1872.] 



SENATE—No. 249. 



21 



of suitable specimens for teaching the scientific class, organized 

 in our Myiseum from students in Harvard University, as well 

 as to add some good species to our own general collection. 



Dr. H. Dohrn has also given us another proof of his kindness, 

 by contributing a choice and valual)le selection of species, be- 

 sides making us a most acceptable visit, inspecting carefully our 

 collection, and revising in some cases our imperfect determina- 

 tions of species. 



From many others of our tried friends, we have received dur- 

 ing the present year additional proofs of their kindness, which 

 we are duly grateful for, and most heartily thank them. Among 

 these we cannot but mention Dr. Cox, Nicholas Pike, Esq., and 

 the Museum at Bordeaux. 



From every source we have received 34 packages, 2,494 species 

 and 20,566 specimens since our last report. 



Our consignments during the same period have been 23 pack- 

 ages, 1,965 species and 8,007 specimens. 



Comparatively little has been done in my department, during 

 the year, in the way of determining species, as up to the last of 

 the year we were without the books needed to carry our deter- 

 minations beyond the point to which they had already attained. 

 But just previous to closing this Report, our library has been 

 greatly enriched by receiving a handsomely bound copy of 

 Reeve's Iconography, in 17 volumes. This valuable work I have 

 long desired the use of, in vain, and no time will be lost in avail- 

 ing myself of its important aid during the coming season, to 

 reduce the number of our undetermined species. 



One other important work which I have been called upon to 

 do during the year, remains to be noticed ; viz., that of furnish- 

 ing the normal schools of the State with generic types of shells, 

 carefully selected, for the instruction of the scholars, to which 

 we hope to add in due time such specimens as we can furnish 

 illustrative of the species found in New England particularly, 

 as well to some extent with the species from foreign as well as 

 domestic localities. I have commenced this arrangement with 

 the normal school in West Newton Street, Boston, under the 

 management of Mr. Hunt, and, in order to make this more use- 

 ful to that institution, have required him to detail a few of his 

 best scholars to come at stated times for many weeks in order to 

 learn the proper method of handling and mounting shells, and 



