ANNUAL REPORT

+

OF THE

TRUSTEES

OF THE

MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY,

AT HARVARD COLLEGE, IN CAMBRIDGE:

TOGETHER WITH

THE REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR

FOR

1 8 7

BOSTON: —
WRIGHT & POTTER, STATE PRINTERS

79 MILK STREET (CORNER OF FEDERAL).

1872.

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Boston, April 1, 1872.

To the Hon. Horace H. CoouipGE, President of the Senate.

Sir :—The Trustees of the Museum of Comparative Zodlogy
have the honor to present to the Legislature the Annual Report
of the Director, for the past year, marked [A].

_ _The paper marked [B}] contains a list of the Trustees, officers
and committees for 1872.

_ Respectfully submitted, for the Trustees,

MARTIN BRIMMER, Secretary.

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4 MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. [Apr.

[A.]
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR

OF THE

MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY,

For THE YEAR 1871.

On the point of leaving Cambridge for an extensive journey,
to explore the greatest depths of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans,
on both sides of the American Continents, I deem it my duty to
state to this Board, what measures I propose to take for the
management of the Museum during my absence.

Owing to the rapid increase of the institution, the manage-
ment of its business affairs has become very laborious. For the
last two years, Mr. T. G. Cary has taken chief charge of this
part of the work, giving his whole time to it, with untiring and
disinterested devotion. With your approbation, I propose to en-
trust it entirely to him during my absence; while Mr. A. Agas-
siz would advise on matters more especially concerning the
scientific interests of the Museum.

With reference to the regular work of the different depart-
ments, I propose to transfer to the heads of each department
the daily supervision I used to make personally of its progress,
and I have prepared written directions for them all, to serve as
a guide.

Mr. J. A. Allen is entrusted with the care of the Mammalia
and Birds. He has been especially directed to put in order, for
the purposes of the Museum, the collections he is now making
in the Rocky Mountains, with Messrs. Bliss and Bennett. I
have further directed him to dispose of our duplicates, by ex-

1872.] SENATE—No. 249. 5

changes, to the best advantage of the collections under his care ;
and further, to take the proper steps for the final exhibition of
the Mammals and Birds in the new building.

As Dr. Steindachner will accompany me on the Deep Sea
Dredging Expedition, Messrs. Bliss and Lockwood are charged
with the care of the Reptiles and Fishes in his absence. I ex-
pect that they will together look to the safe-keeping of this most
extensive and laborious department of the Museum. Mr. Bliss
is more particularly directed to complete his examination of the
collection of Fishes from the Himalaya Mountf&ins, which we
owe to the Rev. M. M. Carleton of Umbala, and also to prepare
his monograph of the Ichthelide (Pomotis, Centrachus, &c,),
for publication, while Mr. Lockwood is to arrange the Characines.

Mr. J. G. Anthony, with his two young assistants, will con-
‘tinue the arrangement and identification of the Shells, and
especially attend to the critical identification of the specimens,
and the preparation of collections for the use of the State Nor-
mal Schools, the Agricultural Colleges, and the Girls’ High and
Normal School in Boston. His long acquaintance with my aims
in the Museum renders it superfluous that Ishould give him
special instructions. The alcoholic collections of Mollusks will
unfortunately remain for another year in their present state, as
Mr. Blake, who lately had begun their arrangement, is to accom-
pany me during the Deep Sea Dredging Expedition.

Dr. Hagen has presented to me so comprehensive a plan of
the arrangement he proposes to carry outin the management of
his department, that I need only say here, that I have referred
him to his own report of last year for instructions. But the
class of Insects is so numerous, and our stores already so ex-
tensive, that, in order to accelerate the final exhibition of the
whole, I have appointed Mr. Boll and a young pupil of Dr. Ha-
gen, to help him in the work. Mr. Boll is especially directed
to put up all the insects requiring anew setting, and to prepare
the way for extensive exchanges by eliminating the duplicates
from the collection proper, and, in the most suitable seasons,
gathering additional material for this purpose. As this work
advances, Dr. Hagen is instructed to prepare entomological col-
lections for the Normal Schools, on the same basis as those
already in progress for the shells.

6 MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. [Apr.

I have great pleasure in adding that Mr. Louis Cabot is suc-
cessfully working up the larval conditions of the Neuroptera.

The Annelids of the Museum are in the hands of Prof. Ehlers,
in Erlangen, for identification ; and Dr. W. Stimpson, of Chica-
go, proposes to take charge of the Crustacea.

In the absence of Mr. Lyman, who is now in Europe, and of
Count Pourtalés, who goes with me on the Deep Sea Dredging
Expedition, to take especial charge of the dredging operations,
Mr. Alex. Agassiz will have the sole charge of all the Radiates ;
but as Messrs. Lyman and Pourtalés have prepared in advance,
for exchange, sets of duplicates from the collections lately in their
hands, no disadvantage is likely to accrue to the Museum from
the suspension of their work. Mr. Alex. Agassiz wiil be chiefly
engaged with the final revision.of the Echini. The Sponges are
now completely identified, thanks to the revision made of them
by Prof. Oscar Schmidt.

Dr. Maack is charged with the final arrangement of the Fossil
Vertebrates. But he is first expected to work up the collection
he has brought home from the Darien Expedition, under com-
mand of Captain Selfridge, and to complete his report upon the
same. Meanwhile, I expect Dr. Maack to superintend the cast-
ing of new and characteristic fossils which I have selected to be
multiplied by Mr. Kappeler for our exchanges. Mr. Kappeler
is so completely master of his art that I expect to render a sig-
nal service to our science, by having him make casts of the
most remarkable fossils described by American paleontologists,
and by procuring casts of unique specimens from the Old World,
in exchange for specimens thus far only known from American
deposits, a direct comparison of which is often an absolute
necessity for accurate identification.

Mr. Perry will continue the arrangement and identification of
the tertiary fossils, with the aid of two young assistants, who
have already had considerable practice in this kind of work.
The investigations Mr. Perry has made, this summer, of the ter-
tiary deposits of the Southern States have furnished him the
means of a more accurate comparison of the American forma-
tions of these recent periods in the earth’s history with those of
Europe, from which I expect much benefit to our collection.
Besides this, Mr. Perry is devoting special attention to the fos-

1872.] SENATE—No. 249. 7

sils of the primordial era. It is intended to put aside a set of
fossils for the Normal Schools.

Mr. St. John has undertaken the arrangement of the Carbon-
iferous Fossils, and made a beginning with the fossil fishes of
that formation, of which he has brought to the Museum the ©
finest collection I have ever seen.

Mr. Lesquereux has so far completed the arrangement and
identification of the Fossil Plants, that this part of our collec-
tion only awaits the finishing of the new building, and of the
cases in which they are to be put up, to be made accessible to
the public. .

We now lack only a monographer of the secondary fossils, to
complete the arrangement of our paleontological collections.
Mr. Bicknell continues to make microscopic sections of Sea
Urchins, spines, shells, teeth and the like, alternating with the
arrangement of the Foraminifera and other minute shells, of
which large supplies are among our miscellaneous collections.
The appointment of Mr. Bicknell as assistant to the Museum
has been considered important, as collections of preparations
such as he makes are too much neglected in most Museums.

Professor Wilder has been intrusted with the task of putting
up a special collection of anatomical preparations to illustrate
the structure and economy of our domesticated animals, with
a view to complementing the instruction in our agricultural col-
leges. Prof. H A. Ward is to prepare a series of skeletons of all
the breeds of horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, &c., &c., for this pur-
pose, a large number of which are already completed in his
hands, and will shortly be exhibited in the Museum.

The preparation of the last number of our illustrated cata-
logue, and the facility with which valuable specimens, received
in a fresh state, may be reproduced for future publication, with
all their characteristics, have satisfied me of the great advan-
tage we enjoy over other Museums in having an artist constantly
engaged in this work. Mr. Roetter has been chiefly occupied,
during last summer, with the drawing of fish embryos, with a
view of helping those engaged in fish-breeding; and he has
nearly completed the plates for the forthcoming number of the
- illustrated catalogue of our Echini, prepared by Mr. A. Agassiz.

