i

wr FF

Ka LO Re ie :

THE seers INSTITUTION. 119

REPORTS OF THE SECRETARY OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION,

FROM 1847 ro 1853.

_ To make the operations of the Institution more generally known, it has been thought advi-
sable to append to this Report, for reprinting, the several Annual Reports of the Secretary.
They give a connected history of all the operations of the Institution, from its organization to
the end of the year 1852. These Reports exhibit the fact that very little change has been
made in the plan of active operations originally adopted, and that all the anticipations which
were entertained in regard to it have been fully realized.

FIRS TPREPR OR TF

Report of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution to the Board of Re-
gents, December 8, 1847.

GenTLEMEN: A statement of the financial condition of the Smith-
sonian Institution, and of the progress made in the erection of the build-
ing, having been presented to your Board by the committees charged
with the care of these objects, it becomes my duty, as Secretary vf the
Institution, to give an account of what has been done relative to the
development of the plan of organization, and of the steps which have
been taken in the way of carrying it into operation.

In accordance with my instructions, I consulted with men of emi-
nence, in the different branches of literature and science, relative to the
details of the plan of organization, and arranged the various suggestions
offered in the form of the accompanying programme. This, after hav-
ing been submitted to a number of persons in whose knowledge and
judgment I have confidence, is now presented to the Board, with ihe
concurrence of the Committee on Organization, for consideration and
provisional adoption. I regret that my engagements have been such as
to render it impossible for me to call upon many persons whose counsel
would have been valuable, but I hope hereafter to avail myself of their
advice in behalf of the Institution. I also regret that I could not give
the names of those whose suggestions have been adopted in the pro-
gramme; the impossibility of rendering justice to all has prevented

* The first Report of the Secretary was given in the second Report of the Regents to Con-
gress, hence the number of the former is one less than that of the latter.

120 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

my attempting this. Many of the suggestions have been offered by
different persons, independently of each other ; and, indeed, the general
plan of the increase and diffusion of knowledge, as adopted by the
Board, is such as would naturally arise in the mind of any person con-
versant with the history of physical science, and with the means usually
employed for its extension and diffusion.

The introduction to the programme contains a series of propositions,
suggested by a critical examihation of the will of Smithson, to serve as
a guide in judging of the fitness of any proposed plan for carrying out
the design of the testator. The first section of the programme gives
the details of the plan proposed for the increase and diffusion of knowl-
edge by means of publication and original researches. The second
section furnishes the details, so far as they can be made out at the pres-
ent time, of the formation of a library, and a collection of objects of
nature and art. These two plans combined, embrace the general prop-
ositions adopted by the Board of Regents at their last meeting as the
basis of future operations. It is intended in the proposed plan to har-
monize the two modes of increasing and diffusing knowledge, and to
give to the Institution the widest influence compatible with its limited
income. That all the propositions will meet with general approval can-
not be expected; and that this organization is the best that could be de-
vised is neither asserted nor believed. To produce a@ priori a plan of
organization which shall be found to succeed perfectly in practice, and
require no amendment, would be difficult under the most favorable cir-
cumstances, and becomes almost impossible where conflicting opinions
are to be harmonized, and the definite requirements of the act estab-
lishing the Institution are to be observed. It is not intended that the
details of the organization, as given in the programme, should be per-
manently adopted without careful trial; they are rather presented as
suggestions to be adopted provisionally, and to be carried into opera-
tu gradually and cautiously, with such changes, from time to time, as
experience may dictate.

PROGRAMME OF ORGANIZATION OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.
[Presented to the Board of Regents, December 8, 1847.]
INTRODUCTION.

General considerations which should serve as a guide in adopting a plan of
organization.

1, Witt or Smiruson. The property is bequeathed to the United
States of America, “to found at Washington, under the name of the
Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion
of knowledge among men.”

2. The hequest is for the benefit of mankind. The government of
the United States is merely a trustee to ¢arry out the design of the
testator.

3. The Institution is not a national establishment, as is frequently

ys

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 121

supposed, but the establishment of an individual, and is to bear and
per ‘petuate his name.

4, The objects of the Institution are—1st, to increase, and 2d, to dif
fuse, knowledge among men. ©

5. These two objects should not be confounded with one another.
The fwst is 10 increase the existing stock of knowledge by the addition
of new truths; and the second to dissemmate knowledge, thus in-
creased, among men.

6. The will makes no restriction in favor of any particular kind of
knowledge; hence all branches are entitled to a share of attention.

7. Knowledge can be increased by different methods of facilitating and
promoting the discovery of new truths, and can be most efficiently dif-
fused among men by means of the press.

8. To effect the greatest amount of good, the organization should be
such as to enable the Institution to produce results in the way of in-
creasing and diffusing knowledge, which cannot be produced by the
existing institutions in our country.

9. The organization should also be such as can be adopted, provi-
sionally, can be easily reduced to practice, receive modifications, or be
abandoned, in whole or in part, without a sacrifice of the funds.

10. In order 10 make up for the loss of time occasioned by the delay
of eight years in establishing the Institution, a considerable portion of the
interest which has accrued should be added to the principal.

11. In proportion to the wide field of knowledge to be cultivated,
the funds are small. Economy should therefore be consulted in the
construction of the building ; and not only should the first cost of the
edifice be considered, but also the continual expense of keeping it in
repair, and of the support of the establishment necessarily connected
with it. There should also be but few individuals permanently sup-
ported by the Institution.

12. The plan and dimensions of the building should be determined by
the plan of the organization, and not the converse.

13. It should be recollected that mankind in general are to be bene-
fitted by the bequest ; and that, therefore, all unnecessary expenditure

on local objects would be a perversion of the trust.

14. Besides the foregoing considerations, deduced immediately from
the will of Smithson, regard must be had to certain requirements of the
act of Congress establishing the Institution. ‘These are a library, a
museum, and a gallery of art, with a building on a liberal scale to con-
tain them.

SECTION I.

Plan of organization of the Institution, in accordance with the foregoing
deductions from the will of Smithson.

To Increase Knowrepes. It is proposed—

1. To stimulate men of talent to make original researches, by offer-
ing suitable rewards for memoirs containing new truths ; and,

2. To appropriate annually a portion of the income for particular
researches, under the direction of suitable persons.

122 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

To Dirrust Knowtepce. It is proposed—
1. To publish a series of periodical reports on the progress of the
different branches of knowledge; and,
_ 2. To publish occasionally separate treatises on the subjects of general
interest.
*
DETAILS OF THE PLAN TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE.

I. By stimulating researches.

1. Rewards, consisting of money, medals, &c., offered for original
memoirs on all branches of knowledge.

2. The memoirs thus obtained to be published in a series of vol-
umes in a quarto form, and entitled ‘‘ Smithsonian Contributions to
Knowledge.” !

3. No memoir on subjects of physical science to be accepted for
publication which does not furnish a positive addition to human knowl-
edge resting on original research; and all unverified speculations to
be rejected.

4, Each memoir presented to the Institution to be submitted for ex-
amination to a commission of persons of reputation for learning in the
branch to which the memoir pertains, and to be accepted for publica-
tion only in case the report of this commission 1s favorable. ,

5. The commission to be chosen by the officers of the Institution, and
the name of the author, as far as practicable, concealed, unless a favor-
able decision be made.

6. The volumes of the memoirs to be exchanged for the transactions
of literary and scientific societies, and copies to be given to all the col-
leges and principal libraries in this country. One part of the remain-
ing copies may be offered for sale; and the other carefully preserved,
to form complete sets of the volumes, to supply the demand from new
institutions.

7. An abstract, or popular account, of the contents of these memoirs
to be given to the public, through the annual report of the Regents to
Congress. :

Il. By appropriating a portion of the income, annually, to special objects
of research, under the direction of suitable persons.

1. The objects, and the amount appropriated, to be recommended
by counsellors of the Institution.

2. Appropriations in different years to different objects ; so that, in
course ot time, each branch of knowledge may receive a share.

3. The results obtained from these appropriations to be published,
with the memoirs before mentioned, in the volumes of the Smithsonian
Contributions to Knowledge. | ;

4. Examples of objects for which appropriations may be made:

uy System of extended meteorological observations, for solving the
problem for American storms.

(2.) Explorations in descriptive natural history, and geological, mag-
netical, and topographical surveys, to collect materials for the formation
of a Physical Atlas of the United States.

Me AEC NR Oe Be ; he
THE. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 123

__(8.) Solution of experimental problems, such as a new determination
of the weight of the earth, of the velocity of electricity and of light ;
chemical analyses of soils and plants; collection and publication of
articles of science, accumulated in the offices of government.

(4.) Institution of statistical inquiries with reference to physical,
moral, and political subjects.

(5.) Historical researches, and accurate surveys of places celebrated
in American history.

(6.) Ethnological researches, particularly with reference to the dif-
ferent races of men in North America ; also, explorations and accurate
surveys of the mounds and other remains of the ancient people of our
country.

DETAILS OF THE PLAN FOR DIFFUSING KNOWLEDGE.

I. By the publication of a series of reports, giving an account of the new
discoveries in scrence, and of the changes made from year to year im all
branches of knowledge not strictly professional.

1. These reports will diffuse a kind of knowledge generally interest-
ing, but which, at present, is inaccessible to the public. Some of the
reports may be published annually, others at longer intervals, as the
income of the Institution, or the changes in the branches of knowledge,
may indicate.

2. The reports are to be prepared by collaborators eminent in the
different branches of knowledge.

3. Each collaborator to be furnished with the journals and publica-
tions, domestic and foreign, necessary to the compilation of his report ;
to be paid a certain sum for his labors, and to be named on the title-
page of the report.

4. The reports to be published in separate parts, so that persons
interested in a particular branch can procure the parts relating to it
without purchasing the whole.

