REPORT ON THE DEPARTMENT OF MOLLUSKS 

 IN THE U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1890. 



By Wm. H. Dall, Honorary Curator. 



As in previous years, by permission of the director of the U. S. Geo- 

 logical Survey, the curator has devoted a portion of his time to the 

 duties of the curatorship, as Dr. R. E. C. Stearns has done in the ca- 

 pacity of adjunct curator, while Mr. Frank Burns and Mr. Gilbert D. 

 Harris, of the U. S. Geological Survey, have lent their aid in the work 

 from time to time with important results. 



Since obtaining Mr. Simpson's assistance we have been able to dele- 

 gate to him a large amount of work which hitherto has been delayed on 

 account of the lack of competent assistance in the scientific work of the 

 department. Mr. Bond has carefully and faithfully performed all that 

 has been required of him. Miss Beard, whose work while detailed to the 

 department has been chiefly confined to sorting over the fine gravel and 

 bottom material obtained from deep-sea dredgings, has made satisfac- 

 tory progress. The department has never before been so well equipped, 

 and the result is highly satisfactory. It gives me pleasure also to record 

 the fact that for the first time in its history, this department has been 

 well supplied with cases for the specimens, to protect them from dust 

 and for the display of a portion of the collection. These cases, which 

 occupy the middle aisle of the lower Smithsonian hall, are partly of the 

 double Liverpool pattern and partly flat storage-cases with table tops. 

 They now await only the locks to the upright center pieces of the Liver- 

 pool tables, and the assistance of a carpenter. They will then be ready 

 for use. Whether immediate use will be made of the facilities for ex- 

 hibition which the glazed tops afford, will depend upon the decision of 

 Congress in regard to the appropriation for altering and repairing the 

 Smithsonian building. If this is made, and the ceiling of the lower hall 

 cut through, as has been planned, it will be undesirable to attempt any 

 arrangement for exhibition purposes which would be allowed to remain 

 undisturbed for only a few weeks. The arrangement of this part of the 

 collection will therefore be deferred until the question of the proposed 

 changes in the hall has been decided. On the other hand, if no changes 

 are made at present, the installation of the exhibit will be commenced 