Mr. Konopicky has drawn the plates for Mr. Cabot’s Neurop-
tera, and is now engaged with those of Mr. Hyatt’s Embryology
of Ammonites.

8 MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. [Apr.

Miss Slack, our librarian, is performing her duties with the
most praiseworthy diligence.

Professor Shaler is now chiefly occupied with canching our
under-graduates ; and, in order to render his instruction more
practical and impressive, every possible effort is now making to
prepare suitable collections for the lecture room, for the use of
the professor, as well as for the purposes of the students, of
which Professor Shaler will have charge. All the heads of the
different department are instructed to assist Professor Shaler in
the preparation and systematic arrangement of these collections,
and at the same time: to prepare materials for distribution
among the Normal Schools. Besides this, Mr. Shaler continues
to take part in the work of the Museum, and is at present
devoting his attention to the Silurian Fossils.

The friends of science will, no doubt, be pleased to learn that
the Museum of Comparative Zodlogy has made arrangements,
by which Dr. Wm. Stimpson may be able to begin making an-
other collection of those specimens upon which he had bestowed
special attention during his untiring and successful devotion to
zoology.

The most valuable additions to the Museum, during the past
year, have been the collection of Devonian Fossils, bought of
Dr. L. Schultze, and the large collection of marine animals of
Mauritius, presented by the Hon. Nicholas Pike, U. S. Consul at
Port Louis; not to speak of the numerous exchanges mentioned
below in the special reports of the heads of the departments.

Thanks to the liberality of the legislature, and of the citi-
zens of Boston, our institution has been put upon a footing of
rapid growth and improvement. Its corpsof workers is efficient

and devoted. Our relations with other scientific bodies in dif-

ferent parts of the world are all we could desire. Our exchanges
are rapidly increasing and improving, and we are missing few
opportunities of making valuable purchases. If its present
rate of expenditure could be made permanent, in a few years
the Museum may have no superior, perhaps no equal.

With this I submit the special reports of my fellow workers
as part of my own.

(Signed),
Ls. AGASSIZ.

1872.] SENATE—No. 249. 9

Report on the Mammals and Birds, by J. A. ALLEN.

During the past year little has been done on the collections of
Mammals and Birds, beyond caring for their preservation,
owing to my absence from the Museum, on a collecting tour to
the Rocky Mountains. LEarly in the year, hermetically closing
tin boxes were provided for the entire collection of unmounted
skins of both birds and mammals, excepting a few of the larger
specimens of the latter, for which tight wooden boxes were pre-
pared. The skins were immediately removed, from the insecure
cases in which they had been previously stored, to these insect-
proof boxes. They were thoroughly fumigated as they were
removed, and have since remained undisturbed. The alcoholic
collections were also examined and properly cared for during
the early part of the year, so that they still remain in good con-
dition.

In respect to the additions to these departments, the year has
been an important one. Dr. G. A. Maack, an assistant in the
paleontological department, made, while attached as naturalist
to Commander Selfridge’s Darien expedition, valuable collec-
tions of birds and mammals, which, through the kindness of
the Hon. G. W. Robeson, Secretary of the Navy, have become
the property of the Museum. These collections number several
hundred specimens, and contain many of great value.

A collection of Florida birds and mammals, numbering nearly
1,500 specimens, has been purchased of Mr. C. J. Maynard.
This collection supplies many deficiencies in the reserve collec-
tion, and furnishes many duplicates of Florida forms for ex-
change.

The Museum has also received a collection of beautifully pre-
pared skins of European birds, numbering 47 species, and
nearly 100 specimens, from Dr. H. Dohrn, of Stettin, Prussia,
and from the same gentleman, a choice collection of eggs,
_ numbering over one hundred specimens, and representing 38

European species.
Valuable and extensive additions to these departments have
- also resulted from the expedition sent out to the Rocky Moun-
_ tains, the past year, by the Museum. The expedition left Cam-
bridge in April, and was in the field nearly nine months. Col-
lections were made at intervals from the Missouri River to the
2

10_ MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. [Apr.

Great Salt Lake Basin, but principally at the following points:
Leavenworth, Topeka, and Fort Hays, Kansas; Denver and
Park County, Colorado Territory; Cheyenne, and Carbon
County, Wyoming Territory ; and the north-eastern part of the
Great Salt Lake Valley. The results of this expedition may be
briefly stated, as follows: —Altogether, about 1,700 skins were
collected, 1,500 of which were of birds, and the remaining 200
of mammals, besides many skeletons and skulls, and specimens
in alcohol. The collection of mammals, includes 8 elk, 12
black-tailed deer (Cervus macrotis), 1 white-tailed deer ( Cer-
vus leucurus), 25 prong-horned antelopes, 11 big-horns, or
Rocky Mountain sheep, and 23 buffalo. In each case both
sexes and the young are represented, and the specimens are
about equally divided between skins and skeletons. In addition
to these were obtained 35 skulls of antelope, 18 skulls of buffalo,
and a fine series of skulls of elk and black-tailed deer. Among
the smaller species are nearly 50 specimens of the little chief
hare (Lagomys princeps), and about 30 specimens of Cy-
nomys, or prairie dogs, divided about equally, betwen C. ludo-
vicianus and C. Gunnisonit. Many of these specimens are
already in the hands of able preparators; the preparation of the
skeletons, which are to be retained by the Museum, having been
undertaken by Prof. H. A. Ward, of Rochester, N. Y., while Mr.
S. Jillson is engaged in mounting the skins of the larger mam-
mals, many of which were sent to him fresh. The collection of
birds contains extensive series of most of the species character-
istic of the Great Plains, and the central region of the Rocky
Mountains, including, not unfrequently, from twenty to forty of
a species, and representing the first or nestling, and the autum-
nal plumages, as well as that of the breeding season.

Mr. Richard Bliss, of the Museum, accompanied the expedi-
tion for several months as ichthyologist, and Mr. OC. W. Bennett
was engaged as taxidermist. To both of these gentlemen the
expedition is greatly indebted for its success, and especially to
Mr. Bennett, whose zeal and activity were untiring. The Mu-
seum is under great obligations to Major-General John Pope,
Commander of the Department of the Missouri, for important
aid rendered to the expedition, and for the kindly interest with
which he favored its work; to Dr. W. EH. Webb, of Topeka,
Kansas, for many substantial favors; and to the Hon. W. N.

1872.] SENATE—No. 249. 1m

Byers, of Denver, Colorado. It also gives me pleasure to
acknowledge the indebtedness of the expedition, for valuable
assistance, to Capt. Samuel Obersheim, Acting Commander of
the Military Post at Fort Hays; to Colonel Morris, Major: Robin-
son, Captain Sturgeon, and Lieut. F. W. Baldwin, of the same
post, and to Colonel EK. Morrow and Lieut. Chase, of Fort Fred.
Steele, Wyoming Territory, for many favors. Acknowledg-
ments are also due to the American Merchants’ Express Com-
pany, and to Wells, Fargo & Oo., who have kindly forwarded
our specimens at greatly reduced rates; to the Union Pacific
Railroad Company, and to the Kansas, and the Denver Pacific
Railroad Companies, for passes for the members of the expedi-
tion over their respective roads, and for the free transportation
of specimens and baggage. The Hannibal and St. Joseph, the
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, and the Michigan Central Rail-
road Companies have also presented the expedition with passes.
The cordiality with which all these favors in behalf of science
were rendered, made their reception the more gratifying.

Other collections received during the year, and deserving
particular mention, are the fine suite of 15 Hawaiian skulls,
presented by Dr. Robert Wood, of Honolulu; the skeleton of a
young ‘“‘fin-back ” whale, presented by Mr. James H. Blake;
the skeleton of a Holstein bull, presented by Mr. W. W. Chen-
ery, of Belmont; and the skeleton of a manatus, received from
Dr. Krauss.