5, These reports may be presented to Congress for partial distribu-"
tion; the remaining copies to be given to literary and scientific institu-
tions, and sold to individuals for a moderate price.

The following are some of the subjects which may be embraced in the reports :
I. PHYSICAL CLASS.

1. Physics, including astronomy, natural philosophy, chemistry, and
meteorology.

2. Natural history, including botany, zoology, geology, &c.

3. Agriculture.

4. Application of science to arts.

Il. MORAL AND POLITICAL CLASS.

8. Ethnology, including particular history, comparative philology,
antiquities, &c.

124 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

6. Statistics and political economy.
7. Mental and moral philosophy.
8. A survey of the political events of the world, penal reform, &c.

Ill LITERATURE AND THE FINE ARTS.

9. Modern literature.
10. The fine arts, and their application to the useful arts.
11. Bibliography.
12. Obituary notices of distinguished individuals.

I]. By the publication of separate treatises on subjects of general interest.

1. These treatises may occasionally consist of valuable memoirs
translated from foreign languages, or of articles prepared under the di-
rection of the Institution, or procured by offering premiums for the best
exposition of a given subject.

2. The treatises should in all cases be submitted to a commission of
competent judges previous to their publication. 2 .

3. As examples of these treatises, expositions may be obtained of the
present state of the several branches of knowledge mentioned in the
table of reports. Also of the following subjects, suggested by the Com-
mittee on Organization, viz: the statistics of labor, the productive arts
of life, public instruction, &c.

SECTION II.

Plan of organization, in accordance with the terms of the resolutions of the
Board of Regents, providing for the two modes of increasing and diffusing
knowledge.

1. The act of Congress establishing the Institution contemplated the
formation of a library and a museum ; and the Board of Regents, in-
cluding these objects in the plan of organization, resolved to divide the
income into two equal parts.

2. One part to be appropriated to increase and diffuse knowledge by
means of publications and researches, agreeably to the scheme before
given. The other part to be appropriated to the formation of a library
and a collection of objects of nature and of art.

3. These two plans are not incompatible with one another.

4, To carry out the plan before described, a library will be required,
consisting—1st, of a complete collection of the transactions and proceed-
ings of all the learned societies in the world; 2d, of the more import-
ant current periodical publications, and other works necessary in pre-
paring the periodical reports.

5. The Institution should make special collections, particularly of
objects to verify its own publications.

6. Also, a collection of instruments of research in all branches of ex-
perimental science.

7. With reference to the collection of books other than those men-
tioned above, catalogues of all the different libraries in the United States

eb!

.

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 125

: should be procured, in order that the valuable books first purchased
‘may be such as are not to be found in the United States.

8. Also, catalogues of memoirs, and ot books in foreign libraries, and
other materials, phonic be collected, for rendering the Institution a cen-
tre of bibliographical knowledge, whence the student may be directed
to any work which he may require.

9. It is believed that the collections in Natural History will increase
‘by donation as rapidly as the income of the Institution can make pro-
vision for their reception; and, therefore, it will seldom be necessary
to purchase any articles of this kind.

10. Attempts should be made to procure for the Gallery of Arts casts
of the most celebrated articles of ancient and modern sculpture.

11. The arts may be encouraged by providing a room, free of ex-
cae for the exhibition of the objects of the Art Union, and other simi-

ar societies.

12. A small appropriation should annually be made for models of
antiquities, such as those of the remains of ancient temples, &c.

13. For the present, or until the building is fully completed, besides
the Secretary, no permanent assistant will be required, except one, to
act as hbrarian.

14. The duty of the Secretary will be the general superintendence,
with the advice of the Chancellor and other members of the establish-
ment, of the literary and scientific operations of the Institution ; to give
to the Regents annually an account of all the transactions, of the me-
moirs which have been received for publication, and of the researches
which have been made ; and to edit, with the assistance of the Libra-
rian, the publications of the Institution.

15. The duty of the Assistant Secretary, acting as Librarian, will be,
for the present, to assist in taking charge of the collections; to select and
purchase, under the direction of the Secretary and a committee of the
Board, books and catalogues, and to procure the information before
mentioned ; to give information on plans of libraries, and to assist the
Secretary in editing the publications of the Institution, and in the other
duties of his office.

16. The Secretary and his assistants, during the session of Congress,
will be required to illustrate new discoveries in sciences, and to exhibit
new objects of art; also, distinguished individuals should be imvited to
give lectures on subjects of general interest. Is

17. When the building is completed, and when, in accordance with ©
the act of Congress, the charge of the National Museum is given to the
Smithsonian Institution, other assistants will be required.

Explanations and illustrations of the programme.

_ Though the leading propositions of the programme have been fully dis-
cussed by the Board, yet it will be important to offer some remarks in
explanation and illustration of them in their present connexion. |

_ That the Institution is not a national establishment, in the sense in
which institutions dependent on the government for support are so, must

126 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

be evident, when it is recollected that the money was not absolutely
givento the United States, but intrusted toit fora special object, namely—
the establishment of an institution for the benefit of men, to bear the
name of the donor, and consequently to reflect upon his’ memory the
honor of all the good which may be accomplished by means of he
bequest. The operations of the Smithsonian Institution ought, there-
fore, to be mingled as little as possible with those of the government,
and its funds should be applied exclusively and faithfully to the increase
and diffusion of knowledge among men.

That the bequest is intended for the benefit of men in general, and
that its influence ought not to be restricted to a single district, or even
nation, may be inferred not only from the words of the will, but also
from the character of Smithson himself; and I beg leave to quote, from
a scrap of paper in his own hand, the following sentiment bearing on
this point: ‘‘ The man of science has no country; the world is his
country—all men his countrymen.’ The origin of the funds, the be-
quest of a foreigner, should also preclude the adoption of a plan which
does not, in the words of Mr. Adams, “‘ spread the benefits to be de-
rived from the Institution not only over the whole surface of this Union,
but throughout the civilized world.” ‘ Mr. Smithson’s reason for fixing
the seat of his Institution at Washington obviously was, that there is the
seat of government of the United States, and there the Congress by
whose legislation, and the Executive through whose agency, the trust
committed to the honor, intelligence, and good faith of the nation, is to
be fulfilled.” The centre of operations being permanently fixed at
Washington, the character of this city for literature and science will be
the more highly exalted in proportion as the influence of the Institution
is more widely diffused.

That the terms increase and diffusion of knowledge are logically dis-
tinct, and should be literally interpreted with reference to the will, must
be evident when we reflect that they are used in a definite sense, and
not as mere synonymes, by all who are engaged in the pursuits to
which Smithson devoted his lite. In England there are two classes of
institutions founded on the two ideas conveyed by these terms. The
Royal Society, the Astronomical, the Geological, the Statistical, the
Antiquarian Societies, all have for their object the increase of knowledge ;
while the London Institution, the Mechanics’. Institution, the Surry In-
stitution, the Society for the Diffusion of Religious Knowledge, the So-
ciety for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, are all intended to diffuse
or disseminate knowledge among men. In our own country, also, the
same distinction is observed in the use of the terms by men of science.
Our colleges, academies, and common schools, are recognised as insti-
tutions partially intended for the diffusion of knowledge; while the ex-
press object of some of our scientific societies is the promotion of the
discovery of new truths. :

The will makes no restriction in favor of any particular kind of
knowledge ; though propositions have been frequently made for devot-
ing the funds exclusively to the promotion of certain branches of science
having more immediate application to the practical arts of life, and the
adoption of these propositions has been urged on the ground of the con-
formity of such objects to the pursuits of Smithson ; but an examination

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 127

of his writings will show that he excluded from his own studies no
branch of general knowledge, and that he was fully impressed with the
important philosophical fact, that all subjects of human thought relate
to one great system of truth. ‘To restrict, therefore, the operations of
the Institution to a single science or art, would do injustice to the char-
acter of the donor, as well as to the cause of general knowledge. If
preference is to be given to any branches of research, it should be to
the higher, and apparently more abstract; to the discovery of new
principles, rather than of isolated facts. And this is true even in a
practical point of view. Agriculture would have forever remained an
empirical art, had it not been for the light shed upon it by the atomic
_ theory of chemistry ; and incomparably more is to be expected as to its
future advancement from the perfection of the microscope, than from
improvements in the ordinary instruments of husbandry.

_ The plan of increasing and diffusing knowledge, presented in the first
section of the programme, will be found in strict accordance with the
several propositions deduced from the will of Smithson, and given in
the introduction. It embraces, as a leading feature, the design of
interesting the greatest number of individuals in the operations of the
Institution, and of spreading its influence as widely as possible. It forms
an active organization, exciting all to make original researches who are
gifted with the necessary power, and diffusing a kind of knowledge,
now only accessible to the few, among all those who are willing to
receive it. In this country, though many excel in the application of
science to the practical arts of life, few devote themselves to théfcon-
tinued labor and patient thought necessary to the discovery and devel-
opment of new truths. The principal cause of this want of attention
to original research is the want, not of proper means, But of proper
encouragement. The publication of original memoirs and periodical
reports, as contemplated by the programme, will act as a powerful
stimulus on the latent talent of our country, by placing in bold relief the
real laborers in the field of original research, while it will afford the best
materials for the use of those engaged in the diffusion of knowledge.

The advantages which will accrue from the plan of publishing the
volumes of the Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge are various.

In the first place, it will serve to render the name of the founder favor-
ably known wherever literature and science are cultivated, and to keep
it in continual remembrance with each succeeding volume, as long as
knowledge is valued. A single new truth, first given to the world
through these volumes, will forever stamp their character as a work of
reference. The Contributions will thus form the most befitting monu-
ment to perpetuate the name of one whose life was devoted to the
increase of knowledge, and whose ruling passion, strong in death,
prompted the noble bequest intended to facilitate the labors of others
in the same pursuit.

