368 Miscellanies. 



"On the 1 8th of June, 1836, there arrived from New Orleans, the 

 collection of Professor Hentz, sent to us in consequence of a nego- 

 tiation with me for the purpose by subscription of this large and val- 

 uable collection for our society. If no mistake has been made in 

 counting the insects there were fourteen thousand one hundred and 

 twenty six specimens, one thousand three hundred and fifteen of 

 which are foreign insects, leaving twelve thousand eight hundred 

 and eleven native insects. Many of these are duplicates, but not 

 the less valuable to the society on this account. They have already 

 furnished us with specimens to return to Mr. Fabrasus, in exchange 

 for the insects received from him, and 1 have sent also a few of them 

 to Mr. Schonherr for their names, and with the request that he would 

 honor us with insects in exchange for them. 



" There were several boxes and drawers in Mr. Hentz's collection 

 very closely filled with insects of all orders promiscuously mixed to- 

 gether. These it was desirable should be assorted and incorporated 

 with the others. In fact, it became absolutely necessary to select 

 the Coleoptera without delay, to enable me to make a proper choice 

 of specimens to be used in making exchanges. Accordingly, when 

 obliged to suspend my labors on the cabinet of the society, for the 

 want of drawers properly prepared to receive the insects, I began to 

 assort the miscellaneous collection received from Mr. Hentz, and 

 proceeded with all possible expedition until they were transferred 

 from the boxes and drawers in which they came, to their proper 

 places in the other part of the collection. All the Coleoptera receiv- 

 ed from this gentleman have been carefully examined, and are arran- 

 ged in a regular series, according to the catalogue of Count Dejean. 

 It will be comparatively an easy task hereafter to transfer these Co- 

 leoptera and unite them with the general collection of the society, 

 should this be deemed advisable. I propose next, to arrange the 

 insects of the other orders in a similar way." 



6. Conchology. — Valuable accessions have been made during the 

 past year, to our cabinet of shells. Several individuals have pre- 

 sented most acceptable donations. 



Many specimens of foreign shells from Mr. Couthuoy — as uite of 

 fresh water bivalves from the Ohio, from Dr. Ward of that state — 

 and a large collection of East India shells from J. J. Dixwell, Esq. 

 are most worthy of notice. 



These additions, however, are not all which have increased the 

 value of the collection. Much labor and study have been devoted 