In addition to the skeletons sent by the Rocky Mountain
expedition to Prof. Ward, a large number of others have been
forwarded to this gentleman for preparation, a considerable
_ part of which are tobe mounted. Among these last, are several
skeletons of domesticated cattle and horses, representing differ-
ent breeds; six species of Pinnipedes; several specimens of
Alces, including a specimen from Europe, and many smaller
animals. -

The subjoined schedules exhibit more fully the additions that
have been made to these departments since the last report : —

Mammals, by Donation.

Atwoop, Hon. N. E., Provincetown, Mass. Skeleton of a young
Sperm whale.

12 MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. [Apr.

BicknetL, Epwin (Assistant in the Museum). About 100
specimens of white mice, in various stages of development.

Brake, James H, (Student in the M.C.Z.) Skeleton of a young
Fin-backed whale (Balenoptera). |

Buen er, Cuas., Fort Fred. Steele, Wyoming Territory. Skull
of a Grizzly bear.

Curenery, W. W., Belmont, Mass. Skeleton of a thorough-bred
Holstein bull.

Darien Expepirion, Capt. T. O. Setrripen, Commander. 15
specimens, 10 species, in alcohol; 9 specimens, 6 species, skin$;
several skulls and skeletons, collected by Dr. G. A. Maack;
naturalist of the expedition.

Pixs, Nicuoztas, U. 8. Consul in Mauritius. 2 species of
Pteropus; several skulls, and other small mammals, from the Island
of Mauritius.

Pures, Capt. C. O., Deerfield, Mass. Skeleton of a fox, and
skull of a young calf.

Woop, Dr. Rop’r, Honolulu, 8. I. 15 Hawaiian skulls.

By Hechange.

Doury, Dr. H., Stettin, Prussia. 3 specimens, 3 species.
Krauss, Dr. Skeleton of a Manatus, and other specimens.

From the Rocky Mountain Expedition.

Two hundred skins, 30 species; 60 skeletons, 14 species;
240 skulls, 25 species; 20 specimens in alcohol, 6 species.

By Purchase.

Forty specimens, 12 species, skins; several skulls of walrus,
Cetaceans, and other species, from yarious localities.

Birds, by Donation.

Darren Expepition, Capt. T. O. Sztrripcr, Commander. 184
skins, 75 species; 75 specimens in alcohol, 42 species, and several
skulls, collected by Dr. G. A. Maack. |

Scort, W. D. 37 skins of New England birds, 15 species.

By Exchange.
Dourn, Dr. H., Stettin, Prussia. 100 skins of European birds,
O1 species; 103 eggs of European birds, 38 species. |

1872.) SENATE—No. 249. 13

From the Rocky Mountain Expedition.
Fifteen hundred skins, 200 species; 100 specimens in alcohol,
30 species ; 33 nests and 160 eggs, 20 species; several lots of young
birds in alcohol, and a number of skulls.

By Purchase.
Forty-three skins, 21 species; 34 specimens in alcohol, 15
species, from Dallas, Texas; 74 skins, 7 species, from Massachu-
setts; 1,430 skins, about 100 species, chiefly from Florida.

Report of Dr. G. A. MAacx.

_ At the close of my last report, November, 1870, I expressed

the hope that it might be possible for me, in the position of
Geologist and Naturalist of the U. S. Darien Exploring Expedi-
tion, to which I was appointed at that time, to do, besides my
official work for the United States Government, some good work
for our Museum. At present, when everything I have collected
has arrived at Cambridge in good condition, lam happy to be
able to report that my hope has been wholly fulfilled. Thirty
cases filled with geological, paleontological and lithological
specimens from the Isthmus of Panama, Darien and Chocé, col-
lected on the Atlantic side as well as on.the Pacific, have been
the result for our Museum, as the Hon. Secretary of State has
given permission to unite all the collections with those of the
Museum.

It may be allowed to me to return here publicly our heartiest
thanks to the Hon. Secretary of the Navy for this contribution
to our collections.

In giving some outlines of them, I may say, first, that I labelled
all the various specimens with the greatest care, to be sure of
_ what occurs on the Atlantic slope and what on the Pacific slope.
_ This careful labelling is nowhere so necessary as on the Isthmus,
where the continental mass of Central America contracts to its
greatest narrowness, and where the influence of the climatic
differences between the two ocean-shores, as well as that of the
‘different geological and botanical characters of this region upon
the development of animal life, can be studied better than at
any other place, after having ascertained carefully the habitat of
the species.

Eo el

14 MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. [Apr.

The collections from the Atlantic side have been made :—

1st. At Carthagena and its neighborhood.

2d. At Turbo, a village on the Gulf of Darien, and its vicinity,
for several miles.

8d. Along the Atrato River and in the interior of that region.

4th. At Aspinwall and along the Panama Railroad.

The collections from the Pacific side have been made :—

Ist. At Panama.

2d. In the Gulf of St. Miguel and up the Tuyra River.

3d. In the Cupica Bay and across that region along the
Napipi River.

The zodlogical collection contains, of Mammals, several
monkeys representing two species of the Genera Cebus Erxl.
and Hapall, Ill , which are preserved in alcohol ; a dozen bats ;
some specimens of squirrel, and of aguti(Dasyprocta Aguti L.);
several skulls of the Water-hog (Hydrocherus, L.); two speci-
mens of the Ant-eater (Myrmecophaga jubata, L.) ; specimens
of the Opossum (Didelphys, L.), and of the Sloth ( Bradypus
pallidus Wagn); several skulls of the Pecari (Dicotyles torqua-
tus, Cuv.), and of the Manati (Manatus Americanus Cuv.)

The birds of the Isthmus are represented very well in my col-
lection, which contains a good many skins, as well as alcoholic
specimens; especially a very fine specimen of Trogon resplen-
dens. This most beautiful bird, found only near the volcanoes
of Mexico, in the Altos of Civeipenneley and near the volcano of
Chiriqui, is worthy noticing.

The collection of Reptiles is likewise very well represented by
many specimens of turtles, of lizards, of iguanodons, by one
Alligator-skeleton, by many snakes, and by various species of
frogs.

The collection of Fishes contains several species from the At-
lantic side, and some from the Pacific side.

The Invertebrata are represented by a large number of beetles,
of locusts, of butterflies, of spiders, of crabs, of centipedes and

millipedes, of Mollusca and of Radiata.

This would be a general statement of the zodlogical collection

1872.] SENATE—No. 249. 15

which I brought back from the Isthmus, and the material of
which has been given to the different Curators of the Museum.

My geological and palzontological collection is very rich in
good and characteristic specimens of the various rocks which
occur on the Atlantic and on the Pacific, and which form the con-
stituent parts of the dividing ridge between the two oceans. I
made geological surveys at three different parts of the Isthmus,
namely: 1st, between Aspinwall and Panama (Province of Pan-
ama); 2d, between the Gulf of Uraba, or Darien del Norte, and
the Gulf of St. Miguel, or Darien del Sur (Province of Darien) ;
3d, between the Napipi River and Cupica Bay (Province of
Chocé) ; and collected as much material as possible, in order to
obtain. a clear insight into the geological structure of these re-
gions It was important for me, in this respect, to determine
the existence of several coal-beds on the Atlantic, near the Gulf
of Urab4, and to discover various tertiary deposits, full of fossil-
shells, up the Tuyra River, on the Gulf of St. Miguel on the
Pacific Ocean.

The principal results which I have gained by this geological
examination of the Isthmus are the following :—

ist. The Cordillera de los Andes changes its general charac-
ter in the Province of Chocé; while it strikes through the whole
of South America in a meridian direction, its general bearing
there is in the direction of the parallels. This strike is preserved
through the whole Isthmus, causing its curved form and the
sudden contraction of the continental mass.