_ Again: the publication of a series of volumes of original memoirs
wil afford to the Institution the most ready means of entering into
friendly relations and correspondence with all the learned societies in
the world, and of enriching its library with their current transactions
and proceedings. But perhaps the most important effect of the plan
will be that of giving to the world many valuable memoirs, which, on

128 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

account of the expense of the illustrations, could not be otherwise pub-
lished. Every one who adds new and important truths to the existing
stock of knowledge must be, of necessity, to a certain degree, in ad-
vance of his age. Hence the number of readers and purchasers of a
work is often in the inverse ratio of its intrinsic value; and conse-
quently authors of the highest rank of merit are frequently deterred
from giving their productions to the world on account of the pecuniary
loss to which the publication would subject them. When our lamented
countryman, Bowditch, contemplated publishing his commentary on La
Place, he assembled his family and informed them that the execution
of this design would sacrifice one-third of his fortune, and that it was
proper his heirs should be consulted on a subject which so nearly con-
cerned them. The answer was worthy of the children of sucha father:
«We value,” said they, ‘‘ your reputation more than your money.”
Fortunately, in this instance, the means of making such a sacrifice ex-
isted ; otherwise, one of the proudest monuments of American science
could not have been given tothe world. In the majority of cases, how-
ever, those who are most capable of extending human knowledge are
least able to incur the expense of the publication. Wilson, the Ameri-
can ornithologist, states, in a letter to Michaux, that he has sacrificed
everything to publish his work. ‘I have issued,” he says, ‘‘ six vol-
umes, and am engaged on the seventh; but as yet I have not received
a single cent of the proceeds.’”’ In an address on the subject of natural
history, by one of our most active cultivators of this branch of knowl-
edge, we find the following remarks, which are directly in point:
“Few are acquainted with the fact that from the small number of
scientific wgrks sold, and the great expense of plates, our naturalists
not only are not paid for their labors, but suffer pecuniary loss) from
their publications. Several works on different branches of zoology,
now in the course of publication, will leave their authors losers by an
aggregate of $15,000. I do not include in this estimate works already
finished—one, for instance, the best contribution to the natural history
of man extant, the publication of which will occasion its accomplished
author a loss of several thousand dollars. A naturalist is extremely
fortunate if he can dispose of 200 copies of an illustrated work, and
the number of copies printed rarely exceeds 250.” It may be said
that these authors have their reward in the reputation which they thus
purchase ; but reputation should be the result of the talents and labor
expended in the production of a work, and should not in the least de-

pend upon the fact that the author is able to make a pecuniary sacrifice ©

in giving the account of his discoveries to the public.

Besides the advantage to the author of having his memoir published
in the Smithsonian Contributions. free of expense, his labors will be
given to the world with the stamp of approval of a commission of
learned men; and his merits will be generally made known through
the reports of the Institution. Though the premiums offered may be
small, yet they will have considerable effect in producing original arti-
cles. Fifty or a hundred dollars awarded the author of an original
paper will, in many instances, suffice to supply the books, or to pay for
the materials, or the manual labor required, in prosecuting the research.

There is one proposition of the programme which has given rise to

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 129

much discussion, and which, therefore, requires particular explanation :
T allude to that which excludes from the contributions all papers con-
sisting merely of unverified speculations on subjects of physical science.
The object of this proposition is to obviate the endless difficulties which
would occur in rejecting papers of an unphilosophical character; and
though it may in some cases exclude an interesting communication, yet
the strict observance of it will be found of so much practical importance
that it cannot be dispensed with. It has been supposed, from the adoption
of this proposition, that we are disposed to undervalue abstract specula-
tions: on the contrary, we know that all the advances in true science—
namely, a knowledge of the laws of phenomena—are made by provision-
ally adopting well conditioned hypotheses, the product of the imagination,
and subsequently verifying them by an appeal to experiment and observa-
tion. Every new hypothesis of scientific value must not only furnish an ex-
act explanation of known facts, but must also enable us to predict, in kind
and quantity, the phenomena which will be exhibited under any given
combination of circumstances. Thus, in the case of the undulatory

_ hypothesis of light, it was inferred, as a logical consequence, that if the

supposition were true that light consisted of waves of an ethereal me-
dium, then two rays of light, like two waves of water under certain
conditions, should annihilate each other, and darkness be produced.
The experiment was tried, and the anticipated result was obtained. It
is this exact agreement of the deduction with the actual result of ex-
perience that constitutes the verification of an hypothesis, and which
alone entitles it to the name of a theory, and to a place in the transac-
tions of a scientific institution. It must be recollected that it is much
easier to speculate than to investigate, and that very few of all the hy-
potheses imagined are capable of standing the test of scientific verifi-
cation.

For the practical working of the plan for obtaining the character of a
memoir, and the precaution taken before it is accepted for publication,
I would refer to the correspondence, given in a subsequent part of this
report, relative to the memoir now in process of publication by the In-
stitution. As it is not our intention to interfere with the proceedings of
other institutions, but to co-operate with them, so far as our respective
operations are compatible, communications may be referred to learned
societies for inspection, as in the case of the above mentioned memoir,
and abstracts of them given to the world through the bulletins of these
societies, while the details of the memoirs and their expensive illustra-
tions are published in the volumes of the Smithsonian Contributions.
The officers of several learned societies in this country have expressed.
a willingness to co-operate in this way.

Since original research is the most direct way of increasing know-
ledge, it can scarcely be doubted that a part of the income of the be-
quest should be appropriated to this purpose, provided suitable persons
can be found, and their labors be directed to proper objects. ‘The
number, however, of those who are capable of discovering scientific
principles, is comparatively small; like the poet, they are ‘ born, not
made ;” and, like him, must be left to choose their own subject, and.
wait the fitting time of inspiration. In case a person of this class has
fallen on a vein of discovery, and is pursuing it with success, the better

9

130 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

plan will be to grant him a small sum of money to carry on his inves-
tigations. provided they are considered worthy of assistance by compe-
tent judges. This will have the double effect of encouraging him in
the pursuit, and of facilitating his progress. The Institution, however,
need not depend upon cases of this kind, even if they were more numet-
ous than they are, for the application of its funds in the line of original
research.. There are large fields of observation and experiment, the
cultivation of which, though it may afford no prospect of the discovery
of a principle, can hardly fail to produce results of importance both in
a practical and theoretic point of view. Asan illustration ofthis remark,
I may mention the case of the investigations made a few years ago by
a committee of the Franklin Institute, ot Philadelphia. The Secretary
of the Treasury of the United States placed at the disposal of this so-
ciety a sum of money, for the purpose of making experiments with
reference to the cause of the explosion of steam-boilers. A committee of
the society was chosen for this purpose, which adopted the ingenious
plan of writing to all persons in the United States engaged im the ap-
plication of steam, and particularly to those who had observed the ex-
plosion of a steam-boiler. In this way opimions and suggestions in
great variety, as to the cause of explosions, were obtained. The most
plausible of these were submitted to the test of experiment; the re-
sults obtained were highly important, and are to be found favorably
mentioned in every systematic work on the subject of steam which has
appeared in any language, within the last few years. New and im-
portant facts were established; and, what was almost of as much con-
sequence, errors which had usurped the place of truth were dethroned.

In the programme, examples are given of a few subjects of original
research to which the attention of the Institution may be turned. I
will mention one in this place, which, in connection with the contents
of our first memoir, may deserve immediate attention. I allude to a
small appropriation made annually for researches with reference to the
remains of the ancient inhabitants of our country. This is a highly in-

teresting field, and what is done in regard to it should be done quickly. .

Every year the progress of civilization is obliterating the ancient
mounds; cities and villages are rising on the spots they have so long
occupied undisturbed, and the distinctive marks of these remains are
every year becoming less and less legible. : |

In carrying out the spirit of the plan adopted—namely, that of affect-
ing men in general by the operations of the Institution—it is evident that
the principal means of diffusing knowledge must be the press. Though
lectures should be given in the city in which Smithson has seen fit to
direct the establishment of his Institution, yet, as a plan of general dif-
fusion of knowledge, the system of lectures would be entirely inade-
quate ; every village in our extended country would have a right to de-
mand a share of the benefit, and the income of the Institution would
be insufficient to supply a thousandth part of the demand. It is also

evident that the knowledge diffused should, if possible, not only em-

brace all branches of general interest, so that each reader might find a
subject suited to his taste, but also that it should differ in kind and
quality from that which can be readily obtained through the cheap
publications of the day. These requisites will be fully complied with

4

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 131

in the publications of the series of reports proposed in the programme.
A series of periodicals of this kind, posting up all the discoveries in
science from time to time, and giving a well digested account of all the
important changes in the different branches of knowledge, is a deside-
ratum in the English language. The idea is borrowed from a partial
plan of this kind m operation in Sweden and Germany; and for an ex-
ample of what the work should be,I would refer to the annual report to
the Swedish Academy of its perpetual secretary, Berzelius, on physical
science. The reports can be so prepared as to be highly interesting to the
general reader, and at the same time of great importance to the exclusive
cultivator of a particular branch of knowledge. Full references should
be given, in foot-notes, to the page, number, or volume ofthe work from
which the information was obtained, and where a more detailed account
canbe found. It is scarcely necessary to remark, that the preparation of
these reports should be entrusted only to persons pofoundly acquainted
withthe subjects to which they relate, namely : to those who are devoted
to particular branches, while they possess a knowledge of general princi-
ples. Sufficient explanations should be introduced to render the report
intelligible to the general reader, without destroying its scientific charac-
ter. Occasionally reports may be obtained from abroad—as, for ex-
ample, accounts of the progress of certain branches of knowledge in
foreign countries ; and these may be translated, if necessary, and incor-
porated into other reports by some competent person in this country.

