In a message dated 98-04-13 15:57:13 EDT, Helmut Nisters wrote:
 
<< leg does really mean legit and should mean collected.
 Maybe that the donor of the shells is the collector too.
 leg, Univ. Alabama means perhaps that members of the
 Univ. Alabama had collected some shells, without knowing
 exactly who. I thnink it' the same meaning if you know one
 person and the others not, for example:
 leg. Nisters et al.
 So I think leg. Univ. Alabama will substiute all the collectors
 of a group. >>
 
 
TO CLARIFY:  In addition to "Leg.:  Univ. Alabama" , FMNH labels also bear
"Coll.: [John Doe]".  I hope this clears up any points of confusion anyone
else may have had on the subject as well.
 
Doug Shelton
Alabama Malacological Research Center
2370-G Hillcrest Road #236
Mobile, AL 36695  USA