2d. The height of the Isthmus mountains is much less than
that of the South American Cordilleras, and decreases especially
between Panama and Aspinwall, where the whole orographical
character of the Isthmus undergoes a great change. The moun-
tainous system in the Province of Chocéd, near Limon Bay, and
the internal part of Cupica Bay, has a geological character dif-
ferent from that of the Tuyra, and of the Chucunaque regions,
in the Province of Darien; and this mountainous system differs
again, by its parallel arrangement, as well as by its petrographi-
cal composition, from that between Panama and Aspinwall.
Consequently the whole Isthmus consists of three systems differ-
ing from one another.

dd. The Isthmus-Cordillera does not possess, in general,

16 MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. [Apr.

table-lands of so large an extent as those which are frequently
encountered in the South American Cordillera, as well as in
Central America. This is a very important fact, if we bear in
mind that these high table-lands on the western coast alone
make it possible for a white man to work with endurance in the
tropics, and to cultivate with success all those natural products
which create tropical commerce. This orographical fact, prop-
erly understood and applied, is the key to an explanation of a
great many things in the past history of South America, of the
Isthmus and of Central America.

4th. We possess paleontological proofs, preserved in the ter-
tiary strata of the Tuyra River on the Pacific slope, on the one
hand, and in the tertiary deposits from Empire Station to
Monkey Hill, along the Panama Railroad on the Atlantic slope,
on the other hand, which show us that at least two channels,—one
between the Gulf of St. Miguel and the Gulf of Uraba, the other
between Panama and Aspinwall,—existed up to the later tertiary
period, by which both oceans mingled their waters. This fact
is important for an understanding of the geographical distribu-
tion of the present botanical and animal life.

5th. The upheaval of the Pacific Cordillera belongs to the
later eruptive period, and its rocks belong to the petrographical
families of the trachyte and the basalt; while the San Blas
Cordillera, of the Atlantic slope, belongs to an older geological
period, and is composed of the older crystalline rocks,—granite,
syenite and diorite. The northern Atlantic slope was conse-
quently already upheaved and in a state of tranquillity when
the waters of the South Sea still covered the whole area which
forms at present the Pacific slope. If after this we take into
account the constant disintegrating effect of the north-eastern
trade-wind, saturated with the moisture of the Caribbean Sea,
we shall understand how it was possible that the rocks of the
Atlantic slope could be so greatly decomposed, and could furnish
afterwards the material of a fertile soil which had the power to
produce a most gorgeous vegetation.

I have given, so far, the positive results which have been gained
up to the present time for the Museum by the expedition. But.
I can add that I have also gained for our Museum, during this
journey, several friends residing on the Isthmus, as well as in

1872.] SENATE—No. 249. 17

Nicaragua, in Costa Rica, in San Salyador, in Guatemala and
in Peru, who have promised me their ready assistance for the
future in promoting the interests of the Museum.

After my return in July, 1871, I was engaged in preparing
my report on the Geology and Natural History of the Isthmus
of Panama, Darien and Chocé, for the United States Govern-
ment.

After this work was done I devoted most of my time to exam-
ining and putting in order the osteological collection of the
Museum, which work makes more and more progress daily, but
will still occupy me for.a long time, because the material, which
has been collecting for years, is very great, and has been aug-
mented during the last year by several presents from friends of
the Museum. I'use this opportunity to return our best thanks
to Professor Krauss of Stuttgardt, who sent us a fine manati
skeleton; to Mr. J. A. Allen, who presented to the Museum a
large number of mammalia skeletons, collected during his late

_exploration in the West along the Pacific Railroad; to Dr.

Robert W. Wood, who presented fifteen well-preserved Hawaiian
skulls; to George J. Nickerson, Esq., of New Bedford, from
whom we received several good skulls of Porcus babyroussa
Klein, one skull of a young walrus and one skull of a whale-
killer, caught on the coast of California; and to Mr. J. Boll for
some turtle-skeletons from Texas.

In regard to fossil Vertebrates, a great deal of progress has
been made in adding a collection of exact casts from rare origi-
nal specimens, which have been described and published. It
has been the good fortune of the Museum to gain the services of
Mr. Kappeler, an artist of great ability in this department.
Moulds of several skulls of Mastodon giganteus belonging to the
collection of Professor J. Wyman have already been made, and
are ready for making casts. Another series of moulds and casts
have been made from various typical fossils belonging to the
Smithsonian Institution. I return, in the name of the Museum,
our thanks to Professor Wyman and to the Smithsonian Institu-

‘ tion for the liberality with which these fossils have been lent to

us.
* The collection of fossil Vertebrates has been increased by :—
3

18 MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. [Apr.

Ist. A set of Fossil Mammalia from France, presented by E.
Larter.

2d. Several Fossil Mammalia from Texas, presented by J. Bott.

3d. Various Bones of a Fossil Bird, and of a Fossil Turtle, from
Mauritius, presented by N. Prez, Esq., U.S. Consul at Port Louis.

4th. A number of Fish-Teeth from the phosphate beds, Charles-
ton, S. C., presented by the U. 8. Coast Survey.

5th. Several Fish-Teeth from Gay Head, Martha’s Vineyard, pre-
sented by B. Luce, Esq.

6th. A large series of Fossil Vertebrates from the Red Crag of
England, presented by H. C. Quiusy, Esq.

7th. A large number of fine fish-specimens from the Harz Moun-
tains and fon Bohemia, presented by Professor Von Cotta of
Freiberg.

8th. A number of Fish-remains from the tertiary shales of Green
River, Wyoming Territory, collected and presented by Mr. J. A.
ALLEN.

I return, in the name of the Museum, our thanks to all these
different gentlemen.

Report on Conchology by Joun G. ANTHONY.

Karly in the year my time was mainly devoted to a revision
of the genus Helix as restricted and bounded by Lamarck and
the writers of his day. The authors of that time had much
curtailed and improved the Linnean arrangement previously in
use, but the genus Helix still contained many species not prop-
erly belonging therein until Albers commenced his labors among
the terrestrial Mollusks, his works far exceeding in accuracy
those of his predecessors. I have carefully followed Albers in
the arrangement which I have completed of our 1,500 species
in this interesting genus, and trust that our very large number
and range of species has enabled me to do this with perfect sat-
isfaction. Nearly all the divisions made by him are well repre-
sented in our collection, and the completion of this very desir-
able work enables me to record another great and additional
step towards a complete catalogue of our Mollusca, which we
have long been desirous of seeing completed, and of which the
Naiadz and Melaniadz, with a few of the minor groups, alone re- ~
main unarranged. ‘ '

1872.) SENATE—No. 249. 19

Two lady assistants have, as usual, been occupied in cleaning
and mounting the specimens, and their labors in this way have .
been very satisfactory. During the current year some 2,000 tab-
lets, mounted with 5,500 specimens, have been added to the col-
lection ; our present number of mounted tablets being considera-
bly over 50,000, and the number of specimens thus mounted

exceeds 80,000. :
_ These labors, however important, have not been allowed to
engross all my time and attention, or to interfere with the in-
crease and improvement of the collection in other respects.
Our exchanges have been steadily kept up, and some of the most
interesting species we have ever received have come to us dur-
ing the current year.

Among these, I recur with peculiar pleasure to one species
which happened to be among my earliest acquisitions in 1825,
but which has since persistently eluded all attempts to procure
additional specimens, until we received during the present year,
shortly after our last report, quite a number of specimens.

The number of specimens received since our last report, has
not been as great as in many former years; but we now aim at
greater discrimination, and only desire those which will be of
immediate service, either by supplying the many deficiencies in
our collection directly, or indirectly by furnishing us with avail-
able duplicates, which need only a second exchange to add to
our species. Nearly every exchange made during the year has
therefore been a special one, and thereby all useless duplicates
have been in a great measure avoided.

Among the valuable contributions thus received, we desire to
note a most interesting series of specimens received from Mr.
Gates of the U. S. Navy, consisting of about 500 species, very
largely from Tahiti and the Fejee Islands; which, on faunal con-
siderations as well as the great beauty and perfection of the
specimens, were very desirable to us.

