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1869.] SENATE—No. 60. 31 
Japan, China and Burmah ; from Australia, Melbourne. Other 
localities are more or less represented. 
The first step is to secure the safety of the present collection 
in the new boxes; the second, to separate them as well as possi- 
ble; the third, to enlarge the collections in such a way, as to 
fulfil as far as may be, the plan proposed. 
To accomplish this purpose, I have begun to bring together 
the lepidoptera for the systematic and faunal collection, while 
Mr. Burgess has been doing the same work for the North 
American lepidoptera. Nearly 300 boxes are filled, and all the 
lepidoptera except the valuable European collections, are 
arranged. 
Mr. B. P. Mann has commenced the same work for the North 
American coleoptera, especially with the view of putting in 
safety the valuable collections determined and arranged by Mr. 
Uhler, and partly revised by Mr. LeConte. 
I have also begun the arrangement of the larve, pupa, &c., 
for the collection representing the metamorphoses of insects. 
They are arranged in glass tubes, in alcohol, and then placed 
like the insects themselves, in well closed boxes, insuring their 
perfect safety. This arrangement is made upon a peculiar plan, 
facilitating the study of the objects and permitting a better view 
and more ready comparison than is usual. 
This is the beginning. Hard work, the sympathy and aid of 
all entomological students, and a liberal pecuniary support, are 
needed if the large and comprehensive scientific plan adopted, 
is to be fulfilled. Iam sure that it will be! 
Report on the Tertiary Gasteropods, by Rey. J. B. Perry. 
During the year just drawing to a close, my attention has 
been mainly confined to the Museum collections belonging to 
the Tertiary era. In reporting upon the investigations begun, 
and the progress thus far made, it may be well that I refer at 
the start, to the collections themselves, and to the condition in 
which I found them on assuming the position of assistant in the 
department of Paleontology. 
The Tertiary fossils of the Museum consist of several impor- 
tant Tertiary collections brought together in one building—the 
