DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY. 117 



MOLLUSCA. 



The work done in connection with the collection of MoJlusca 

 has been of a miscellaneous character. The collection of radulse 

 and other microscopic preparations has been arranged in proper 

 sequence, and a manuscript catologue of them prepared. 

 Further progress has been made in the arrangement of the 

 family Acmseidae ; the divisions of the genus Bosinia have been 

 studied, and the species arranged in accordance ; collections of 

 Opisthobranchs from Japan, the South African Scalarias, a 

 series of land and freshwater shells from Madagascar, and 

 some species of the genera Thais and Haliotis from Japan, have 

 been worked out. A presumed new species of Crepidula has 

 been studied, and an account has been drawn up of some 

 remarkable shell-growths supposed to have been taken from 

 valves of Tridacna. A number of types and figured specimens 

 from the Hanley and Pennant collections have been identified 

 by comparison with the original figures and descriptions. The 

 registration of the Norman collection of Arctic and Palsearctic 

 Mollusca has been continued and the model illustrating 

 " torsion " in Gastropoda and a table-case containing British 

 Mollusca of economic interest have been placed on exhibition. 

 A very large number of acquisitions from many localities have 

 been mounted, registered and incorporated, a selection of the 

 more striking specimens being placed in the exhibition cases. 



Insecta. 



In order to provide additional accommodation for cabinets 

 in the Insect Koom, an iron gallery has been fixed to the walls 

 in Room H, but the work was only just completed at the end 

 of the year. By the removal to this gallerj^ of cabinets 

 containing duplicates and other material not often required for 

 reference, a certain amount of space will be set free for the 

 expansion of the economic and other parts of the collection. 



The need of additional working space, which is required 

 not only for the members of the staff" but also for the use of 

 voluntary workers and students, has been greatly felt at all 

 times during the year, and was especially noticeable for a short 

 period following the International Congress of Entomology at 

 Oxford, when a number of distinguished entomologists from 

 abroad visited the Insect Room in order to study the collections 

 there. At that time special eff'orts had to be made by the 

 Assistants in charge of the collections, and with the kindly 

 profi'ered help of Mr. C. O. Waterhouse, I.S.O., late Assistant 

 Keeper, matters were arranged as satisfactorily as possible for 

 the convenience of the visitors. 



The chief addition to the Insect Room during the year has 

 been the large and valuable collection of Lepidoptera be- 

 queathed by the late Mr. Herbert J. Adams, and consisting of 

 about 140,000 specimens arranged in 69 cabinets and 581 

 carton boxes. Sufficient space not being available in the Insect 

 Room itself, these cabinets and boxes have been placed in the 

 South West Basement Corridor, in convenient proximity to 



