New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-28
THE UOLFE MEMORIAL GIFT.
VALUABLE ADDITIONS TO THE COLLECTION AND IL
BRARY OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL


VALUABLE ADDITIONS To THE COLLECTION AND III.
BRARY OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL
HISTORY
The American Museum of Natural History
has lately received the Wolfe memorial gift, which con
sists of the collection OF shells gathered by Dr. John
jay OF Rye together with his library OF Genealogical
works. collection contains over 10000 species ana
probably $1,000 varieties OF Shells and, with the BOOKS
Affords in the language of Prof BickmOre, Curator OF
the Museum an opportunity for studying shells
unequaled in America, and conveys greater
idea OF wonders and beauties Of the she'll creation
than NewY Workers. have ever had chance OF seeing"
The work OF unpackng the boxes containing the col
lection been begun and about onc-third have been
put on exhibition The shells will occnpy the floor
cases the hall the second floor of the arsenal build
ing The minerals formerly there have been removed
10 make room for the new collection. Only the bivave
shells have thus far unlocked and afford some idea
OF the richness and beauty Of form In eonchoogcai
specimens though IL is reserved for the unvalve shells
soon TO be placed exhibition to give suitable repre-
sentation the beauties OF color IN the same HELD
Among the shells are magnificent specimens OF Phoias
imbedded in the cavities Of rock and wood
which the living animal bored. The shell cases
of mammoth specimens OF teredo-the shipworm-
though not properly included among the shells are also
here. Adjacent enormous specimens allied 70 the
serpua These wOrm-like tubes as large as rams
horn and almost tOrtuous In the next case are Il
gantc clam Shells each one holding about three PMS
They are now found fossil condition on the coast of
North Carolina and il has been an open question as to
whether they were not extinct These specimens, how
ever are nos fossil The technical name they bear Is
PanopGa They are the "cams Of ancient times"
Further on Is containing the fiat shells OF the
teHina group, with their irdescence Of light and
white or soft-tinted hues. Next come the specimens
Of Donar many marked with fine radiations and frnges
The Cytherea-spiked shels-are here in great abun-
nhroka ibaa
The Oarta or heartshaped shells, present in great
numbers afford pleasing sight, do the specimens Of
Archia Then come the cases OF fresh-water shells,
which form q particularly rich and varied exhibition
The abundance and variety OF such shells IN this coun
try may be known from the fact that nine-tenths OF
all the species or fresh water uusscls are found IN
America The great families are Unto and Ahod0hM
OF marine Shells again, large and perfect specimens
of the hamner-oy ster, the fan SHE'LL and the rdged
she'll Of the peeten found. The display VI Pae@,
called from their resemblance TO the small nat Done
at the human knee0inI, Is exceedingly me In nunDOr
and variety. The uniyayes, or single SHELLS are ldst
being unpacked, aud will be placed Oh exhibition as
The library attached to the collection has been col
eeted with reference mainly TO the study OF coneA0oGy
though IL contains many volumes relating 70 kindred
studies. 1t contains probably every book treating OF
shells published before 1901 and most OF those Wiea
have since issued. IL also contains full sets OF tho
transactions OF all the prominent learned societies,
prominent among which are the TRANSACTIONS OF tnr Lon
don Geological Society up 10 1913. Tie books OF the
library III the Latin, French, German, Eaglsu,
Dutch and other languages are wen bound ana eon,9n
hand. Most Of them also are cnoice copies on large
paper.
WILSON'S American ornithoiogy." There are also
copies of reports French voyages with aliases OF
beautifully COored plates with letter press volumes
scarcely less large The "VOyage OF the Clqulle" the
Voyage Around the World" the Voyage Of
the Astroabe;" the Voyage TO MerOe, On the
White Sea-" by Cahaud, Paris. 1923; and faest OF
all the Voyage OF the Astr0labe ans Zeee 10 the SCUM
Pole aud Oceanca Paris, 1892 TO 1885, particularly
noteworthy as is also the Voyage Around the World
of the French Frlgac Venus" Among other yolrHrcs
are works giving the results or MiEess ana
other American exploring expeditions, Deiess'tts
Recue de Coquiles" Paris, 1871; the four large IOhOs
of Ferussac aud Deshayes on shells, and the same na
Der OF volumes or Sebas plates OF shells; " huellers
Natural History Cabinet" vols, IJ0i "MuclleTS
Natural History o; Denmark and sweden, vols, $50
"Martiu's Concholodcal Cabinet" II vols; "Gual-
tiers Index Testarum,"" LiuuGuss Systema NhturD
and Geological Danc" 1855 besides the recent works
OF American and foreign authors, with some exceedingly
rare pamphlets OF Rahnesque ANA others. The whole
collection pleasing 10 the anquagy as well as the
scientist. 49,,
The attendance at the Museum Is now exceedingly
large thousands visiting and examining the collections
every day sugly and IN large parties. The great M
terest manifested Ia the Museum IS proved by the iact
that annual membership nus increased since January
from $50 nearly 1.0O0 aud II ~ expected tnat Tue
number will reach 100 by next spring. work on the
new building IN ManhaltansqGare Is proceeding rapidly
ana tbs roof Will be flashed before the Winter SETS ~
IL IA expected be ready for occupancy III tue SnE'