Besides the reports on the progress of knowledge, the programme
proposes to publish occasionally brief treatises on particular subjects.
There are always subjects of general interest, of which brief*exposi-
tions would be of much value. The preparation of these, however,
should be entrusted to none but persons of character and reputation, and.
should be subjected to a revision by competent and responsible judges
before they are given to the public. They may be presented in the
form of reports on the existing state of knowledge relative to a given
subject, and may sometimes consist of memoirs and expositions of par-
ticular branches of literature and science, translated from foreign lan-
guages. The reports and treatises of the Institution, sold at a price
barely sufficient to pay the expense of printing, will find their way ito
every school in our country, and will be used not as first lessons for
the pupil, but as sources of reliable information for the teacher.

The second section of the programme gives, so far as they have been
made out, the details of the part of the plan of organization directed by
the act of Congress establishing the Institution. The two plans, namely,
that of publication and original research, and that of collections of objects

of nature and art, are not incompatible, and may be carried on harmo-
niously with each other. The only effect which they will have on one
another is that of limiting the operation of each, on account of the funds
given to the other. Still, with a judicious application and an economi-
cal expenditure of the income, and particularly by rigidly observing
the plan of finance suggested by Dr. Bache, in the construction of the
building, much good may be effected in each of the two branches of the
Institution. ‘To carry on the operations of the first, a working library
will be required, consisting of the past volumes of the transactions
and proceedings of all the learned societies in every language. These

132 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

are the original sources from which the most important principles of the
positive knowledge of our day have been drawn. We shall also require
a collection of the most important current literature and science for the
use of the collaborators of the reports ; most of these, however, will be
procured in exchange for the publications of the Institution, and, there-
fore, will draw but little from the library fund. For other suggestions
relative to the details of the library, I would refer you to the annexed
communication from Professor Jewett, Assistant Secretary, acting as
librarian.

The collections of the Institution, as far as possible, should consist of
such articles as are not elsewhere to be found in this country, so that
the visitors at,Washington may see new objects, and the spirit of the
plan be kept up, of interesting the greatest possible number of individ-
uals. A perfect collection of all objects of nature and of art, if such
could be obtained and deposited in one place, would form a museum of
the highest interest ; but the portion of the income of the bequest which
can be devoted to the increase and maintenance of the museum will be
too sinall to warrant any attempt towards an indiscriminate collection.
It is hoped that, in due time, other means may be found of establishing
and supporting a general collection of objects of nature and art at the
seat of the general government, with funds not derived from the Smith-
sonian bequest. For the present, it should be the object of the Institu-
tion to confine the application of the funds, first, to such collections as
will tend to facilitate the study of the memoirs which may be published
in the Contributions, and to establish their correctness ; secondly, to the
purchase of such objects as are not generally known in this country,
in the way of art, and the illustration of antiquities, such as models of
buildings, &c.; and, thirdly, to the formation of a collection of instru-
ments of physical research, which will be required both in the illustra-
tion of new physical truths and in the scientific investigations under-

_ Much popular interest may be awakened in favor of the Institution
at Washington, by throwing the rooms of the building open on stated
, evenings during the session of Congress, for literary and scientific as-

semblies, after the manner of the weekly meetings of the Royal Insti-
tution in London. At these meetings, without the formality of a regular
lecture, new truths in science may be illustrated, and new objects of
art exhibited. Besides these, courses of lectures may be given on par-

ticular subjects by the officers of the Institution, or by distinguished
individuals invited for the purpose.

Commencement of the operations of the Institution.

I was authorized, in connexion with the Committee on Organization,
to commence the publication of the Smithsonian Contributions to
Knowledge, and to receive any memoir which might be presented on
any subject, provided it was found, on examination, to furnish an inter-
esting addition to the sum of human knowledge, resting on original re-
search. The first memoir presented, and found to be of the character
prescribed by the resolution of the Board, was one on the remains of
the ancient inhabitants of the North American continent. It contains

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 133

the result of several years’ labor in the survey and exploration of the
mounds and earthworks of the Mississippi valley, and will furnish a
highly interesting addition to the antiquities of our country, which could
not have been given to the world but for the timely aid extended to it
by this Institution. 'The memoir was referred to the American Eth-
nological Society, with a request that a committee of its members might
be appointed to examine and report on its character, as to fitness for

ublication in the Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge. On the
an report of this committee, and on the responsibility of the
society, the memoir has been accepted for publication. The following
correspondence will serve to give an account of the work, and to illus-
trate the manner in which it is proposed to submit the papers which
may be presented for publication to a commission of competent judges.

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE ACCEPTANCE FOR PUBLICATION
OF THE ETHNOLOGICAL MEMOIR OF MESSRS. SQUIER AND DAVIS.

From Messrs. Squier and Davis to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Insti-
utzon.

CuILLicoTHE, Onto, May 15, 1847.

Dear Sir: It is proposed in the recognised plan of organization of
the Smithsonian Institution, of which you are the executive officer, to
publish, under the title of “* Smathsonian Contributions to Knowledge,’ such
original papers and memoirs ‘‘as shall constitute valuable additions to
the sum of human knowledge.” Under the belief that it falls legiti-
mately within the scope of the above plan, the undersigned herewith
submit for acceptance and publication, subject to the prescribed rules
af the Institution, a MS. memoir, entitled “* Anctenr MonuMENTS OF
THE MississipP1 VALLEY, comprising the results of Extensiwe Original
Surveys and Explorations: by E. G. Squier and K. H. Davis.” The
extent of these investigations, and their general character, are suffi-
ciently indicated in the prefatory remarks to the volume.

With high consideration, we are truly yours,

E. GEO. SQUIER,
E. H. DAVIS.
JosrrH Henry, Esq.,
Secretary Smithsonian Institution.

From the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution to the President of the
American Ethnological Society.

Wasuineton, June 2, 1847.

Dear Sir: I am authorized by the Regents of the Smithsonian Jn-
stitution to publish, in the numbers of the ‘Smithsonian Contributions to
Knowledge,” any memoir which may be presented for this purpose, pro-
vided that, on careful examination by a commission of competent

134 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

judges, the memoir shall be found to furnish a new and interesting addi-
tion to knowledge, resting on original research. ‘The accompanying
memoir, entitled “ Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley,” §c.,
having been presented for publication, I beg leave to refer the same,
through you, to the American Ethnological Society, with a aa that
a committee of the members may be appoimted to examine and report
on its character, in reference to the particulars above mentioned. If
the report of the committee is favorable, the memoir will be accepted
for publication; full confidence being placed in the ability of the com-
mittee to judge of the character of the article, and in their caution in
making up their opinion.

[ have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOSEPH HENRY,
Secretary Smithsoman Institution.
Hon. AtBERT GALLATIN,
President American Ethnological Society.

Extracts of a letter from the President of the American Ethnological Society
to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.

New York, June 12, 1847.

‘Dear Sir: I have the honor to enclose a copy of the proceedings
and resolutions of the New York Ethnological Society upon the MS.
work on American antiquities, by Messrs. EK. G. Squier and K. H.
Davis, submitted with your letter of the 2d instant.

‘‘] approve entirely of the resolutions and recommendatigns of the
society.

* * % ® * & B ® * * 3k

“‘ Whatever may be the intrinsic value of the remains of former times
which are found in the United States, it is necessary that they should
at least be correctly described, and that existing gross errors should be
corrected ; and. I repeat my conviction that, though ardent, Messrs.
Squier and Davis are animated by that thorough love of truth which
renders their researches worthy of entire confidence. ; .

# # * * % ca # x. * * &
“‘T have the honor to be, &c.,
“ALBERT GALLATIN.

‘¢ Prof. J. Henry,

“Secretary of Smithsonian Institution.”

At a regular meeting of the American Ethnological Society, held at
the house of the Hon. Albert Gallatin, on the evening of the 4th of
June, the president laid before the members a communication from
Professor J. Henry, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, trans-
mitting, for the examination and opinion of the society, a MS. work on
the Ancient Aboriginal Monuments of the United States. On motion,
the letter and accompanying MS. were referred to a committee consist-

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 135

ing of Edward Robinson, D. D., John R. Bartlett, Professor W.
W. Turner, Samuel G. Morton, M. D., and Hon. George P. Marsh,
to report upon the same. At a subsequent meeting of the society, this
committee submitted the following report and resolutions, which were
unanimously accepted and adopted :

_ REPORT.

The committee of the American Ethnolagical Society, to which was
referred the communication of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Insti-
tution, transmitting a manuscript work, entitled ‘‘ Ancteyt Monuments
or THE MississipP1 VALLEY, comprising the results of Extenswe Original
Surveys and Explorations,” by E. G. Squier and E. H. Davis, beg leave
to report:

That they have examined the work in question, and regard it not only
as a new and interesting, but as an eminently valuable addition to our
stock of knowledge on a subject little understood, but in which is felt
a deep and constantly increasing interest, both in our country and
abroad. In their judgment, the work is worthy of the subject, and
highly creditable to the authors. Its chief features are, a scientific
arrangement, simplicity, and directness of statement, and legitimate
deduction from facts, while there is no attempt at mere speculation or
theory. If published, it will be an enduring monument to connect the
names of the investigators in honorable and lasting remembrance with
the great subject of American Archeology.

