THE NAUTILUS, 93 



imens all show the highest art in taxidermy. Above the mannnals 

 are the birds, which our liinited time did not permit us to examine. 

 The adjoining room is the osteological department. Si)ecimens from 

 the elephant and hippopotamus to the small rodents and birds show 

 as near perfection as it is possible to obtain in this difficult branch. 

 In the room above this is a large collection of mammalia skulls." 



The invertebrates have long claimed a large part of Prof. Ward's 

 attention ; and the magnificent series of corals, sponges, echino- 

 derms and crustaceans, attest alike to the fruitfulness of his journeys 

 abroad and to the skill of his workmen at home. 



In spite of the attractions of other departments, our time was 

 mainly spent in the " Shell House." The upper story of this build- 

 ing is occupied with asuite of rooms containing Prof. Ward's special 

 collection of invertebrates, the mollusks being arranged in table- 

 cases along the sides and down the middle of two large rooms. The 

 plan of this collection is to have every genus represented by char- 

 acteristic species, and to have the very best specimens of each species 

 that can be obtained. The result is a strikingfy beautiful as well as 

 an uncommonly instructive collection. For the past decade or 

 more. Prof Ward has been giving special attention to the 

 mollusks ; and the results of many a journey half round the globe are 

 here shown. Abalones and limpets from California and the north- 

 west coast ; Cyprpeas, Murices, Olivas, Pleurotomas from Panama; 

 Chitons, black Trochi, Cancellarias, etc., from Peru, and limpets of 

 the Nacella type from Magellan and Chili, secured during a trip 

 around South America, represent part of the conchological plunder, 

 while bones of the great fossil edentates, and magnificent minerals 

 galore also were secured. The fruits of other journeys are seen in 

 the splendid suites of Magilus and Leptoconchus, from Mauritius ; 

 Strombus, Cones, Cassis, Cyprjeas, Tridacna, Malleus, Aspergillum 

 and many others from the Indian Ocean ; and besides these, desir- 

 able species have been selected from the dealers of London, Paris 

 and Berlin. Not the least part of the pleasure in looking over this 

 collection is the fund of anecdote and adventure connected with 

 many specimens secured by Prof Ward in unfrequented corners of 

 the world. 



The work of classifying this great collection has been well per- 

 formed by ]\Iessrs. Crump, DeLaney, Baker and Walton; the last 

 named gentleman having supplied exquisite colored drawings of 

 Nudibranchs and other naked mollusks. 



