583 EEPORT — 18G3. 



the Cycladidae by Mr. Prime. Thus it appears that the malacologists have 

 been unusually zealous in advancing their before somewhat slumbering study; 

 and that the Smiths. lust, has displayed unexpected liberality in preparing 

 and issuing from the press works of a comprehensive characier, for the " in- 

 crease and diffusion of" what will herealter be regarded as an important 

 branch of "knowledge among men." 



94. Korth Pacific Exploring Expedition. — In the year 1853, Dr. W. 

 Stimpson, well known in very early life for his drodging-researches and ob- 

 servations on the marine apimals of the Atlantic coast, accompanied Captain 

 liingold as naturalist to the U. S. '* Xorth Pacific Exi)loring Expedition."' Its 

 principal object was to obtain more correct information with regaid to the 

 J.ipan seas and the extreme north of the Pacific, and it was only incidentally 

 that it %dsitcd the Californian province. However, Dr. Stimpson's extensive 

 djedgings in the fiords of Japan developed the interesting fact, that w hile tke 

 Boutheni shores presented a fauna essentially Indo-Pacific in its character, 

 and abounding in the \isual Cones, Cowries, Olives, «fec., the northern slopes 

 of the same islands presented an assemblage of forms far more analogous to 

 the fauna of the Sitka and Vancouver region, and containing many species 

 common to the American coast. Dui'ing the course of the voyage dredgiiig- 

 collectionst were made by Dr. Stimpson at Madeira, Cape of Good Hope, Sydney 

 Harbour, Coral Seas, Port Jackson, Hong Kong (also by Mr. Wright; New Ire- 

 land, Lieut. Van Wycke; Gasper Straits, Squires ; vicinity of Canton, presented 

 by Mr. Bowring ; interior of Hong Kong, Wright) ; China Sea ; Whamjwa ; 

 Bonin Island; Loo Choo Island; Ousima; Katonasima Straits; Kikaia; 

 Kikaisima ; Kagosima [alas I] ; Hakodadi ; Taniogesima (also Wright, Kent, 

 Kern, Boggs, Carter); Simoda; Niphon (also Brook); Arvatska Bay, Kamt- 

 schatka; Aminchechc Island, Avikamcheche Island, Behring Straits; Senia- 

 ^•ine Straits, Arctic Ocean (also Captain Ilogers); San Francisco; (Puget Sound 

 and Shoalwater Bay, Dr. Coojwr, Cat. no. 1849-1856); Tahiti (also Captain 

 Stephens, Kern), Hawaii (also Garrett; Sea of Ouhotsk, Captain Stevens). ll 

 these were duly catalogued, with stations, dci)ths, and other particulars, and 

 living animals preserAcd in spirits after being drawn. The expedition api)ear3 

 to have rctui-ned in 1856. Although Dr. Stimpson devoted his chief attention 

 to articulate anipaals, and molluscs occupied but a subordinate share of his 

 attention, it is safe to say that in this short period he collected more trust- 

 worthy species of shells, with localities, than were received at the Smiths. 

 Inst, from the united labours of the naturalists of Captain Wilkes's celebrated 

 expechtion. Through some unaccountable cause, certain of the most valuable 

 boxes were " lost " between Xew York and Washington ; the remainder were 

 placed in the hands of Dr. Gould for description, with the MS. catalogue, a 

 copy of which forms the " MoUusca, Vol. I.," nos. 1-2003, of the Smiths. 

 Mus. Fortunately, Dr. Gould embraced the opportunity to bring the un- 

 certain shells to London, and compare them with the Cumingian Collection. 



t A fuller account of this expedition is here given than is justified from its contributions 

 to the W. American fauna, because no other int'oruiation respecting it is as yet available 

 to the malacological student. 



68 



