9. MOLLUSCA. 



By E. A. SMITH, P.L.S., l.s.u. 



A. List op Officers more oh less connected ptcth the 



Collection of Mollusca in hast fears. 



* This year Zoology was made a separate Department 



B. Progress and Arrangement of the Collkcti<»\ of 

 Mollusca. 



1759-1904. 



In this account of the formation and progress of the collection 

 of Mollusca in the British Museum it has only aeemed 

 to refer to the principal and most extensive series ol Bpecimena 

 which have been acquired from time to time either by donation 

 or purchase. Very many individual specimens or small numbers 

 of shells have been received, which, in some respects, are equally 

 as important as the larger series, although they do not nrach 

 increase the bulk of the general collection. 



In 1836, it was estimated by Dr. (then Mr. .1. B.) Gray that 

 the Museum possessed 15,000 specimens of shells. Since thai 



