26 MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZO-OLOGY. [Jan. 



adding very materially to our collection, in some genera m 

 which we have hitherto been very deficient. 



The Brazilian Expedition, so liberally provided for by one of 

 our most constant benefactors, was naturally looked to as prom- 

 ising a large increase in tfris department, and I accompanied it 

 with direct reference to a full collection of the mollusca in that 

 region. A severe illness compelled my return at a time when 

 my labors had scarcely commenced. A good collection of land 

 and marine shells had been made, however, and a portion of 

 the land shells were brought home, and enter into this Report ; 

 but all the marine shells and alcoholic specimens generally, 

 were left for future shipment. The other members of the 

 Expedition will not neglect the mollusca among the varied 

 objects of their research, and we may still hope .to receive a 

 large accession from this source. 



About the usual number of packages have been sent away 

 during the current year, but much remains to be done in this 

 line, to repay those who have so liberally furnished specimens. 

 The consignments amount to 1,863 species and 8,781 speci- 

 mens. 



Report on the Radiates, by Alexander Agassiz. 



The additions to this part of the collection have not been 

 numerous, as the collectors to whom we formerly owed, the 

 principal part of our additions have either returned home, or 

 we have been obliged to discontinue their services for want of 

 means. Owing to other more pressing duties in the Museum, 

 but little work has been done in any of the classes. The general 

 arrangement is, however, so far completed for the Radiates that 

 this part of the collection is still in advance of nearly every other 

 department. Mr. Niles has, during the past year, continued 

 to give his attention to the arrangement of the collection of 

 Crinoids purchased last year, which, when it becomes incorpo- 

 rated with the collection of Crinoids already in the Museum, 

 will make it one of the most complete in the Museum. Among 

 the additions I have to notice specially the collection sent by 

 Professor Haeckel, in exchange, containing quite a number 

 of animals usually considered too perishable to be sent any 



