8 



and I may call attention to the biological collection, which owes 

 its existence and present condition entirely to his care. It 

 contains about three thousand species of all orders, and far sur- 

 passes any existing collection. 



For the first time, the name of one of the most enthusiastic 

 and (iistinguished of our Assistants does not head the annual 

 report hitherto so carefully prepared by him. The death of 

 Mr. Anthony, which occurred on October 16th, has brought to 

 a close a long term of faithful service. Mr. Anthony became 

 connected with the Museum in August, 1863, and from that 

 time until his decease his time and energies were given to the 

 department of Conchology, with such assiduous and entire 

 devotion as is rarely equalled. He was a recognized authority 

 on American Land and Fresh- water Mollusca ; having shared 

 pioneer work upon them with Say, Haldeman, Conrad, and 

 Lea. His descriptions of species — more numerous than is gen- 

 erally known, since many of them antedate the recollection of 

 younger conchologists — are to be found in the earlier volumes 

 of most of our scientific journals. He had held correspondence 

 and conducted exchanges with almost all active conchologists 

 and shell-collectors of his time, who never failed to appreciate 

 the remarkable skill in exchanging, the complete knowledge of 

 the relative value of specimens, and the wide acquaintance with 

 the traditions of Conchology, which were fruits of his long 

 experience. He died at the age of seventy-three years, after a 

 sickness of five weeks. 



It is particularly gratifying to me to speak of the thorough 

 co-operation now existing between the University and the 

 Museum Library, and to recognize the cordial assistance given 

 by Mr. Justin Winsor, the Librarian of Harvard College, to the 

 Museum Librarian. 



The publications of the Museum during the past eighteen 

 months have been more numerous than during any previous cor- 

 responding time. The fourth volume of the Museum Bulletin, 

 devoted to the Terrestrial Mollusca of the United States, by 

 Mr. W. G. Binney, has been published, pp. 239, plates 100. 

 The Museum is indebted to Mr. Binney for the large number 

 of plates which accompany this volume. Mr. Binney has also 

 presented to the Museum all his MS., as well as the copper- 

 plates belonging to the Terrestrial MoUusks of North America, 



