mr, L. Belding, Stockton, Cal., has sent a small collection of dried 

 specimens of corals and Echinoderras from La Paz, Cal. 



Prof. R. E. C. Stearns, Berkeley, Cal., has sent five specimens of 

 Radicipes pleurocristatus Stearns, a new genus and species of Pen- 

 natula, obtained from the coast of Japan, by Mr. W. J. Fisher. 



Messrs. McKesson & Bobbins, New York City, have sent four speci- 

 mens of cultivated sheepswool sponges {Spon/iia gossypina), from Key 

 West, ria., grown from cuttings planted by the agent of Messrs. Mc- 

 Kesson & Robbins. These specimens represent the first successful at- 

 tempt at cultivating the commercial sponges of this country (a result 

 which must have considerable influence upon the future supply of Flor- 

 ida), which are apparently much less abundant now than formerly, from 

 the continuous drain nuide upon the fishing-grounds during the past 

 ten or fifteen years. The specimens in question exhibit a growth of six 

 months, in a depth of two and one-half feet of water, and the largest 

 specimen has increased to fully six times the size of the cutting from 

 which it was grown. In addition, there is a much larger donation of 

 Florida sponges from the same dealers, containing 53 specimens, and 

 all the varieties and grades known to the trade. The exact locality and 

 depth of water from which each specimen was obtained have been fur- 

 nished, thereby greatly enhancing the value of the collection. This 

 collection will form the basis of the economic display of sponges in the 

 Museum, and JMessrs. McKesson & Robbins have promised to add to 

 it equally complete assortments of all the Bahama and Mediterranean 

 commercial grades. In order to better perfect the collection of Amer- 

 ican sjDonges and increase the size and attractiveness of the exhibit, a 

 purchase was made from Messrs. McKesson & Bobbins of thirty addi- 

 tional specimens of their finest Florida sheepswool sponges. This en- 

 tire collection of sponges will be sent to the London fishery exhibition 

 of 1883 as a part of the American exhibit. 



From Prof. H. L. Smith, Geneva, N. Y., have been obtained (by pur- 

 chase) 1,275 microscopic slides of oceanic Foramiuifera, selected from 

 the soundings of several of the United States naval survej'ing expedi- 

 tions, and of the British exploring steamer "Challenger," mounted l\v 

 Professor Smith. This collection is of much value, and has been studied 

 and identified only in iiart. Professor Smith made these preparations 

 with the intention of writing a monograph upon the group, but other 

 labors interferiug he was induced to dispose of them to the National 

 Museum at the mere cost of the materials used in mounting them. The 



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