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2.

The exhibit, in this division of natural history, probably surpassed in extent and general excellence any previously made at the great Expositions. It was arranged in twenty-one table or flat cases, equivalent to a floor area of not less than four hundred square feet; the species being placed in trays inside of the cases, and each of the species labeled.

The general system followed was a geographical one, and presented a characteristic representation of the more conspicuous and interesting forms of the various zoological-geographical provinces.

The exhibit included several cases of the Fresh Water Mussels of the Mississippi drainage area, remarkable for the great number and beauty of these shells; also the rare and peculiar forms belonging to this group, from other parts of the word. The Land and Pond Snails of the Mississippi basin each represented by a separate case.

The Marine shells of the Atlantic coast of America from the Arctic Sea to the Caribbean, and the sea shells of the Pacific Coast from Bering's Sea to Panama, including the principal species inhabiting the tidal areas of Puget Sound in the north and the Gulf of California to the south. Other cases contained selected specimens from the Indo-Pacific region such as live in the warm waters of the great coral areas of the tropical and semi-tropical seas between the shores of Western America and Eastern Asia.

Four cases were devoted to the Edible Mollusca of the United States. Two of these contained the Clams, Cockles &c. of the Atlantic Seaboard and two cases were given to similar forms peculiar to the coast of Western North America from