Our Pacific Coast Shells have also been considerably enriched
by a fine collection purchased from Dr. J. G. Cooper, of about
_ 400 species, carefully named and well preserved. These, with
‘our previous possessions from that quarter, and some which are
promised from another source, will render our fauna of that
region very complete and satisfactory.

Our East Indian fauna, hitherto very complete, has been fur-

20 MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. [Apr.

ther enriched by a valuable contribution from Rev. Mr. Fair-
bank, who has added about 50 new species from that interesting
portion of the world, and from localities hitherto unrepresented
with us.

Dr. Maack brought home a large number of highly interest-
ing shells, obtained on both sides of the Isthmus of Darien, but
principally at Panama, on the western side, and at Carthagena
on this side. They are the more interesting, as those from
Carthagena show some forms which have generally hitherto been
credited to the African coast, and not before known to exist at
any intermediate point.

I cannot here omit to allude to the very valuable, though small
colleetion of marine forms, received of J. Gwyn Jeffreys, Esq.,
who paid us a visit in September, for the purpose of examining
and comparing our deep-sea dredgings with those brought to
light by the British expeditions for the same purpose, of which
Mr. Jeffreys is one of the most zealous operators. Only 33
species were thus received. Mr. J. subsequently paid a visit to
Chicago, shortly previous to the great fire, and minutely exam-
ined our specimens in Mr. Stimpson’s hands there, taking home
with him many species for better comparison with the European
dredgings. Our other specimens in Chicago all perished in the
ruins of the Chicago Museum by the great fire.

From Santo Domingo we have a small but interesting series
of land shells, received through Mr. Charles Wright, who accom-
panied the American commissioners to that portion of Hayti.
It is to be regretted that the scientific men who went on that
occasion could not have penetrated further into the island, and
brought away larger and more complete representations of its
fauna.

Mr. Geale, who has hitherto contributed largely and very
acceptably to our collection, has again laid us under obligations,
by sending us two fine lots of handsome and rare forms, thereby
supplying some of our desiderata and filling many a hiatus
which has long troubled us.

Since my last report, the collection of shells formerly belong-
ing to the Harvard Natural History Society which had for some
time previously been in the Museum building, has been placed
in my hands, and found to be a considerable addition to our re-
sources. It has enabled us to furnish in return a large number

ee a Te

1872.] - SENATE—No. 249. 21

of suitable specimens for teaching the scientific class, organized
in our Myseum from students in Harvard University, as well
as to add some good species to our own general collection.

Dr. H. Dohrn has also given us another proof of his kindness,
by contributing a choice and valualle selection of species, be-
sides making us a most acceptable visit, inspecting carefully our
collection, and revising in some cases our imperfect determina-
tions of species.

From many others of our tried friends, we have received dur-
ing the present year additional proofs of their kindness, which
we are duly grateful for, and most heartily thank them. Among

_ these we cannot but mention Dr. Cox, Nicholas Pike, ice and

the Museum at Bordeaux.

From every source we have received 34 packages, 2,494 species
and 20,566 specimens since our last report.

Our consignments during the same period have been 23 pack-
ages, 1,965 species and 8,007 specimens.

Comparatively little has been done in my department, during
the year, in the way of determining species, as up to the last of
the year we were without the books needed to carry our deter-
minations beyond the point to which they had already attained.
But just previous to closing this Report, our library has been
greatly enriched by receiving a handsomely bound copy of
Reeve’s Iconography, in 17 volumes. This valuable work I have
long desired the use of, in vain, and no time will be lost in avail-
ing myself of its important aid during the coming season, to
reduce the number of our undetermined species.

One other important work which I have been called upon to
do during the year, remains to be noticed ; viz., that of furnish-
ing the normal schools of the State with generic types of shells,
carefully selected, for the instruction of the scholars, to which
we hope to add in due time such specimens as we can furnish

illustrative of the species found in New England particularly,

as well to some extent with the species from foreign as well as
domestic localities. I have commenced this arrangement with

_ the normal school in West Newton Street, Boston, under the
- management of Mr. Hunt, and, in order to make this more use-
ful to that institution, have required him to detail a few of his -

best scholars to come at stated times for many weeks in order to
learn the proper method of handling and mounting shells, and

22 MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. [Apr.

this work has been done by them very neatly and satisfactorily.
Upwards of 200 generic types illustrated by a large number of
species, have been thus prepared and mounted ready for delivery
whenever the cases are ready to receive them.

Report on the Articulates, by Dr. HacEn.

The additions to this department during the past year have
been numerous and valuable : —

By Donation.

1. From the Rey. M. M. Carterton, in the East Indies, insects,
in alcohol, collected in the Himalaya Mountains; mostly eee
tera, Orthoptera and Hemiptera, 15 jars.

2. From the same, insects and spiders, in alcohol; also eolldctait
in the Himalaya Mountains, 30 jars.

3. From Dr. Maack, insects, in alcohol, collected at Cartha-
gena, New Granada, by the Darien Expedition, Orthoptera, cater-
pillars and larvee, and spiders, 7 jars.

4, From Prof. F. Sanzory, fleas, in alcohol.

5. From Mr. Emerton, the larva of Myrmelion innotatum, in
alcohol.

6. From Mr. W. Hoipen, a lot of insects, of different orders,
collected in California and Ohio.

7. From Mr. Rotanp Tuaxrter, a large lot of Att. Promethea,
living cocoons.

8. From Dr. Maacx, a valuable lot of insects, dry and in alcohol,
collected by the Darien Expedition, in different localities.

9. From Mr. F. D. Gresen, Danais mae caterpillars and
chrysalids, living.

10. From Mr. W. Hotpen, a rich lot of insects, collected in San
José, California, and various other localities.

11. From Baron OstEeNn-SackeEn, additions to the collection of
American galls, previously presented by him to the Museum.

12. From Messrs. Wu. Morrison and M. M. Carteron, a lot of
insects, spiders and centipedes, in alcohol, from Koolloo, in the
Himalaya Mountains.

13. From Mr. Uke, 15 North American Micro-lepidoptera, in
very fine condition.

14. From Mr. E. L. Layarp, butterflies, 95 species, and Coleop-
tera, 62 species, from the Cape of Good Hope, comprising, in all,

1872. ] ‘SSENATE—No. 249. 23

325 specimens. This collection was received some time since, but
was not until now deposited in the proper department.

15. From Mr. 8. A. ToorHaxsr, living Colorado potato-beetles.

16. From Mr. R. Howet1, specimens of Sphenophorus, destruc-
tive in Nichols, Tioga Co., New York.

17. From Mr. Trovve ot, a lot of living caterpillars, from New
England silk-worms; also silk of Att. Polyphemus, and eggs of that
species.

18. From Messrs. J. A. Aten and R. Briss, a lot of butter-
flies, collected in Kansas and Colorado, nearly 400 specimens. Also
Coleoptera, Orthoptera and Parasites, in alcohol.

19. From Prof. N.S. SHarer, a lot of insects, in alcohol, col-
lected during his trip to Virginia, in different localities; in all, 2,489
specimens, of which 1,395 are beetles; other insects, 1,095.

(20. From Rev. M. M. Carterton, insects, in alcohol, collected at
Koolloo, in the Himalaya Mountains, 2 jars.

21. From Mr. J. Sautz, Woburn Mass., 2 boxes of insects, from
_ China, and biological specimens from Massachusetts.

22. From Mr. B. P. Mann, insects, collected in Brazil, and some
biological specimens. Also white ants, from California.

23. From Mr. Epwarp Burcsss, 3 species of wood lice, from
Massachusetts.

24. From Mr. J. A. ALueN, several jars of insects, in. alcohol,
collected in Utah.

25. From Dr. T. Hitz, insects, in alcohol, collected in Utah, 2
jars.

26. From Mr. N. Pree (U. 8S. Consul), a rich lot of insects, dry
and in alcohol, collected in the Island of Mauritius.

27. From Dr. H. Dourn, Stettin, insects, from Elmina, Africa, 70
species, Goliath Druryi, Polyphemus.

28. From Baron OstTEeNn-SakEN, a lot of insects, in copal (gum
animé), partly determined by Dr. Staol, of Stockholm, Sweden.