The existence and progress of these investigations were made known
to the society by correspondence early in the year 1846 ; and in June of
that year specimens of the relics recovered, accompanied by numerous
maps and plans of ancient earthworks and sectional views of the mounds
from which the remains were taken, were laid before the society by
Mr. Squier in person. These excited deep interest and surprise in all
who saw them ; and the society immediately took measures to encour-
age further investigation, and secure the publication, under its own
auspices, ot the important results already obtained. A few months
later, the chairman of the present committee, being in Ohio, was en-
abled, through the kindness of Messrs. Squier and Davis, to visit several
of the more important monuments in the immediate vicinity of Chilli-
cothe, and, among these, ‘‘ Mound City,” so-called, from which very
many of the minor relics and specimens were procured. He was struck
with the accuracy of the plans and drawings, as well as of the accounts
which had been laid before the society, and bears full testimony to the
fidelity and integrity with which the process of investigation and deline-
ation has been conducted.

During the last and present season the researches of these gentlemen
have been actively prosecuted and widely extended, and the above
work, largely illustrated, comprising the results, has been prepared.
These results are so numerous and important, and consequently such
is the extent and magnitude of the work itself, as to put its publication
beyond any means which the society can command. Under these cir-
cumstances, your committee learn with pleasure that preliminary
arrangements have been made for its publication by the Smithsonian

136 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

Institution among its “‘ contributions to knowledge.” It can only be
a matter of sincere gratification to this society to see that which it can-
not itself accomplish for the history and antiquities of our country taken
up and carried out under such favorable auspices; and they cannot but
rejoice that an opportunity is thus afforded to that noble Institution of
opening its high career by fostering scientific researches into the inter-
esting problems connected with the ante-Columbian history and abo-
riginal monuments of our own country.

In view of these facts, yoyr committee would recommend the adop-
tion of the following resolutions by the society :

Resolved, That this society regard the researches of Messrs. Squier
and Davis as of very great importance in American Archeology, and
as casting much light upon our aboriginal antiquities, especially upon
the character and habits of the earliest races which had their seat in the
Mississippi valley.

Resolved, That we regard the work prepared upon this subject as one

of great general interest, and as worthy to be adopted for publi-
cation by the Smithsonian Institution, both as resting on original re-
searches, and as affording remarkable illustrations of the history of the
American continent.
_ Your committee would also append to this report the accompanying
letters from Samuel G. Morton, M. D., of Philadelphia, and Hon.
George P. Marsh, of Vermont, both members of this society, and joint
members of this committee.

All of which is respectfully submitted. |
EDWARD ROBINSON,

JOHN R. BARTLETT,
W. W. TURNER,
Committee.
New Yorn, June, 1847.

New York, June 9, 1847.

I have examined with much interest and attention the manuscripts,
drawings, and ancient relics in the possession of Mr. E. G. Squier, and
am happy to say that my previous impressions concerning the value of
the researches of that gentleman and his associate are fully confirmed.
It is fortunate for the cause of American Archeology that the first
systematic attempt at its elucidation should have been conceived and
executed in so truly philosophical a spirit ; and rich as this age already’
is in antiquarian lore, it has, I think, received few more important con-
tributions than that which the enlightened and generous zeal of these
two private gentlemen is about to confer upon it. The Smithsonian
collections could not begin with a more appropriate or creditable
essay ; and I hope that every facility may be afforded to the authors in
bringing before the public the results of their honorable labors in as~
suitable a form and with as little delay as possible.

GEO. P. MARSH.

ce

«

~*~

‘eet
;

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 137

PHILADELPHIA, June 8, 1847.

_ As a member of the committee of the American Kthnological Society,
appointed to report on the memoir on American Archeeology, by Messrs.
KE. G. Squier and. E. H. Davis, | have great pleasure in saying, that
after a careful and repeated inspection of the materials in the hands of
those gentlemen, I.am convinced they constitute by far the most im-
portant contribution to the Archzeology of the United States that has
ever been offered to the public. The number and accuracy of their
plans, sketches, &c., have both interested and surprised me, and it is
gratifying to learn that the preliminary arrangements have been made
for their publication under the honorable auspices of the Smithsonian
Institution. |
SAML. GEORGE MORTON.

The memoirs of Messrs. Squier and Davis will occupy the greater
portion, if not the whole, of the first volume of the Contributions. The
illustrations will consist of fifty-five quarto plates of the mounds, earth-
works, and maps of the adjacent country; also, of about two hundred
wood-cuts, principally delineations of the various articles found in the
mounds. ‘l'hose who consider no branch of knowledge of any value
but such as relates to the immediate gratification of our physical wants,
have objected to the acceptance of this memoir as one of the first pub-
lications of the Institution; but it must be recollected that the will of
Smithson makes no restriction in favor of any particular kind of knowl-
edge, and that each branch is, therefore, entitled to a share of his be-
quest. The ethnological memoir of Messrs. Squier and Davis was
the first, of the proper character, presented for publication, and hence
it was entitled to the first place in the series of Smithsonian-Contribu-
tions. Besides this, it furnishes an addition to a branch of knowledge
which is at this time occupying the attention of a large class of minds,
and which cannot fail to be interesting to every intelligent person who
would learn something of the changes to which man has been subjected.

It is proposed to insert in one of the volumes of the Contributions a
sketch of the life of Smithson. The materials for this have been
collected from the several volumes of the Transactions of the Royal
Society, and the scientific journals of the beginning of the present and
the latter part of the last century. The first volume will be published
as soon as the wood-cuts and plates, now in the course of preparation,
are finished. :

Besides the memoirs before mentioned, a number of others have been
presented, some of which, thoughapparently of interest, and the product
of thought and labor, were not of the character required by the resolution
of the Board, and these have either been returned to their authors, or are
‘in the possession of the Secretary. A number of others have also been
provisionally adopted, or are in the course of preparation. ‘Some of
these are on the most abstruse parts of physical science, and all will do
honor to the intellectual character of our country. Though the number
af original memoirs which will be found worthy of a place in the Con-
tributions will probably not be large, yet it will, perhaps, be best to set

)

138 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

apart a definite portion of the income of the bequest—as, for example,
at present three or four thousand dollars annually—to defray the ex-
pense of this part of the plan of increasmg knowledge. A considerable
portion, however, of the sum thus expended will be returned to the In-
stitution in the form of additions to its library. I may also suggest, in
this place, the propriety of the adoption by the Board of a resolution
inviting all engaged in original research to send the results of their labors
for publication in the Smithsonian Contributions.

The Board also directed me to commence the collection of apparatus ;
and I accordingly sent orders to Europe, to the amount of twelve hun-
dred dollars, for the purchase of such articles as could not be procured
in the United States. Most of the instruments have been received, and
will be found of importance not only in the way of original research,
but also in illustrating some of the most interesting and recent pheno-
mena of physica! science, as well as serving as samples for imitation
to the artists of this country. It was thought that these articles would
be admitted free of duty, and a petition to this effect was presented to
the Secretary of the Treasury; but—though this officer is well known
to be much interested in the prosperity of the Institution—such is the
nature of the law that the duty could not be remitted.

There is an article of apparatus which, within a few years pasty has
opened almost a new world of research in the phenomena of life and
organization, the use of which is now indispensable in advancing our
knowledge of physiology and its kindred branches of science. I allude
to the achromatic microscope, to increase the power of which the artists
of Germany, France, and England, have vied with each other. On ac-
count of the small number of persons who are capable of constructing
the proper lenses, the best specimens of this instrument are very scarce
in this country, and can be procured only at a great expense. Under
these circumstances, it was a matter of much interest to learn, from a
souree which could be relied on, that an individual in the interior of the
State of New York had successfully devoted himself to the study of the
microscope, and that he was able to produce instruments of this kind
which would compete with the best of those constructed in Europe. In
order to do justice to the talents and labors of this person, as well as to
furnish the Institution with a valuable instrument of research, I re-
quested him to construct a microscope, to be paid for out of the funds
for the purchase of apparatus, provided that a commission, appointed
by myself, should find it capable of producing certain effects. This
proposition was accepted, and the result will probably be given to the
Board at the next meeting.

Preparations have also been made for instituting various lines of phy-
sical research. Among the subjects mentioned by way of example in
the programme for the application of the funds of the Institution is ter-
restrial magnetism. I need scarcely say that this is a subject of high

interest not only in a theoretical point of view, but also in its direct re-"

ference to navigation and the various geodetical operations of civil and
military life. A resolution of Congress authorizing the exploration of
the mineral lands adjacent to the great lakes has given to us the means
of advancing this branch of knowledge with but little expenditure of the
funds of the Institution. The Secretary of the Treasury readily agreed

so!

|

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 139

to the proposition that there should be added to the mineralogical;
and geological surveys of these regions, determinations of the dip,
the variation, and the intensity of the magnetic forces, provided that
the Smithsonian Institution would furnish one set of the instruments,
and take charge of the direction of the observations, and of reducing
and publishing them. In the survey of the mineral lands m the vicinity
of Lake Michigan, under Dr. Jackson, Dr. Locke, of Cincinnati, has
been employed with his own apparatus; and, to make provision for
the survey in Wisconsin, preliminary steps have been taken to procure
other instruments from London.

Another subject of research mentioned in the programme, and which
has been urged upon the immediate attention of the Institution, is that
of an extensive system of meteorological observations, particularly with
reference to the phenomena of American storms. Of late years, in our
country, more additions have been made to meteorology than to any
other branch of physical science. Several important generalizations*
have been arrived at, and definite theories proposed, which now enable
us to direct our attention, with scientific precision, to such points of
observation as cannot fail to reward us with new and interesting results.
It is proposed to organize a system of observations which shall extend
as far as possible over the North American continent; and in order to
do this, it will be necessary to engage the co-operation of the British
government. Ihave accordingly addressed a letter to Lieutenant Colo-
nel Sabine, Corresponding Secretary uf the Royal Society, who assures
me that, as soon as the plan is fully matured for this country, there
will be no difficulty in establishing a system of corresponding observa-
tions in the British provinces. I have also addressed letters to seve-
ral gentlemen distinguished for their attainments in meteorology, asking
for suggestions as to the plan of observation ; and I beg leave to refer
the Board tc the accompanying report of Professor Loomis, of New York
University, and also to the communication of Professor Espy, received
in answer. ‘The former contains an exposition of the advantages which
may be derived from the study of meteorology, and what has been done
in this branch of science in this country, and what encouragement there

_ 1s for the further prosecution of the same subject, together with a gene-

ral plan of operations. The present time appears to be peculiarly
auspicious for commencing an enterprise of the proposed kind. The
citizens of the United States are now scattered over every part of the
southern and western portion of North America, and the extended lines
af telegraph will furnish a ready means of ‘warning the more northern
and eastern observers to be on the watch for the first appearance of an
advancing storm.
All which is respectfully submitted.
JOSEPH HENRY, Secretary.

