SMITHSONIAN MISCELIAXEOUS COLLECTIOKS. 



CIRCULAR 



IN KEFERENCE TO COLLECTINO 



NORTH AMERICAN SHELLS. 



The Smithsonian Institution contemplates the preparation of 

 a series of Reports upon the Shells of North America, with par- 

 ticular reference to their geographical distribution ; and takes 

 this occasion to invite the cooperation of its correspondents and 

 the friends of science generally, in collecting materials for this 

 purpose, as well as in completing the conchological department 

 of its museum and furnishing materials for its home and foreign 

 exchanges. Due acknowledgment will be made for any such 

 assistance, and a copy of the Reports presented to contributors, 

 as well as a labelled series of their specimens returned, if desired. 



The Institution is desirous to receive even the commonest 

 shells, and in large numbers, for the purposes of exchange. 



Any collections of shells or other objects of Natural History 

 may be sent to the care of the Adams Express Company in the 

 eastern part of the continent, and on the west coast to the care 

 of Forbes & Babcock, San Francisco, Cal., by whom they will be 

 forwarded to the Institution. 



The following instructions based upon the experience of 

 several practised collectors, have been presented to the Smith- 

 sonian Institution as containing the information necessary to 

 attain the object in view. 



JOSEPH HENRY, Secretary S. L 



Smithsonian Institction, Jan. 1st, 18G0. 



