1865.] SENATE— No. 96. 39 



arrangements of the molluscous household, and will, we trust, 

 also give us a more reliable clew to a perfect arrangement of 

 the mollusca themselves. 



All the mollusks in alcohol have, since the last report, been 

 examined and put into better order by Mr. Bickmore, and may 

 now be considered beyond the fear of injury for some time 

 to come. 



Considerable progress has been made in the classification of 

 a portion of the pulmonate Gasteropods, and before our next 

 report, we hope to chronicle further progress in this direction. 



Important measures have also been projected, and are in 

 process of consummation, by which, we trust, our collection 

 may be largely augmented and our resources for that purpose 

 be extended far beyond their present limit. These measures 

 will, we believe, when fully developed, place our collection of 

 mollusca in a position second to none on this continent, and 

 but little inferior to any in Europe. 



Prominent among these measures we may note the contem- 

 plated purchase of two collections of shells, well known among 

 naturalists in this country as containing many specimens and 

 species of unusual interest. These collections are so dissimilar 

 that in the purchase of both, neither would to any great extent 

 duplicate the other. One of them, Mr. Anthony's, is composed 

 entirely of terrestrial and fluviatile shells, to the number of 

 500Q species, including a very large number from our southern 

 waters, from whence, during our present struggle, we cannot 

 hope to draw any fresh supplies. It is also rich in typical 

 specimens, including representatives of all the species of his 

 own description, as well as a very large number derived from 

 other authors, thus making it, to a large extent, a typical col- 

 lection ; while the vast number of desirable duplicates, more 

 in number, we believe, than belongs to any collector on this 

 continent, will enable us to carry on our exchanges advanta- 

 geously for many years to come. The other collection, that of 

 Dr. Gould, needs no special comment, being well known to all 

 those conversant with natural history in this country. It is 

 said to contain about 10,000 species of marine, fluviatile, and 

 terrestrial shells, embracing not only his own types of the 

 United States exploring expedition shells, but also those of the 