29. From Mr. F. Sanzorn, 2 American species of Boreus, living.

30. From Rev. M. M. Carterton, a very large collection of but-
terflies and other insects, dry and in alcohol, from the Himalaya
Mountains, about 10,000 specimens.

31. From Mr. J. A. ALLEN, insects and fresh-water crabs, from
_ Nebraska. |
32. From Prof. L. Acassiz, butterflies, from St. Thomas, West
Indies.

24 MUSEUM OF: COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. [Apr.

By Exchange.

33. From Prof. Kaup, of Darmstadt, a lot of Coleoptera.

34. From the Imperial Museum, in Vienna, a series of 180 gen-
era and species of European Diptera, types of Mr. Schiner.

35. From Dr. ScuiEtsu, of Stettin, Germany, a lot of European
Tineina, in very fine condition.

36. From Mr. C. A. Dourn, of Stettin, 278 species of European
Coleoptera, all new to the collection, some of them first-class
varieties.

37. From Mr. Weunxe, of Hamburg, 212 species of European
Coleoptera, all new to the collection. °

By Purchase.

38. From Mr. J. Bortz, Lepidoptera, raised in Frmaiats from co-
coons collected in Dallas, Texas, and valuable biological specimens.

39. From Prof. Menes, in Danzig, Prussia, a cpllenene of spiders,
from Prussia, types to his work, in alcohol, 60 species of both sexes,
250 specimens in all.

40. From Mr. Briscuxe, Danzig, a SORE Ss collection of about
180 species, in very fine condition.

41. From Prof. ZELiEr, in Stettin, a rich lot of European Micro-
lepidoptera, all new to the collection, and in very fine order.

42. From Prof. Lozw, in Guben, Saxony, a rich lot of European
and American Diptera, types of his works, and genus types. Also,
a complete series of his works on Diptera.

Deposited.

43. By Baron Osten-Sacken. His entire collection of North
American Diptera, with the published types.

Crustacea and Worms.

44, From Dr. Maacx, Crustacea and worms, collected by the
Darien Expedition, in different localities.

45. From Mr. W. Hotpen, Crustacea, in alcohol, collected in his
trip from California to the Isthmus of Panama.

46. From Rev. M. M. Carteron, Crustacea and Myriapoda,
from Northern India, 15 jars.

47. From Prof. Saauer, fresh-water crabs, collected in Virginia.

48. From Prof. Esmarcx, of Christiania, Sweden, Crustacea,
from Europe, in alcohol.

49. From Mr. Ramon M. Fornes, Havana, 14 Crustacea, from
Cuba, dry, mounted for exhibition.

1872.] SENATE—No. 249. 25

50. From Mr. Pr«e, U. S. Consul at Mauritius, a very rich lot of
Crustacea, dry, from Mauritius.

51. From Mr. J. A. ALLEN, a very valuable lot of Astacus Gam-
bali; and other Crustacea, from Colorado and Utah.

52. From Mr. J. Saute, Woburn, Mass., fresh-water crabs, from
South Carolina, in alcohol.

The additions to the Museum have been placed in secure boxes,
and carefully labelled. The newly received additions occupied a
large portion of the working year. The Texan Lepidoptera pur-
chased from Mr. Boll were carefully revised, a collection for the
Faunal department made, the duplicates introduced in the United
States collection, and in the general collection, and a full set of all
species sent to Prof. Zeller, of Stettin, for a scientific monograph.
All new or doubtful species of the Rhopalocera weresent to Mr.
W. A. Edwards, of Coalburgh, West Virginia, now so success-
fully occupied with a Monograph of the United States Lepidop-
tera. The Hemiptera from Dallas, Texas, have been in the
same manner revised, and a full set sent to the well-known
American monographer, Mr. P. R. Ubler, of Baltimore. The
same work has been done with the greater part of the Texan
Coleoptera, and a set sent to Prof. C. A. Dohrn, in Stettin.

_ The scientific arrangement of the collection of Curculionide
presented by Mrs. A. Hemenway is progressing. This work,
including a careful labelling of every species, takes time for its
completion, especially as a part of the collection is still in the
hands of European monographers.

The biological collection is progressing. The additions partly
purchased, partly presented, and partly raised by myself, have
been unusually rich. The collection from Mr. Brischke of
Danzig, is arranged, and fills, alone, nearly the whole of one
cabinet. The plan adopted by Professor Agassiz could be car-
ried out in several boxes containing the whole history of an in-
sect. The history of Calosamia Prometheus alone, fills a box,
showing every stage of the insect from the egg, and the young
caterpillar, to its perfection as the imago, with a full series of
caterpillars in intermediate and full-grown stages, the chrysalis
and cocoon of both sexes, the cast skins and the structure of
the cocoon ; also, the enemies of the caterpillars in the various

4

26 MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. [Apr.

stages, and the abnormal forms of cocoons spun by diseased
caterpillars. .

Equally complete, as far as possible, is the series‘of the other
American silkworms: S. cecropia, S. columbia, A. Polyphemus,
A.luna. The series of the latter species is very instructive,
showing the difference in cocoon and imago produced from spec-
imens raised in Europe, upon food different from that of the
Texan specimen. Other cases, arranged after the same princi-
ple, contain American galls with their producers and enemies.
There are also more or less complete series of other species of
insects. Such collections of course grow slowly, because the
materials come to hand only occasionally. Many of these are
raised by myself.

A new arrangement of several parts of the collection of Neu-
roptera has been completed, viz.: the Ephemerina, the Psorina,
the Myrmelionina, the Ascalaphina, and in part the Termitina.
The latter family, without doubt the most complete collection
now existing, has lately been enriched by interesting Brazilian

specimens, presented by Dr. Fritz Muller of Itajahy, Brazil.

‘The collection of European Lepidoptera, consisting through-
out of first-class specimens, is considerably increased, chiefly in
Micro-lepidoptera, by the specimens from Professor Zeller, Dr.
Schleisch and others. Before this, the collection contained
about one-thirtieth of the known species; it has now about two-
fifths, in excellent and typically-determined specimens. Gener-
ally, it is difficult, without heavy expenses, to form a collection
of three-fourths of the published species of any given order ;
and to go beyond this involves extraordinary expense. Consid-
ering these facts, our collection is very well advanced.

The collection of European Coleoptera is unusually complete,
chiefly through the liberality of Professor C. A. Dohrn of Stettin.
The Museum catalogue was sent to him to show our desiderata ;
consequently the whole lot presented by him is new to our col-
lection, and consists, for the most part, of type-species of rather
difficult genera, many of them first-class varieties even in
Europe. This lot contains Micros, and rare insects in very fine
condition.

The order of Diptera, before very defective, has unexpectedly
received a great accession. The whole collection of North
American Diptera deposited by the Baron Osten-Sacken, is well

1872.] SENATE—No. 249. QT

known for its typical value, and is unrivalled in America. The
Diptera received from Professor Loew, comprise chiefly genus-
types, and a number of types of his American Diptera,—a real
treasure to the Museum.

The collection of New England insects, I am sorry to say, is
one of the weakest parts of the whole, particularly as the spec-
imens are more or less badly set. Professor Agassiz, consider-
ing this defect as one of the most important, invited Mr. J.
Boll, an experienced collector, to come to Cambridge; during
the autumn, Mr. Boll collected in and around Cambridge seyv-
eral thousand specimens. Some Micro-Lepidoptera have been
raised, and a great number are stored in rooms arranged for the
purpose, to be raised in the spring. It seems beyond doubt, that
the superior manner in which Mr. Boll arranges the specimens
will soon render the Museum of Comparative Zodlogy, a pat-
tern for every entomologist. The winter will be employed by
Mr. Boll in spreading and setting in a new manner the whole
collection of Lepidoptera, which will give it a twofold value, and
allow a scientific study and determination of specimens, which
hitherto, and particularly in the Heterocera, has been an impos-
sible undertaking.

