THE NAUTILUS. 99 
results, and thus form a permanent record, which should show ata 
glance all that was known of the distribution of every species belong- 
ing to the State. These maps it was believed would be of value in 
studying the various questions which might arise in regard to the 
present distribution of the fauna and the means by which it has 
been brought about. Up to the present time there have been filed 
twelve reports, which include all the private collections of the State 
and nearly all the public museums. The collection of the Univer- 
sity of Michigan is now being worked over and arranged by Mr. H. 
E. Sargent, and the report from the Kent Scientific Institute of 
Grand Rapids is expected during the coming winter. As soon as 
these are received, the Section will be in possession of all existing 
data to be obtained from State sources in regard to the extent and 
distribution of the molluscan fauna. 
These reports aggregate more than 4,500 entries, and include 
nearly every species that has ever been quoted from Michigan. 
It is proposed also that every member of the Section shall 
annually file a supplemental report containing such additional in- 
formation as he can supply. In this way it is expected that the 
records of the Section will be continually kept up to date, and at all 
times afford the collectors of the State and others interested in the 
subject, not only a correct statement of what is actually known of 
the State fauna, but also indicate in what sections of the State field 
work should be done and what species require further investigation. 
The value of this work has already been demonstrated by a series 
of charts which have recently been completed showing the distribu- 
tion of the Unionide. Some of theresultsdeduced from them were 
quite unexpected, and are believed to be of great value in deter- 
mining the manner in which geological and geographical factors 
have influenced the present range of many of the species. This will 
be made the subject of a special report to the Academy at its An- 
nual Meeting. 
It has been suggested that there are undoubiedly in the cabinets 
of many of the readers of the Naurizus interesting material from 
Michigan, a record of which would be a valuable addition to the 
data now in the possession of the Section. In all probability a large 
amount of collecting has been done in the State at one time or 
another by those who were not residents, and whose collections are 
not represented in any of the reports thus far received. It is very 
desirable that every possible source of information should be made 
