REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. 17 



collections, several trays were found in the drawers, in which 

 were only the labels of missing shells. Five of these were 

 among the Cuming collection ; and as this consists of remark- 

 ably fine forms of rare East India, species, they have been 

 in all probability, at some time, stolen from the drawers.* 

 From eight other trays in one drawer, the shells were missing ;f 

 some of these may, perhaps, have been carelessly transferred 

 to other trays containing the same species. 



This condition of the shells was discovered by Mr. Whit- 

 field in 1867, but at that time no careful comparisons could 

 be made, owing to the pressure of other work and the want 

 of proper facilities for arranging the collection. 



It is quite evident that extensive and systematic depreda- 

 tions have been, and still continue to be, perpetrated on these 

 collections ; and with no better means of guarding against 

 them than we have at present, such thefts must usually escape 

 observation at the time, and, indeed, may never be detected, 

 unless in the published record of species, note has also been 

 made of the number of individual examples. 



A comparison of the number of examples, now in the 

 Museum, of the very valuable series of Achatinella presented 

 in the year 1858 by Dr. Wesley Newcomb, with the number 

 stated in the published catalogue, discloses the startling fact, 

 that of the eighty-one species and varieties constituting the 

 series, each represented by from two to twelve individuals, 

 only nine species retain their original number. From the 

 other seventy-two species and varieties, in sixty-one instances, 

 one specimen has been taken ; in eight instances, two speci- 

 mens each ; and from one species originally represented by 

 twelve examples, three have been taken. A particular record 

 of the above has been made in the Museum copy of the 

 report containing the catalogue. 



In addition to the loss of the specimens we have the humilia- 

 tion of knowing that they have been appropriated by persons 

 competent to discriminate between rare and common species — 



* The labels of these trays are as follows : Conus amadis Martyn ; Conus monile 

 Bruguiere, Ceylon; Conus nocturnus Brug., Philippines; Conus gubemator Brug. ; 

 Conus crmineus Chemn, Philippines. 



+ These species are the following: Conus mustelinus Brug.; Conus lithoglyphus 

 Brug.; Ctnus UtUratus, Linn., Pacific; Cyprcea testudinaria Linn., South Seas; 

 Cyprcea pantherina Solander, Persian Gulf; Bulimus malleatus Say, Fejees; Buli- 

 mus fulguratus Say, Fejees ; Oliva erythrostoma Lam. 



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