To the Recents of the Smithsonian Institution.

140 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

REPORT

OF THE

COMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

APPOINTED TO

CONSIDER THE PLAN PROPOSED FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF THE
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.

a

SUBMITTED TO THE ACADEMY, DECEMBER 7, 1847.

. ‘

The Committee of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, to
whom was referred a letter of Protessor Henry, of the 30th September,
together with the programme of the organization of the Smithsonian [n-

sutution accompanying the said letter, have had the same under con-

sideration, and beg leave to submit the following report:

Professor Henry is understood, to be desirous of ascertaining the
opinions of the scientific bodies of the country on the subject of the
proposed organization of the Smithsonian Institution; and the free ex-
pression of their views is invited by him. |

The interesting nature and high importance of this foundation, and
the novel and peculiar circumstances attending its establishment, make
it highly expedient, in the opinion of the committee, that every step
taken in its organization should be deliberately considered. They think
it no more than just to express their satisfaction, that the control of the
infant establishment has been placed in the hands of a Board of Regents
af the highest intelligence, respectability, and weight of character ; and
in the wise selection made of the officers on whom the active execu-
tive duties of the Institution will devolve, the committee perceive a
satisfactory pledge as far as they are concerned. :

Professor Henry’s programme commences with ‘“ General considera;
tions which should serve as a guide in adopting the plan of organiza-
tion.” He points out the nature of the bequest as made to the United
States for the purpose of founding at Washington, under the name of the
Smithsonian Institution, an'establishment for the increase and diffusion
of knowledge among men. The bequest is accordingly for the benefit
of mankind. The government of the United States is but a trustee to
carry out this noble design. Even the people of the United States are
interested only so far as they constitute one of the great families of the
human race.

The objects of the Institution are twofold: first, the increase; and .

second, the diffusion of knowledge ; objects which, although frequently
in a vague way confounded with each other, (inasmuch as it often hap-
pens that knowledge is diffused by the same acts which increase it,)
are nevertheless logically distinct, and require to be separately regarded.
No particular kind of knowledge is specified by the founder as entitled

ae

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 141

to preference ; all branches are entitled to a share of attention; and the
order and degree in which they are cultivated must be decided by a
wise regard to means and circumstances. Knowledge may be increased
by various modes of encouraging and facil'tating the discovery of new
truths ; it is diffused chiefly, though not exclusively, through the instru-
mentality of the press. ‘The organization should be such as to produce
results not within the province of the existing institutions of the coun-
try. It was, for instance, evidently not the design of the liberal founder
to establish a collegiate institution or a place of education, nor would
it be wise to appropriate his bequest for such an object, already sufh-
ciently attained by the ordinary resources of public and private liber-
ality. Considering the novelty of the undertaking, it would be mani-
festly unwise to stake too much on the success of the first efforts. The
arganization should be such as to admit of changes and modifications
under the light of experience. As several years have elapsed since
the fund came into the possession of the United States, it seems no
more than equitable that a considerable portion of the accruing interest
should be added to the principal, to make up for the loss of time. The
committee consider this suggestion as perfectly reasonable, and trust it
will receive the favorable consideration of Congress. Liberal as is the
original bequest, the sum is but small compared with the great objects
to be accomplished. This consideration suggests the absolute necessity
af economy in any outlay on buildings and fixtures; in reference to
which a prudent regard must be had, not merely to the first cost, but to
the future expenses of repairs, and the support of the establishment.
Great care must be taken not to multiply the number of persons to be
permanently supported by the Institution. A clear and settled idea of
its organization and mode of operation must precede the adoption of a
plan of building; lest after the completion of a costly edifice it should
be found nearly or quite useless, or worse than useless, by forcing a
character upon the Institution which would not otherwise have been
given it. All view to mere local ornament or advantage should be dis-
carded at the outset, in the management of a trust created for the bene-
fit of mankind. :

Such, very slightly expanded in a few of the propositions, are the
general considerations proposed by Professor Henry as guides in
adopting a plan of organization. They command the entire assent of
the committee, and none of them more so than those which refer to
the necessity of strict economy in the expenditure of the fund on a
building, and the exclusion of undue regard to local ornament. It
would not be difficult to point to a memorable instance in which the
most munificent bequest ever made for the purposes of education has
been rendered comparatively unavailing, in a sister city of the Union,
by the total disregard of these wise principles. It is an additional
reason for observing them, that the attempt to erect a highly imposing
building for local ornament will not only crush in the bud all hope of
fulfilling the ulterior objects of the bequest, but will be almost sure to
fail of a satisfactory result, as far as the edifice itself is concerned.

The Secretary’s plan of organization in reference to the increase of
knowledge is so accurately digested and so thoroughly condensed, that
the committee think it would be best to quote his own words:

142 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

«‘ To INCREASE KNOWLEDGE, it is proposed—

‘1st. To stimulate men of talent to make original researches, by
affering suitable rewards for memoirs containing new truths ; and,

«© 2d. To appropriate annually a portion of the income for particular
researches under the direction of suitable persons.”

These methods of increasing knowledge are further unfolded in the
following ‘‘ detail of the plan” for that purpose :

“J. By stumulating researches.

“1st. Rewards, consisting of money, medals, &c., offered for original
memoirs on all branches of knowledge.

‘© 2d. The memoirs thus obtained to be published in a series of
volumes in a quarto form, and entitled ‘Smithsonian Contributions to
Knowledge.’

«© 3d. No memoir on subjects of physical science to be accepted for
publication which does not furnish a positive addition to human know-
ledge ; and all unverified speculation to be rejected.

‘4th. Each memoir presented to the Institution to be submitted for
examination to a committee of persons of reputation for learning in the
branch to which the memoir pertains, and to be accepted for publica-
tion only in case the report is favorable.

«‘ 5th. The commission to be chosen by the officers of the Institu-
tion, and the name of the author, as far as practicable, concealed until
a favorable decision shall have been made. ;

‘*‘6th. The volumes of the memoirs to be exchanged for the transac-
tions of all literary and scientific societies, and copies to be given to
all the colleges and principal libraries in this country. One part of the
remaining copies may be offered for sale, and the other carefully pre-
served to form complete sets of the work to supply the demand from
new institutions.

“7th. An abstract or popular account of the contents of these me-
moirs should be given to the public through the annual report of the
Regents to Congress.

“Tl. By appropriating a portion of the income annually to special objects
of research, under the direction of suitable persons.

‘‘Ist. The objects and the amounts appropriated to be recommended
by counsellors of the Institution.

‘2d. Appropriation in different years to different objects, so that in
course of time each branch of knowledge may receive a share.

‘© 3d. The results obtained from these appropriations to be published
with the memoirs before mentioned, in the volumes of the Smithsonian
Contributions to knowledge.

“ 4th. Examples of objects for which appropriations may be made:

““(1.) System of extended meteorological observations, for solving the
problem of American storms.

“«(2.) Geological, magnetical, and topographical surveys, to collect
materials for a physical atlas of the United States.

‘© (3.) Solution of experimental problems, such as weighing the
earth, new determination of the velocity of electricity and light, chemi-
cal analyses of soils and plants, collection and publication of articles
of science accumulated in the offices of the government.

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 143

“‘(4.) Institution of statistical inquiries, with reference to physical,
moral, and political subjects.

“(5.) Historical researches and accurate surveys of places celebra-
ted in history.

“«(6.) Ethnological researches, particularly with reference to the
present races of men in North America; also, explorations and accu-
rate surveys of the mounds and other remains of the ancient people of
our country.”

The committee have made this long extract from Professor Henry’s
programme in order to give to the Academy an adequate idea of the
proposed plan, as far as it refers to the first branch, or the increase of
knowledge. It has, in some of its features, been already adopted. It
is already announced that one voluminous memoir, copiously illustrated
by engravings, is already on its passage through the press, under the
auspices of the Smithsonian Institution. The committee refer to an
elaborate memoir, by Messrs. Squier and Davis, on the aboriginal
mounds discovered in large numbers in various parts of the United
States, and especially in the region northwest of the Ohio. This me-
moir was accepted on the favorable report of the Ethnological Society
of New York, to which it had been referred by the Secretary of the
Institution, and in whose Transactions an abridgment of it has ap-
peared. It is also understood that a memoir on one of the most inter-
esting subjects which engages the attention of geometers and mathe-
maticians at the present moment, viz: the planet Neptune, has been
invited by the Secretary from one of our own members.

While the committee would deprecate all attempts unduly to stimu-
late the increase of knowledge as sure to prove abortive, and to result
at best in the publication of crude investigations, they believe it quite
possible to remove some of the obstructions to its progress. Narrow
circumstances are too apt to be the lot of genius when devoted to sci-
entific pursuits; and the necessity of providing for personal and domestic
wants too often absorbs the time and faculties of those who might, if
relieved from cares of this kind, have adorned their age and benefited
mankind. To such men‘a moderate pecuniary advantage derived from
a successful investigation, might be of vast importance. The efficacy
of market upon production is not limited to the creations of physical
labor. It is seen in the history of science and literature of every age
and country. Invention in the mechanical arts and skill in practical
science are well paid in this country, and how great is the harvest!
The extraordinary effect even of an honorary inducement is seen in the
case ot the medal offered by the King of Denmark for the discovery of
Telescopic Comets. On these principles it may be hoped that by
_ offering a moderate pecuniary compensation for researches of real merit,
valuable contributions to knowledge will be produced; while their
publication will tend directly to the diffusion of knowledge.

