1874.] SENATE— No. 200. 15 



Since the first of September, last, I have had the valuable 

 assistance of Professor Hamlin, late of Colby University, in 

 rearranging our entire collection of shells from the beginning. 

 Our progress has necessarily been slow, since much time has 

 been given to identification as a proper preliminary, and so 

 far scarcely a single species has been left without a name. 



We have commenced, also, to arrange a series of useful 

 shells for supplying the several normal schools with the means 

 of instruction in our department, and hope to have them 

 ready by the close of the present year. 



Among the boxes received during the year, was one from 

 R. McAndrew, since deceased, and it contained a very com- 

 plete series of the shells once belonging to W. H. Benson, 

 which, having been identified and named by him, possess 

 unusual interest, and many are his own species, and partake, 

 therefore, of the character of type specimens. 



From Nicolas Pike, Esq., late U. S. Consul at Mauritius, 

 we have received, as usual, a large number of species and 

 specimens found in that region, and from no contributor have 

 we received more valuable or more desirable contributions. 



Nearly all the other contributions were by exchange, and 

 have been duly paid for in the same manner. Among these, 

 however, we may mention one box of upwards of 500 species 

 from Polynesian localities, which was particularly desirable, 

 and renders our series from that quarter almost a complete 

 one. 



During the year we have sent away, by exchanges, thirty- 

 seven packages, containing 4,647 species and 18,449 spec- 

 imens, leaving us indebted for only two parcels, received 

 within a month past. 



The alcoholic mollusca have been in the charge of Mr. J. 

 H. Blake, who, with the aid of Dr. Palmer, has revised the 

 whole collection, and has begun to arrange, systematically, 

 the whole collection for future convenience. 



The large collection of cephalopods has been especially 

 selected for exhibition. The collection of eggs of mollusca 

 has been carefully examined, and is now in a good condition. 



The most extensive invoice of alcoholic mollusca is that 

 of the Hassler Expedition. 



