90 SHELLS 

carvings in wood, ivory, and stone, and embroidery are shown to 
advantage. 
A special collection of great value is found-in the ancient bronzes 
and pottery shown in the adjoining tower room. 
West WING 
SHELLS 
The collection of shells installed in the West Wing contains altogether 
about 100,000 specimens representative of nearly 15,000 species. These 
show extraordinary range of color and ornamentation. The arrange- 
ment of the collection is as follows: first, in the south wall cases a series 
showing briefly the classification of mollusks; second, in the eight table 
cases at the north and south ends of the hall the collections of land shells; 
third, in the upright railing cases the bivalves or mollusks which have 
two shells like the common clam; fourth, in the metallic cases the 
univalves, mollusks which have only one valve or shell like the snails; 
fifth, special exhibits of shells in the north wall cases. Other cases con- 
tain exhibits illustrating the anatomy and habits of mollusks; colored 
transparencies show them in their habitats. A series of colored photo- 
graphs (N. end Rail Cases) illustrates stages in the pearl-button industry 
of the U. 8. | 
Facing the entrance is a huge shell of the giant clam, T’ridacna, 
measuring 43 by 27 inches and weighing 579 pounds, one of the largest 
examples on record. 
Short descriptive group labels will be found in the cases, and on the 
walls, picture labels of important families of shells, together with small 
Maps of Distribution defining the occurrence of the same throughout the 
world. 
An interesting collection of deformed shells is seen in the north case, 
and a series illustrating the ornamental uses of shells. Cases of especial 
beauty in their shell contents are those holding Murex, Fusus, Volute, 
Conus, Oliva, Strombus, Cypraea, Trixia. 
[Return to the South Pavilion, containing the apes and monkeys.] 

DECORATION FROM THE SHELL HALL 
