10 
REPORT OF THE 
CoNCHOLOGY. —The year 1889 has been an important one in 
the history of the Conchological Department. A wish long 
cherished bv the Honorary Curator has been at last fulfilled, in 
the provision of suitable accommodation for the general 
collection of Shells. 
Through the liberality of Mr. Wm. Reed, a series of hanging 
cases has been placed in the gallery of the Teidiary Room, 
where the Recent Shells can be exhibited in a good light and in 
their proper sequence. 
The Honorary Curator has been busy removing the 
Shells into their new quarters, and re-arranging the whole 
collection. The Classification followed is that put forward by 
the American Conchologist, Try on. It is the most modern 
and the most scientific, and will consequently be very generally 
adopted, though certain to shock the nerves of some veteran 
Conchologists. 
A large quantity of Shells, formerly hidden away in the 
Cabinets of the Society, is now exhibited, and many new speci¬ 
mens have been added during the year by the Honorary 
Curator, and by Mr. Wm. Reed, but there still exist some gaps 
in important groups. The Collection will not attain a proper 
charaeter, nor rise to the level of the other Departments of the 
Museum, unless a small annual sum is regularly expended in 
filling gaps and strengthening weak points. The Honorary 
Curator is particularly anxious to get rid of all unlocalized 
examples, as he feels strongly that no specimen is much more than 
an “ airy nothing ” unless it has a “ local habitation” as well 
as a name. He is also anxious that Malacology (or the study 
of the soft parts of Testaceous Animals) should receive some 
attention. This would be best secured by placing sketches of 
the Animals by the side of the Shells, and he would be very 
grateful if any Lady Artist would undertake, either to copy 
the admirable figures of Forbes and Hanley, or make original 
sketches. 
Conchology has become of late years such a very popular 
study that no first-class Museum ought to be satisfied with 
a Collection which is incomplete, either in specimens or 
arrangement. 