An encouragement somewhat similar towards the promotion of the
increase of knowledge would be afforded by another part of the pro-
posed operations—that of providing the requisite apparatus and imple-
ments, and especially books, to be placed in the hands of those engaged
in particular lines of investigation. In this way it is not unlikely that
a considerable amount of talent may be rendered effective, which at

144 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

present is condemned to inactivity from local position unfavorable to
scientific research. |

It is not the purpose of the committee to engage in minute criticism
of the details of the programme ; but it may not be out of place to sug-
gest a doubt of the practicability or expediency of carrying into rigid
execution ‘the rejection of all unverified speculations,” as proposed
in the third paragraph of the first section above cited ; while it is ob-
viously advisable to discountenance all theoretical speculations not
directly built upon observation, it might be too much to exact, in all
cases, that these speculations should have been actually verified. No
small portion of modern geology is an ingenious structure of speculative
generalizations. The undulatory theory of light can hardly claim any
other character. The nebular theory, though proposed and illustrated
by the highest astronomical talent of the past and present generation,
is rapidly sinking from the domain of accredited speculations. It may
be doubted even whether M. Le Verrier’s brilliant memoirs on the per-
turbations of Uranus would not, as published before the discovery of
Neptune, have fallen within this principle of rejection rigorously applied.
Upon the whole, the committee think very favorably of all parts of the
plan for increasing knowledge, and feel no doubt that it would afford
important encouragement to scientific pursuits. ‘To suppose that it
will create an era in science, or throw into the shade the ordinary edu-
cational and intellectual influences at work in the country, would be
extravagant. It is enough, and all that can be expected, if it be a
rational plan for appropriating moderate means towards the attainment
of a desirable end.

To fulfil the other object of the trust, viz: to ‘ diffuse knowledge,”
the Secretary proposes to publish ‘‘A Series of Reports, giving an ac-
count of the new discoveries in science, and of the changes made from

year to year in all branches of knowledge not strictly professional.” .

These reports are to be prepared by collaborators, most eminent in their
several departments, who are to receive a compensation for their labors ;
the collaborators to be furnished with all the journals and other publi-
cations necessary to the preparation of their reports. | 3

The following enumeration of the proposed subjects of these reports
will afford the Academy a full conception of this part of the plan.

I. Physical class.

1. Physics, including Astronomy, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, and
Meteorology. |

2. Natural History, including Botany, Zoology, and Geology.

3. Agriculture.

4. Application of Science to Art.

Il. Moral and Political class.

5. Ethnology, including particular History, comparative Philology,
Antiquities, &c.

6. Statistics and Political Economy.

7. Mental and Moral Philosophy.

8. A Survey of the Political Events of the World, Penal Reform, &c.

WS

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 145
Til. Literature and the Fine Arts.

9. Modern Literature.
10. The Fine Arts, and their application to the Useful Arts.
11. Bibliography.
12. Obituary notices of distinguished individuals.

Another branch of the plan for the diffusion of knowledge contem-
plates the offer of premiums for the best essays on given subjects.

The publications of the Institution, of whatever form, are proposed
to be presented to all the colleges, and to the principal libraries and
scientific institutions throughout the country, and to be exchanged for
the transactions of all scientific and literary societies throughout the
world; thus laying the foundation of a valuable library. An adequate
number are to be preserved to supply the future demand of new insti-
tutions, and the remainder are to be placed on sale at a price so low
as to render them generally accessible.

For carrying out the plan thus sketched for increasing and diffusing
knowledge, the Regents propose to appropriate one half of the income
of their fund. 'The remainder is to be expended in the formation and
maintenance of a library, a collection of instruments of research in all
branches of experimental science, and a museum.

This partition of the income of the fund is stated to be ** a compro-
mise between the two modes of increasing and diffusing knowledge.”

A library is one of the objects contemplated in the act of Congress
establishing the Board for the management of the trust. It is requisite
for carrying out the plan above proposed. At the same time, it will be
observed that the distribution, by exchange, of the publications, which
that scheme of operations will call into existence, will rapidly provide
the Institution, without further expense, with the class of works, often of
a costly character, which are most directly important as the means of
advancing and diffusing positive knowledge. It is accordingly in these
that the Secretary proposes to lay the foundations of the library, form-
ing, 1. A complete collection of the transactions and proceedings of all
the learned societies in the world; and, 2. A similar collection of all
the current periodical publications, and other works necessary in pre-
paring the contemplated periodical reports.

In the next place, it is proposed to procure by preference those books
which are not found in the other public libraries of the United States ;
regarding the want of them as one of more urgency to be supplied than
that of a symmetrical and proportionate collection of books in all the
departments of science. Such a library as the plan proposes may be
fairly regarded as an important instrument for the increase and diffusion
of knowledge.

The collection of scientific apparatus and instruments of research is
no less needful in the furtherance of the above mentioned plan, which,
as it proposes to aid individuals in the prosecution of important re-
searches, may often do so most effectually by the loan of the instru-
ments required, for a particular investigation. 'They will also be needed,
especially at Washington, for carrying out, under the most advantageous
circumstances, the various experimental investigations in Physics al-

10

146 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

ready pursued by the Secretary with such credit to himself, and such
honor to the scientific character of the country.

The Smithsonian Institution is also to be entrusted with the conser-
vation of a National Museum, Congress having, by a clause in the Act
of Incorporation, devolved upon it the charge of the immense collec-
tions belonging to the public, of which those brought home by Captain
Wilkes from the Exploring Expedition form the greater portion, but
which are daily increasing from many other sources. These collec-
tions, when a proper and convenient place shall have been prepared
for their reception and preservation, are likely to accumulate with still
greater rapidity in time to come.

While there is an obvious propriety and convenience in thus entrust-
ing the care of the public collections to the officers of the Smithsonian
Institution, it will not, the Committee trust, be forgotten by Congress
that the income of the Smithsonian bequest—moderate at best, and
consecrated to an object distinct as it is elevated—ought not to be bur-
dened with the cost of constructing an edifice for the reception and ex-
hibition of the public collections, or of their preservation and care.
These objects would alone absorb a considerable portion of the fund.
If drawn upon to carry them into effect, its efficiency for any other pur-
pose will be seriously diminished, if not altogether destroyed.

The plan also contemplates a museum of the fine arts as well as a
scientific apparatus. It proposes to procure “casts of the most cele-
brated articles of ancient and modern sculpture” and ‘‘ models of an-
tiquities.” While it is undoubtedly true that a gallery of this descrip-
tion would find an appropriate place in an establishment devoted to the
increase and diffusion of knowledge in its broadest sense, the Commit-
tee cannot but hope that the zmmedzate execution of this part of the plan
will not be attempted; but that it will be deferred till other objects of
more decided utility have been provided for, and until a surplus of un-
appropriated funds shall have accrued.

The Academy will perceive that the most novel and important fea-
ture of the plan is that which proposes to insure the publication of me-
moirs and treatises on important subjects of investigation, aud to offer
pecuniary encouragement to men of talent and attainment to engage in
scientific research. It is believed that no institution in the country
effects either of these objects to any great exteut. The nearest
approach to it is the practice of the Academy, and other Philosophical
Societies, of publishing the memoirs accepted by them. ‘These,
however, can rarely be works of great compass. No systematic plan
of compensation for the preparation of works of scientific research is
known by the Committee to have been attempted in this or any
other country. It can scarcely be doubted that an important impulse
would be given by the Institution, in this way, to the cultivation of
scientific pursuits: while the extensive and widely ramified system of
distribution and exchange by which the publications are to be distri-
buted throughout the United States and the world, would secure them
a circulation which works of science could scarcely attain in any other
way.

It is an obvious characteristic of this mode of applying the funds of
the Institution, that its influence would operate most widely throughout

Ps

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 147

the country ; that locality would be ot comparatively little importance
as far as this influence is concerned; and that the Union would become,
so to say, in this respect, a great school of mutual instruction.
The Committee would remark, in conclusion, that in a plan of opera-
tions of this kind, very much depends upon the activity and intelligence
with which it is administered. ‘The characters of the Board of Regents
are a sufficient warrant for the prudence and good judgment which will
watch over the general interests of the foundation; while the reputation
of the Secretary and his assistant, the librarian, is so well established
in their respective departments, as to render any tribute from the Com-
mittee entirely superfluous.
All which is respectfully submitted by the Committee.
EDWARD EVERETT,
JARED SPARKS,
BENJAMIN PIERCE,
HENRY W. LONGFELLOW,
ASA GRAY.

DeceMBER 4, 1847.

Read at a meeting of the Academy held December 7, 1847, and ac-
cepted.

Ordered to be communicated to the Secretary of the Smithsonian
Institution.

O. W. HOLMES,
Recording Secretary.

148 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

SECOND ANNUAL REPORT

Of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, giving an account of the
operations of the year 1848. Presented December 13, 1849.

GenTLeMEN: By a resolution of the Board of Regents, at their last
annual meeting, I was charged with the execution of the details of the
programme which had been provisionally adopted, and was directed to
report annually to the Board the progress made in the execution of the
duty assigned to me. In accordance with this resolution, I present the
following statement of the operations of the past year.

