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REPORT ON THE CONCHOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. 



By Charles E. Hamlin. 



Since the last annual report, the selection, xnounting, and 

 arrangement of shells for the North American Faunal Collection, 

 previously begun, have been finished ; and progress has been 

 made in the preparation of specimens for the Systematic Col- 

 lection, in readiness for the new exhibition cases, now approach- 

 ing completion. In connection with this work, and mainly as a 

 part of it, a review has been made of several important families 

 of Marine and Land Shells, involving the determination of many 

 species. 



The exchanges of the department having last year necessarily 

 fallen into arrears on our part, much time was given during the 

 winter and spring to the making up of suites of specimens for 

 several American and foreign correspondents. More labor of the 

 same kind still remains to be done. 



We have sent to Dr. W. D. Hartman, of West Chester, Penn., 

 a full series of Partulae, selected for his use in preparing a de- 

 scriptive and analytical catalogue of the species of that perplexing 

 and much neglected genus. This has required an examination 

 (heretofore deferred) of the great stock of Partulae acquired 

 through purchase of the Pease Collection. 



In the spring some two thousand specimens of shells, from our 

 abundant duplicates, were furnished to Professor Hyatt, for illus- 

 trating a portion of his course of lectures to the Boston teachers. 



A collection of shells belonging to Mount Holyoke Seminary 

 has, by request, been named and returned, and work of like 

 character has been performed for several individuals. 



Miss Anthony has been busily and faithfully engaged through- 

 out the year in cleaning specimens and mounting them for exhi- 

 bition. 



