REVUE SUISSE DE ZOOLOGIE 

 Tome 76, n° 49 — Décembre 1969 



953 



The types of the Lamarck Collection 

 in the Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle 

 in Geneva 

 Récent Mollusca of the Gênera Mitra, 

 Columbella (part) and Cancellaria (part). 1 



by 



W. O. CERNOHORSKY 



Auckland Institute & Muséum 



With 58 figures 



Introduction 



During the month of May 1968, I had the opportunity to examine Lamarck's 

 collection of Mitridae in the Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle in Geneva. In order to 

 evaluate the collection and status of type-specimens, the historical background of the 

 collection should be taken into considération. 



Lamarck's private molluscan collection was sold in 1830 to Prince Masséna, 

 the Duc de Rivoli, who subsequently sold the collection to Baron Benjamin de 

 Lessert (1773-1847). The collection was inherited by his brother F. de Lessert, and 

 on his death the collection was donated to the Muséum of Geneva by his descen- 

 dants. At this time, several other prominent collections were incorporated in the 

 de Lessert collection: those of Hwass, de Lamarck, Prince Masséna and M. Solier 

 de la Touche. Ségrégation of Lamarck's types has proved a difficult task at times. 



Lamarck's personal copy of the seventh volume of the " Histoire naturelle des 

 animaux sans vertèbres " reached the Muséum with the collections. The copy was 



1 For preceding parts in this séries, see G. Mermod, Rev. suisse Zool.: (1947), 54: 155-217; 

 (1950), 57:687-756; (1951), 58:693-753; (1952), 59:23-97; (1953), 60:131-204, and G. Mermod & 

 E. Binder, (1963), 70:127-172. 



