KEPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY If)? 



ross in tlie study of tliese groups of animals in a graceful and most 

 gratifying way. 



lu completion of an exchange sometime since entered into between 

 Mr. Dall and Mr. Maurice Cossmaun, of Paris, the successor of Deshayes 

 in the minute study of the successive eocene fauruis of the Parisian 

 basin, the latter has sent to the Museum about 700 named species of 

 mollusks from that formation, which, coming from him, have the authen- 

 ticity of types. Sev^eral desiderata of the Museum Inive been supidied 

 by Mr. Hugh Fulton, of London, through an exchange arranged with 

 him. all of which were new to the collection, and several of extreme 

 rarity and value. 



From Dr. W. L. Abbott has been received an interesting and very 

 attractive lot of shells from the Seychelles and adjacent islands. 

 The California Academy of Sciences, through Dr. J. G. Cooper, has 

 donated about lo specimens of land shells from the peninsula of Lower 

 California, most of which were very acceptable additions to the col- 

 lection. Our faithful correspondent, Mr. I. Greegor, has continued his 

 contributions to the Museum by donating specimens in alcohol of the 

 rare Murexfuln'scens Sby., from Fernandina, Fla., and a number of inter- 

 esting pathological s[)e('imens showing how mollusks repair the injuries 

 they occasionally receive. Dr. H. von Ihering has contributed some 

 interesting laud and fresh- water shells from Brazil, and Rev. H, Loomis 

 others from Japan. Dr. Edgar A. Mearns, of the International Bound- 

 ary Survey between the United States and Mexico, has forwarded the 

 mollusks collected by the party, including a new species of Anodonta, 

 with a view to the preparation of a report on the expedition and its 

 collections. From Mr. J. D. Mitchell and Mr. J. A. Singley. and also 

 the State geological survey of Texas, have been received interesting 

 miscellaneous collections, including several species not before reported 

 from the Texas coast, and a few which appear to be undescribed. Mr. 

 Charles W. Richmond has furnished a few interesting species from the 

 Nicaraguan region. Mrs. Ada M. Walton sent to the Museum a col- 

 lection of specimens from the coast of California, which, from certain 

 circumstances connected with the donation, deserves s})ecial nientiim, 

 though the collection added little to the Museum series which was not 

 already represented there. Mr. Ed. Saxon Wyard presented a few 

 large ornamental shells, whi(;li, from their unusual size and beauty, were 

 very desirable for exhibition jjurposes. Mr. William Moss, of Ashton- 

 under-Lyne, England, contributed some microphotographs of the rad- 

 ula, etc., of various British mollusks, which were exceptionally success- 

 iul in showing dillicult anatomical details. An exchange with Mr. B. 

 H. NN'right added a few desirable Uuiouidiie to the collection. The 

 Department of Agriculture and the U. S. Fish Commision have con- 

 tributed several lots of mollusks collected by members of their statts. 



Besides the work abo\'e referred to, the general o])erations of the 

 department include the i»reparation of special reports on collections 