Concerning the general state of the entomological collection,
the work goes on in a steady, but necessarily a slow manner,
according to the plan adopted by Professor Agassiz. The prin-
cipal object of this plan is to keep safe all specimens acquired
by the Museum ; the second, to arrange them scientifically ; and
the third, to work them up as standard types. The first has been
done throughout, a labor of great extent, as every specimen has
to be labelled. The second is done for a small part: for three-
fourths of the Lepidoptera, for one-third of the Coleoptera, and
for some parts of the Neuroptera. The third is yet to be done.
Considering that an experienced worker may be able to finish
thoroughly one species a day, or, if he is well acquainted with
his material, perhaps two species; considering further, that
some families alone, consist of more than 10,000 species, it is
evident how slowly such a work must advance if carefully done.
The Berlin Museum, the Museum at Vienna, the British Muse-
um, and the Museum of the Jardin des Plantes, have been
working for seventy years, and nowhere is the task finished.
Such a work is not to be bought for any money in the world;

28 MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. [Apr.

it is the result of the labor of years by the most experienced
and most faithful students.

The collection of Crustacea was revised by Dr. William
Stimpson, just before the great calamity in Chicago, and arrange-
ments were made to improve this interesting order, by his valu-
able aid. The numerous additions are still stored until he has
leisure to use them scientifically.

The collection of spiders has been gone through, and deter-
mined generally by Mr. Emergon, and in some parts by Mr.
Holden. :

The new room to which this department has been transferred
is considerably more spacious, and more convenient for work.
It will now be possible to have the aid of more workers, and to
give convenient working-places to more students.

Mr. Hubbard has been partly occupied with the family of the
Longicorns, and Mr. Austin with the family of Tenebrions.
The monograph of the immature stages of the Gomphina, by
Mr. Louis Cabot, is in print, the first part having been already
published. The monographs of the Arachnidz will be ready
very soon. .

Exchanges are made with several entomologists in the United
States and in Europe, and parts of the collections sent out to
monographers have been returned determined. In the same
manner the Passalini by Dr. Kaup in Darmstadt, the Cordulina
by the Baron de Selys-Longchamps in Liége, Belgium, and some
others, are to be returned from time to time.

Report of N.S. SHALER, Assistant in charge of instruction.

During the last year my whole time has been given to in-
struction, except some work in the field. The arrangement
which has been made with the University, whereby the instruc-
tion in Zodlogy and Paleontology, in all its departments, ex-
cept the Bussey School, is given at the Museum, has much in-
creased the number of students. During the year, ninety-
seven (97) persons have received practical instruction in this
department. This number does not include those who have
merely attended lectures, but only those who have been taught
in the laboratory room in a practical way.

— 1872.] SENATE—No. 249. 29

‘All these students have been taught the outlines of Zodlogy,
by the study of typical forms from the most important groups
of animals. Those who were fitted for more advanced study,
have been put in the way of making special investigations.

Instruction in my department in microscopy, under the super-
intendence of Mr. Tuttle, has also been provided for beginners
and for advanced students. This teaching extends over one-
half of the year, and enables the student to become master of
the practical detail of microscopic work, so far as is required in
all ordinary investigations.

A course of elementary instruction in the study of insects has
been given by Mr. Edward Burgess, who has acted as college
instructor in this branch.

The following courses of lectures have been given as a part
of the above-mentioned instruction :—

A course of about one hundred lectures on Zodlogy, by Mr.
Shaler.

A course of lectures on Paleontology, by Mr. Shaler.

A course of Readings, with commentary, intended as an intro-
duction to the history of modern Zodlogical opinions, by Mr.
Shaler.

A course of lectures on the use of the Microscope, by Mr.
Tuttle.

A course on Entomology, by Mr. Burgess.

I am also indebted to Dr. Hagen, Dr. Maack, and Mr. A. R.
Crandall, for assistance given to particular students in the prose-
cution of especial parts of their work.

During the summer an excursion of two months duration was
made, from C&mbridge to the James River, in Virginia. Stu-
dents in the Zodlogical department were allowed to join this
expedition, in which opportunities were afforded for becoming
fainiliar with paleontological and zoological work, as conducted
in the field.

Report of J. B. Perry, on the Paleontological Collection.
The earlier portion of the year was mainly devoted to the
re-organization of the Museum library. Attention to this in-
_ terrupted, of course, my more special work, viz., the systematic
arrangement of the Tertiary Gasteropods.

30 MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. [Apr.

During the spring, however, considerable labor was devoted
to them. Several groups were carefully mounted on tablets,
all the specimens accompanied by labels having been closely com-
pared with original descriptions or with the earliest figures,
such as bore no names but belonged to described species having
been critically identified, and such as belonged to undescribed
species put into a condition to be named or described at leisure.
The remaining Tertiary Gasteropods are also, to a large extent,
ready, as fast as they can be revised with discrimination, to be
mounted and placed on exhibition. In many parts of this labor
I received valuable assistance from Miss Annie Cutler.

The fossil Corals have likewise received some attention.
Many have been cleaned and numbered, while increased prepara-
tion has been made for the mounting of the whole collection on
tablets. In this work, and in various other ways, I have been
aided by Miss Atkinson. |

The course of instruction on the Geology of Massachusetts,
began during the preceding autumn, was duly completed in the
winter term, extending to thirty-six lectures.

The vast paleontological stores of the Museum having been
intrusted to my care by the Director, it was found convenient to
divide them, at the start, into three portions, all of the Pale-
ozoic age going into the first, those of the Secondary or
Mesozoic age, into the second, and those of the Tertiary or
Cainozoic age, into the third, each portion being destined for a
separate room. Accordingly, it has been the aim, as separations
have been made, to convey, with a few slight exceptions, all the
Tertiary animal remains to the Cainozoic or Recent room, all
the Secondary to the Mesozoic, and all tlie older to the
Paleozoic. The Tertiary fossils being, in numerical proportion,
predominantly Mollusca, occupy a room in connection with the
recent Mollusca, for convenience of comparison.

In addition to this separation of fossils, according to age, sub-
divisions have been attempted ineach room. For instance, the
Paleozoic remains are primarily divided into three general
sections, accordingly as they belong: 1st, to the Taconic; 2d, to
the Silurian; and 3d, to the Devonian, Carboniferous or Per-
mian; the exact time of demarcation between the latter forma-
tions not being as yet clearly defined. The Museum fossils,
however, belonging to the later Paleozoic times have been

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1872. SENATE—No. 249. | 31

—

already, for the sake of convenience provisionally separated
into sub-divisons, answering in a general way to the three above-
named eras. So the aim has been to separate the Secondary
material into two distinctly recognized parts; 1st, the Triassic, -
and 2d, the Jurassic and Cretaceous, the line of division
between the two last-named eras being by no means yet exactly
drawn. Still, in this instance also, for the sake of convenience,
as the work has gone on, the Jurassic and Cretaceous fossils
have been, for the most part, provisionally separated into two
sections.

A further step in the work of arrangement has been
attempted ; viz., the disposition of all the material in each of
these horizontal sections, according to zodlogical relations. To
take a single case as an illustration: having separated the fossils
of the lower Silurian age from those of the upper Silurian, I
aimed to arrange them according to orders, beginning with
Polyps, and proceeding upward by regular gradations to the
highest forms represented in this portion of the collection. I
did the same with the Taconic fossils, and with the upper Nilu-
rian. A similar work is in progress, and has been carried for-
ward to a very considerable extent on the fossils of each of the
other great geological eras.

