PHYSIOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY. 265 



amount and limits of the variations to which species are subject : a point of some 

 importance, upon which the one or two examples, possibly from various places, 

 found in most collections, throw no light. M. Reigen seems never to have been 

 satisfied that he had got sufficient of one kind ; and the gentleman into whose 

 bands his stores have fortunately fallen, fully estimating the value of researches 

 respecting the true limits of species, and the difficulties under which ordinary 

 naturalists labour, has, not only in his noble present to the British Museum, but as 

 far as was possible in all the collections sent out, been careful to supply good 

 series of specimens. 



3. The condition of the specimens in this collection is very remarkable. They 

 are as they were taken from the water, without having imdergone any process of 

 cleansing or polishing. Many of the gasterapods have their opercula. The 

 lamellibranchiata appear with their hinges undetached, and the surfaces in their 

 original state. Even a few such objects in a large collection are invaluable, as a 

 source of instruction, and contribute to render the ordinary specimens far more 

 useful. 



4. This collection contains a considerable number of new species. The locality 

 was an unexamined and remarkably favourable one — in a tropical climate, and at 

 the junction of a great gulf with the ocean. The collector devoted adequate 

 time and great diligence to his work, and his success was fully equal to what 

 we might expect in such circumstances. 



We must regret that M. Reigen did not live to make use of his own accumu- 

 lated stores, and to communicate the peculiar information which he must have 

 gained in the course of their acquisition : but they have fallen into excellent 

 hands. Mr. Carpenter's donation to the National Museum — considering its in- 

 trinsic value pecuniarily as well as scientifically, and the labour involved in its 

 preparation, and coming too from a hard-working professional man, with very 

 limited means — must be accounted a commendable example of public-spirited 

 generosity ; and his dealings with the Toronto University, even putting out of the 

 question the very handsome present which he took the opportunity of contribu- 

 ting to our rising Museum, are marked by a liberality which deserves to be felt 

 and acknowledged. 



At a meeting of the Canadian Institute, in the month of December last. Prof. 

 Hincks exhibited to the members present a series of specimens illustrating his 

 remarks in the previous paragraphs on the collections of Mazatlan shells. It may 

 be stated here, that the collection acquired for the University Museum, contains 

 about two hundred and thirty distinct species, many of them new, and a large 

 proportion illustrated by good series of specimens. The whole number of species 

 described as occurring at Mazatlan, approaches seven hundred ; but of these a 

 great many were unique, — not a few described from fragments — a good many 

 others so very rare as to allow no specimens for distribution — and some were not 

 contained in the Liverpool collection. Many, too, are microscopic, which makes 

 the supply more uncertain. On the whole, the collection is rich as a local group, 

 and adds greatly to the value of the conchological cabinet of the University 

 Museum. 



W. H, 

 VOL. III. S 



