DELAWARE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
GRADUATE STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS
 
The Curatorial and Research Division of Delaware Museum of
Natural History announces the availability of two graduate student
scholarships in support of systematic research in Malacology or
Ornithology.   Each $500 award will be used to defray travel
expenses incurred by the student in visiting DMNH to study our
world-class systematic collections and library.  Eligible students must
be enrolled in a graduate degree-granting program and pursuing
collections-based research leading to publication.  Applicants should
submit a succinct research proposal (not exceeding two pages)
outlining the thesis project plus the work to be accomplished at
DMNH, a brief CV, a budget, and one supporting letter from a faculty
advisor.  Application deadline is 1 May, 1998.
 
DMNH's extensive Mollusk Collection comprises over 2 million
specimens and 17,000 species from worldwide marine, land, and
freshwater environments, including dried shells, alcohol-preserved
specimens, and Cenozoic fossils.  Approximately 7% of the collection
is from the Philippines.  It presently ranks as the fifth largest mollusk
collection in the U.S.  Important holdings include the Weaver-DuPont
Volutidae, the Stanford University U.S. Unionidae (on permanent
loan), and over 1,200 type lots.
 
DMNH's Bird Collection is also world-wide in scope, with special
strengths in North and Central America and the Philippines.
Approximately 67,000 study skins, 9,000 skeletons, and 5,300
alcohol-preserved specimens represent over 3,000 species.  The bird
egg collection comprises another 36,000 specimens, forming the
second largest egg collection in North America.  The Philippine
holdings represent this nation's most complete collection of birds
from this biologically diverse island group.
 
The DMNH Library (10,000 volumes) is one of the finest in classic
systematic works in Malacology and Ornithology.  Holdings include a
number of rare pre-Linnean volumes (many on long-term loan from
Wagner Free Institute of Science), as well as recent monographs,
reprints, and journals.
 
Specific questions about the collections should be addressed to Dr.
Timothy A. Pearce, Curator (Malacology) or Mr. Gene K. Hess,
Collection Manager (Ornithology), at the address below.
 
Address applications to:  Dr. Timothy A. Pearce, Head, Curatorial &
Research Division, Delaware Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box
3937, Wilmington, DE  19807-0937, Tel. (302) 658-9111, FAX (302)
658-2610, email: [log in to unmask]