1904.] 
NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 
847 
keys. The specimens have been determined and studied, and it is 
hoped that the results, suitably illustrated, will be published during the 
coming year. 
A series of Japanese mollusks, some 650 lots, received from Mr. Y. 
Hirase, of Kyoto, has also been studied, but only the new forms have 
been published, comprising about 140 new species and about 30 new 
subspecies. 
Mr. J. Ii. Ferriss has generously divided his valuable Arizona col- 
lections with us. The study of this material, with that collected by 
Mr. Ferriss and the Special Curator in 1903, is nearly complete. An 
unexpectedly large number of new and interesting forms were found. 
Early in the year an attempt was made to increase our collection of 
fresh-water bivalves of the genus Pisidium. Some 70 lots were 
obtained from various correspondents, 10 of them cotypes and a large 
number of them topotypes. With the specimens already in our pos- 
session, these additions probably make our collection the most com- 
plete in existence. 
A series of the mollusks of the Alabama river system, collected this 
year by Mr. H. H. Smith, has been purchased. It consists of about 
17,000 specimens. These remain to be determined and installed. 
During the spring the Special Curator explored a portion of central 
Cuba for mollusks, obtaining a collection of some 500 lots, about 10,000 
specimens. This collection also remains to be studied. 
The chief work in the Museum has been the revision of the African 
Achatinidce. Much other work of correction and relabelling has been 
done in connection with studies on new material. 
Four papers have been published in the Proceedings of ithe Academy 
by the Special Curator, one with Mr. Vanatta, and one in conjunction 
with Mr. Hirase, while ten have been published by the Special Curator 
in the Nautilus. These have chiefly dealt with the classification and 
description of new material. 
The time of the Special Curator has been largely occupied, as hitherto, 
in the publication of the Manual of Conchology. The volume for this 
year treats of the African family Achatinidce. 
The efficient assistance of Mr. E. G. Vanatta in the work of the 
department throughout the year should be acknowledged. 
H. A. PlLSBRY, 
Special Curator of the Department of Mollusca. 
