20 MUSEQM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. [Apr. 



ther enriched by a valuable contribution from Rev. Mr. Fair- 

 bank, who has added about 50 new species from that interesting 

 portion of the world, and from localities hitherto unrepresented 

 with us. 



Dr. Maack brought home a large number of highly interest- 

 ing shells, obtained on both sides of the Isthmus of Darien, but 

 principally at Panama, on the western side, and at Carthagena 

 on this side. They are the more interesting, as those from 

 Carthagena show some forms which have generally hitherto been 

 credited to the African coast, and not before known to exist at 

 any intermediate point. 



I cannot here omit to allude to the very valuable, though small 

 collection of marine forms, received of J. Gwyn Jeffreys, Esq., 

 who paid us a visit in September, for the purpose of examining 

 and comparing our deep-sea dredgings with those brought to 

 light by the British expeditions for the same purpose, of which 

 Mr. Jeffreys is one of the most zealous operators. Only 33 

 species were thus received. Mr. J. subsequently paid a visit to 

 Chicago, shortly previous to the great fire, and minutely exam- 

 ined our specimens in Mr. Stimpson's hands there, taking home 

 with him many species for better comparison with the European 

 dredgings. Our other specimens in Chicago all perished in the 

 ruins of the Chicago Museum by the great fire. 



From Santo Domingo we have a small but interesting series 

 of land shells, received through Mr. Charles Wright, who accom- 

 panied the American commissioners to that portion of Hayti. 

 It is to be regretted that the scientific men who went on that 

 occasion could not have penetrated further into the island, and 

 brought away larger and more complete representations of its 

 fauna. 



Mr. Geale, who has hitherto contributed largely and very 

 acceptably to our collection, has again laid us under obligations, 

 by sending us two fine lots of handsome and rare forms, thereby 

 supplying some of our desiderata and filling many a hiatus 

 which has long troubled us. 



Since my last report, the collection of shells formerly belong- 

 ing to the Harvard Natural History Society which had for some 

 time previously been in the Museum building, has been placed 

 in my hands, and found to be a considerable addition to our re- 

 sources. It has enabled us to furnish in return a large number 



