20 



COMPARATIVE ZO-OLOGY. [June, 



neglected, and the proper preparation of the specimens, to- 

 gether with the correspondence growing out of these ex- 

 changes, have occupied much time. 



Among the packages* received by exchange, have been 

 several contributions of more than usual importance and 

 deserving of special mention. No one of our various bene- 

 factors in this Avay has been more assiduous and untiring in 

 his efforts to enlarge and improve our collection than the 

 U. S. Consul at Mauritius, Hon. Nicolas Pike. In this de- 

 partment he has sent us, from time to time, some of the most 

 valuable contributions we have ever received. 



Our constant friend Dr. Dohrn, has also continued his 

 kindness by sending us two parcels of choice specimens of 

 shells, which being rare species and of unquestioned correct- 

 ness as to labels, possess unusual value. 



From Colby University we have received two large packages 

 containing not only species for our collection, but many valu- 

 able duplicates for other exchanges. 



Governor Rawson, of Barbadoes, has favored us with a well 

 selected series of marine forms of the West Indies, which 

 materially improves our West Indian faunal collection. This 

 is the more satisfactory as we had been previously quite de- 

 ficient in marine forms from that quarter. The species sent 

 by him are particularly rich in graduated series of the young 

 and old individuals, which gives them an additional interest to 

 our collection. 



The disastrous fire at Chicago in October, last year, which 

 destroyed the Museum of the Academy of Sciences, with all 

 its contents, consumed nearly all our specimens dredged in 

 the Gulf Stream, and w^as to us a serious loss which seemed 

 at the time almost irreparable. Prof. Stimpson, however, 

 who by that fire was temporarily deprived of his position as 

 director of the Museum, was at once employed to resume 

 those dredgiugs, and the result of his labors has mainly sup- 

 plied the species lost by that conflagration. 



We are also largely indebted to J. G. Jeflfreys, Esq., who 

 had been allowed to select from those dredgings shortly before 

 the fire for the purpose of comparison with similar dredgings 

 made for the British Government, and who has not only 

 promptly returned the specimens loaned him for that purpose, 



