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4 [[stamped - CONGRESS OAH&WCO]] [[clipping]] 2. In order and accessible for reference, but requiring new labels, the West American collection prepared by Dr. Carpenter and originally mounted on glass, containing many of his types. Also the types of Dr. Gould's descriptions of North Pacific mollusks, from the Rodgers exploring expedition, so far as they are in the possession of the Institution. The majority of the types of Dr. Gould, however, though the property of the United States, have never reached the National Museum, and are believed to be in private hands. 3. In order, labeled, catalogued, and inaccessible (i. e., packed up), the collection of North American land and fresh-water shells prepared by Dr. James Lewis for the Centennial exhibit of the National Museum. 4. Identified and labled with rough labels, to be replaced by the standard Museum label before exhibition, catalogued, but not unpacked, two boxes of the original Carpenter collection of miscellaneous shells. 5. Identified and labled as above by the donors, packed up safely, but never yet placed on the Museum catalogues or registers, the Binney collection of typical American land shells; a large number of shells (between 2,000 and 3,000 species) given to the Museum by W. H. Dall, being his own private accumulations by purchase, collection, or exchange, when not connected with the Museum; numbers of small donations from many friends of the Institution, received from time to time; typical land and fresh-water shells received from Dr. Isaac Lea, of Philadelphia, &c. 6. Unidentified virgin material received from definite localities, packed safely, but not administered upon in detail, an immense stock from the United States, and divers valuable lots of exotics. 7. Separated, labled with preliminary labels, registered, and in process of being worked up, generally dusty, but in good order the general Alaskan and northwest coast collection contributed by W. H. Dall, his associates and friends,from original field researches; a smaller but still valuable Californian collection from the same sources; a North European collection of recent and Tertiary fossil species obtained by purchase and exchange for special comparison with and identification of the proceeding; also many Arctic species gathered with the same end in view. 8. Injured and worthless specimens; though notwithstanding the great mass of the material belonging to the Institution, it is probable that there is unusually little trash in it. 9. Alcoholics, in good order, partly labeled. There is a large collection of alcoholics, much of which is labeled and, thanks to the care and energy of Mr. Rathbun, in excellent order. It may be worth while to remark that, all earlier alcoholics having been removed by Dr. Stimpson to Chicago and subsequently burned in the historic conflagration, when the curator returned to Washington, in January, 1875, there was no alcoholic collection except that made by himself in Alaska and California. (The Fish Commission collection, not having reached Washington, is not included among the assets of the Museum, though eventually to become so.) Special attention has been given to this class of specimens; and by a wide correspondence and the generosity of the never-failing friends of the Smithsonian Institution, a good representation of most types of mollusks may now be found in the room devoted to invertebrates in alcohol. A few species have lately been received from the collections of the Fish Commission, and a larger number from Dr. R. E. C. Stearns, collected on the Pacific coast. Having thus briefly reviewed the treasures of the National Museum in the present curator's department, a few words as to facilities [[strikethrough]] obtained during the year and [[/strikethrough]] required for the future are in order. It is the writer's opinion that an extensive exhibition of the shells as mere objets de regard is not desirable. He believes that, first, a thoroughly illustrated series of a few typical forms from embryo to adult, with enlarged models and dissections of the soft parts; secondly, an economical series, with illustrations of their economic application, as in cameo shells, pearl shells, &c. ; thirdly, a good local series of the mollusks of the District; and, lastly, a case or two of prominent characteristic forms of the different orders, recent and fossil, side by side, would be more instructive, more interesting, and more desirable than the large series of every attainable species common to most museums, and which produces, except for the specialist, only a confused and even wearying impression upon the visitor's mind. [[/clipping]] As the most immediate needs of the paleontologist are at this time connected with the identification of the American Land Shells that part of the collection was first attacked with the coöperation of Messrs Stearns and Call. It was placed in complete order except so