In order to aid the memory, and to serve other purposes,
these materials have been, so far as circumstances would allow,
arranged in each room in regular sequence—the succession of
life in time being, in a measure, represented under relations of
space. For instance, in the Palzozoic room, one may start
from the Taconic, in a remote corner, and pass to the lower
Silurian, the upper Silurian, the Devonian, the Carboniferous
and the Permian, advamcing from lower to higher, by suecessive
steps. Nor is this all: a like ascending sequence may be already
observed in the arrangement of zodlogical orders, and even of
many minor divisions of the orders. The same thing is true of
the arrangement in the Mesozoic and Tertiary rooms.

The material set apart for exchange is also receiving its share
of attention.

The statements which have been made may serve to give some
general impression of the work attempted, and already in many
respects well advanced. Indeed, it has been carried out, in
some instances, more minutely than indicated. Of course, the

82 | MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. [Apr.

*
zodlogieal arrangement of the fossils has been pushed in many
sections of the work to genera and species.

I should add that I have been efficiently assisted, in a portion
of the general work of preliminary arrangement, particularly
of the fossils of the later Paleozoic times, by Mr. St. John, who
is to devote himself especially to the identification and arrange-
ment of these fossils, with a view to the more exact determina-
tion of the several horizons to which they belong, and of other
kindred points. }

In carrying out the plan which has already been noticed at
some length, I have perhaps taken more than usual pains to
make a complete separation of the Tertiary fossils from all the
others in the Museum. Having previously brought together
nearly all the Tertiary Gasteropods, I have recently made an
especial effort that no Corals nor Acephala might be left out ;
consequently, I have now nearly all the Tertiary invertebrata,
not only brought together, but, for the most part, arranged
zodlogically, not merely according to orders, but according to
genera and species as well. From indications furnished by the
investigations thus far made on these fossil forms, it seems
probable that the Tertiary formations will naturally fall into
five general periods, consisting, on an average, of two or three
well marked subdivisions or horizons.

While various groups of the Lamellibranchiates of the Ter-
tiary have been worked up to about the same point, the oysters
on the whole, are the most advanced. They have been exam-
ined with great care; there has been a thorough verification of
the names of all such as have labels; those remaining, without
accompanying names, have been for the most part identified, so
far as the means have been at my disposal ; so that the Tertiary
oysters, as a group, promise to be soon ready for the exhibition
room. In this part of my work I have found constant occasion
for Miss Sarah Cutler’s intelligent and careful handiwork.

With a view to supplying deficiencies, but especially to inves-
tigating more thoroughly and intelligently, not only the Muse-.
um collection of Tertiary Shells, but of the American Terti- —
aries generally, extensive explorations of the Tertiary strata of
the southern Atlantic and Gulf States were made last summer.
Tertiary Fossils were gathered at various points, and occasion-
ally some belonging to the Cretaceous and other ages. As soon

1872.] SENATE—No. 249. 33

as they are identified, specimens which are needed are mounted,
and intercalated in the permanent collections of the Museum,
and those remaining are set aside for exchanges and other kin-
dred purposes.

It should be added that Mr. Bicknell has been engaged at inter-
vals on the microscopic forms contained in the Tertiary sands and
clays, which have been gradually brought together, as the work
on the Museum collections has gone forward. He will continue,
as he has leisure, to work up these clays and sands, some of
which are very rich in minute Foraminifera, and other organic
forms, and promise a rich store of material for the microscopist.

During the past year the Museum has secured the fossil col-
lection of Dr. L. Schultze, illustrative of the Devonian formations
of Europe. This addition, which is very full, and perhaps
unique as a representation of the Huropean Devonian, brings
the Museum collection of this era much nearer completeness,
and greatly enhances its value, by furnishing permanent and
authentic means for comparison.

The Museum is indebted to the Darien Expedition for a col-
lection of Tertiary Fossils from Central America, made by Dr.
G. A. Maack, Geologist and Naturalist of the Expedition, who
has been recently engaged upon them with a view to his report.

The Allegany Expedition, the expenses of which were borne
by Professor Shaler and the Museum, has brought in a large
number of fossils, principally of the Silurian and Devonian ages.
Mr. Shaler passed his vacation in collecting, having gone out
with a number of students on a geological excursion, which ex-
tended through New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Vir-
ginia into Kentucky and Tennessee. Mr. A. R. Crandall, who
was connected with the expedition, spent about six months in
collecting, and is now busily engaged in identifying the speci-
mens and bringing the collection into order.

The following list indicates the addition made to the depart-

ment of Paleontology during the year :—

Agassiz, Prof. L. Drift specimens from the Valley of the Con-
necticut.

ALLEGHANY Experpition. Sixty (60) boxes of fossils from the
States of New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky
and Tennessee.

5

84 MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. [Apr.

Bott, Mr. J. Twelve hundred and sixty (1,260) specimens, —
principally Cretaceous, from Texas. By purchase.

Brown, Mr. J. C. J. Seventy-five (75) Tertiary Shark-teeth
from South Carolina. In exchange.

Darren Expepition. Tertiary Shells and Lignite from Central
America. Gift.

Fouiier, Mr. L. A. ‘Ninety (90) specimens fepresenting (23)
species from the Coal Measures of Alton and Springfield, Illinois.
Gift.

Goutp, Mr. (of the Harvard Scientific School). A Silurian
Orthocerate from Minnesota. Gift.

Hopkins, Dr. F. V. A lot of Tertiary and Cretaceous Fossils
from Louisiana and Texas. In exchange.

Hvurizsvurt, Mr. W. D. One hundred and fifty (150) Silurian
specimens, and casts of two (2) Silurian Trilobites from Minnesota.
Gift.

Mixts, Mr. Cuartes H. A boxof Nobular Granite from Greens-
borough, Vermont. Gift.

Orpway, Mr. Atsert. Thirty (30) specimens of Devonian
Plants from Virginia. Gift.

Perry, Mr. J.B. Twenty-three (23) boxes of Tertiary Fossils
from Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia; Alabama, and
Mississippi. Also, Cretaceous specimens from North Carolina; Si-
lurian specimens from Missouri; Carboniferous specimens from In-
diana and Illinois; Silurian and Devonian specimens from Ohio
and Michigan; Taconic specimens from New York; Taconic and
Carboniferous specimens from Massachusetts.

Quimupy, Dr. H.C. A lot of Crag Fossils, representing all the
great branches of the animal kingdom, from Suffolk County, Eng-
lard. Gift.

Scauttzz, Dr. L. A unique collection of European Devonian
specimens. By purchase. |

Sprtman, Dr. W. A lot of Eocene Fossils from Mississippi.
Gift.

Witss, Mr. Cuauncey. Two (2) Ammonites (Scaphites ) from
Nebraska. Gift.

Winstow, Dr. J. C. About three hundred (300) Carbonifer-
ous specimens from Danville, Illinois. In exchange.

-1872.] SENATE—No. 249. 35

Le.]

TRUSTEES OF THE MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY,
1872.

THe GOVERNOR OF THE COMMONWEALTH,
WILLIAM B. WASHBURN.

Tue LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR,
" JOSEPH TUCKER.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE.
HORACE H. COOLIDGE.

Tue SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE,
JOHN E. SANFORD.

Tue SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION,
JOSEPH WHITE,

‘Toe CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME JUDICIAL CouRT,

REUBEN A. CHAPMAN. .
LOUIS AGASSIZ. THEODORE LYMAN.
NATHANIEL THAYER. CHARLES W. FREELAND.
SAMUEL HOOPER. SAMUEL ELIOT.
JAMES LAWRENCE. MARTIN BRIMMER.

- OFFICERS OF THE MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY FOR
1872.

His Exccilency Wiriuiam B. WasHBuURN, Governor of the Commonwealth
President.

CHARLEs W. FREELAND, Treasurer.

MarTIN Brower, Secretary.

Louts AGassiz, Director.

SaMvUEL Hooper, JOSEPH WHITE, NATHANIEL THAYER, JAMES Law-
RENCE, Committee on Finance.

Louis AGassiz, SaMUEL ELIoT, CHARLES W. FREELAND, Committee on
fhe Museum.

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