INTRODUCTION. Panama Shells. 15 



few travellers who have collected any of the very minute 

 shells of the tropics. 



In 1836-37 the Bonite (French) made a voyage of explo- 

 ration around the world. In the summer of 1836 this expe- 

 dition touched at several places in the southern part of the 

 Panama zoological province, as far north as Guayaquil, 

 ■whence the Bonite sailed for the Sandwich Islands. M. M. 

 Eydoux and Souleyet were the zoologists of the expedition. 

 The former gentleman died of yellow fever at Martinique in 

 1841, before the results in this department were published. 

 On the MoUusca we have seen only a folio volume of about 

 50 plates, without date and without text. The only text of 

 the zoology which we have seen, is on the mammals and 

 birds, with date of 1841. 



In August, and during the remainder of 1836, H. M. S. 

 the Sulphur, under Lieut. Commander Kellett, visited Callao 

 and Payta, and carefully explored the coast from Guayaquil 

 to Panama. Here Commander (now Captain Sir Edward) 

 Belcher arrived and took command, and in collecting shells 

 was aided by Mr. Hinds, surgeon of the expedition. The 

 dredge was frequently used, and the cabin of the commander 

 became a museum. Proceeding to the north, they visited nu- 

 merous places up to San Bias, in June 1837. In the follow- 

 ing December, the Sulphur returned to the coast, and explora- >, 

 tions were made from Acapulco to Cerro Azul. Again in the 

 latter part of 1838, and during much of 1839, collections were 

 made in many localities. About 70 new species were de- 

 scribed by Mr. Hinds in the Proc. Zool. Soc. of London, com- 

 mencing February 14, 1843 ; also in the Zoology of the voy- 

 age of H. M. S. Sulphur ; and they have been included in 

 monographs which have subsequently been published in London. 



In 1837 the Venus (French) was at Callao from May 24 

 to June 3 ; from Nov. 25 to Deo. 6 at the Bay of Magdalena, 

 in the peninsula of California ; from Deo. 12 to Deo. 18, at 