The programme of the plan of organization of the Institution has
been submitted to a number of literary and scientific societies, and in
every case has received their unqualified approbation. The principal
officers of these societies have expressed a willingness to co-operate
with the Smithsonian Institution in carrying out the plans which have
been adopted, and it is confidently believed, that as soon as these are
fully developed and brought into practical operation, they will meet
with general approval.

It was recommended in my last report that the details of the plan
should be adopted provisionally, and should be carried into operation
gradually and cautiously, with such changes, from time to time, as
experience might dictate. The Institution is not one of a day, but
is designed to endure as long as our government shall exist; and it is
therefore peculiarly important that in the beginning we should proceed
carefully and not attempt to produce immediate effects at the expense
of permanent usefulness. The process of increasing knowledge is an
extremely slow one, and the value of the results of this part of the plan
cannot be properly realized until some years have elapsed. Independ-
ently of these considerations, the financial arrangements adopted by
the Board of Regents are such as to prevent the full operation of the
Institution until after three years from next March; up to that time
more than one half of the income is to be devoted to the erection of
the building, and indirectly to the increase of the permanent fund.

It will be recollected that the programme embraces—

1st. The plan of publishing original memoirs on all branches of
knowledge, in a series of quarto volumes.

2d. The institution of original researches under the direction of
competent persons.

3d. The publication of a series of reports from year to year, giving
an account of the progress of the different branches of knowledge.

4th. The formation of a library and a museum of objects of nature
and art.

Publication of original memoirs.
The first volume of the Smithsonjan Contributions to Knowledge has

been published and partially distributed. It consists of a single me-
moir on the Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley, comprising

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 149

the results of extensive original surveys and explorations by E. G.
Squier, A. M., and E. H. Davis, M. D. It is illustrated by forty-eight
lithographic plates, and by two hundred and seven wood engravings.
The mechanical execution of the volume will bear comparison with
that of any publication ever issued from the American press.

In the publication of the first volume of the Contributions, the ques-
tion occurred as to the propriety of securing the copyright to the Insti-
tution. I had not an opportunity of conferring with the Executive
Committee on this point, and was therefore obliged to settle it on my
own responsibility. I concluded that it would be more in accordance
with the spirit of the Institution to decide against the copyright. The
knowledge which the Smithsonian Institution my be instrumental in
presenting to the world should be free to all who are capable of using
it. The republication of our papers ought to be considered as an evi-
dence of their importance, and should be encouraged rather than pro-
hibited. ,

The first memoir occupies an entire volume, and this accidental cir-
cumstance has given rise to a misconception of the plan. It has been
supposed that each volume of the Smithsonian Contributions is, in like
manner, to consist of a separate treatise on a particular subject selected
with a view to popular interest. But such is not the case ; each volume
will generally contain a number of separate memoirs, on different
branches of knowledge, similar to the usual published transactions of
learned societies. The only reason why the first volume is occupied
with a subject of general interest, rather than one on some more ab-
struse branch of science, is, that the memoir it contains was the jirst
which was presented of the character prescribed by the plan. No
preference is to be given to any branch of knowledge. The only ques-

' tions to be asked, in considering the acceptance of a memoir, are,
whether it is a positive addition to knowledge, resting on original re-
search, and of sufficient importance to merit a place in the Smithsonian
Contributions.

The rules adopted for the acceptance of a memoir are the same as
those generally followed by learned societies. The memoir is surren-
-dered by the author to the Institution, and no additions or alterations
are allowed to be made after it has been submitted to the commission
appointed to examine it, unless by their consent. A certain number
of copies is presented to the author for distribution, with the privilege
of striking off, at his own expense, additional copies for sale3 which in
most cases, particularly when the memoir is of popular interest, will be
all the remuneration expected by the author.

From what has been said, it will be evident that the papers pub-
lished in the Contributions cannot generally be of a popular nature.
The popular effects to be produced by the Institution are principally

“ those which may be attained by the reports on the progress of the dif-

»- ferent branches of knowledge, and by the occasional publications in
connexion with these of separate treatises on some subject of special
interest.

Applications have been made for the first volume of the Contribu-
tions from many academies and private institutions; and were our

, means sufficient, we would be pleased to supply all demands of this

150 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

kind. But this is obviously impossible, for they alone would exhaust all
the income of the Institution.

Preparations have been made for the publication of the second volume
of the Contributions, and a sufficient number of memoirs have been
already accepted, or are in preparation, to furnish the materials. Five
of these are on astronomical subjects, and afford as important additions
to this science as have ever been made to it in this country. Two of
them relate to investigations on the new planet Neptune, which are
only second in value to the original discovery of this distant member of
our system. Abstracts of these have been given to the world, and have
been received with general approbation. A third is a determination of
the zodiac of the asteroids, or the zone in the heavens to which the
positions of these small planets are confined. This paper is of much
practical importance im facilitating the researches now in progress in
different parts of the world relative to the nature of these fragments (as
they would seem to be) of a large planet between Jupiter and Mars.
It may be at once determined, by an inspection of the table annexed
to this paper, whether any star mapped in an old catalogue, and now
no longer to be found in the same place, can possibly be one of the
asteroids. A fourth paper isan account of a new comet, the discovery
of which by an American lady is one of the first additions to science of
this kind, so far as lam informed, ever madein this country. The fifth
memoir is an account of the Georgetown Observatory, the instruments
with which it is furnished, the mode of using them which has been
adopted, and the results of the observations which have been made.
An important paper is also in process of preparation for the same
volume on the gigantic fossil cetacean remains which are found in the
southern and western States of the Union.

Other papers are in progress which partake of the character of origi-
nal researches, since they are, in part, at least, prepared at the expense
and under the direction of the Smithsonian Institution. They will be
mentioned under the next head.

In a few cases, memoirs have been presented which, though exhi-
biting research and considerable originality, are not of a character to
warrant their adoption as parts of our volumes of Contributions to posi-
tive knowledge. The rule given in the programme has been rigidly
adhered to, viz: to decline accepting any paper on physical science
which consists merely of an unverified hypothesis, however ingenious
and plausible such an hypothesis may be. A law of nature is not sus-
ceptible of a logical demonstration, like that of a proposition of geo-
metry, but is proved by its fitness to explain old, and to predict new,
phenomena. The verification of an hypothesis, as we have stated in
the last report, consists in deducing consequences from it, and ascer-
taining, by a direct appeal to observation or experiment, the truth
or falsity of these deductions. Any paper, therefore, on material
science, which does not contain original experiments and observations,
cannot be admitted as a part of the Contributions to Knowledge. The
rule we have adopted is in accordance with the practice of cautious
investigators. The law of universal gravitation existed for several
years in the mind of Newton as a well conditioned hypothesis before
it was given to the world as a verified and established theory. Besides

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 151

this, the rules of logic which are employed in discussing the questions
of ordinary life are not applicable to the precision of scientific inquiry.
The materials in this case, to borrow an expression of an author of
celebrity, ‘‘ must be weighed in the scale of the assayer, and not, like
the mixed commodities of the market, on the weight-bridge of common
opinion and general usage.”

It has been objected to our publishing original memoirs, that in so
doing we are merely performing the duties of a learned society. The
answer is, that the learned societies in this country have not the
means, except in a very limited degree, of publishing memoirs which
require expensive illustrations, much less of assisting to defray the cost
of the investigations by which the results have been obtained. The
real workingmen in the line of original research hail this part of the
plan as a new era in the history of American science. The assistance
which the Institution will thus render to original research will occupy
the place of the governmental patronage of other countries, and will
enable true genius, wherever found, to place its productions before the
world free of cost, and ina manner most favorable for securing due
attention and proper appreciation.

From our experience thus far, [ am convinced that, circumscribed as
is the class of memoirs accepted by the Institution, we shall have no
want of materials to fill at least one quarto volume a year. There has
been in our country within the last few years a remarkable increase in
the attention given to original research, not only in material science, but
in every branch of knowledge susceptible of addition. And this is
evinced by the character and variety of the papers which have been
presented for publication. The wide difference between the increase
of knowledge and its diffusion is beginning to be seen and appreciated,
and the time is not far distant when we shall be as distinguished for
our additions to science as for its diffusion and application. The re-
voluffons of Europe are not only sending to our shores the choicest
specimens of art, but also men of reputation and skill in scientific
investigation. Besides this, the present state of France is attended with
such an interruption of the ordinary means of scientific publication,
that the manuscript volumes on natural history of one of the most dis-
tinguished professors of the Jardin des Plantes are offered to us for
publication in the Smithsonian Contributions for no remuneration, save
a few copies for distribution among friends. Were the Institution fully
in operation I should not hesitate, in accordance with the liberality
which should characterize an establishment founded on the bequest of
a foreigner, to recommend the adoption of these memoirs for publica-
tion at the expense of the Institution, and perhaps we might now dis-
tribute them through several of our volumes and finish the publication
of them in the course of a few years. PATTY

Original researches.

The second part of the plan consists in instituting original researches,
the results of which are to be published, with the other memoirs, in the
volumes of the Smithsonian Contributions. Under this head may be
first mentioned the publication of the tables ordered at the last meeting,

152 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

of the Board, for facilitating the calculation of the time of appearance
of occultations of the fixed stars by the moon. The object of these
tables is to assist in the accurate determination of the longitude of
important places on the continent of North America, and their value
has been attested by the recommendation of some of the most. distin-
guished astronomers of this country. The accurate establishment of
the longitude of any place renders it alandmark to the surveyor, the

geographer, and the astronomer, and furnishes a most important ele- .

ment in determining its relative position on the map of the country.
The observation of occultations affords one of the most ready means
of solving this most difficult practical problem. The tables were cal-
culated at the expense and under the direction of the Institution, and
were sent to all persons known to be interested in practical astronomy,
with a request that the observations which might be made in connex-
ion with them might be sent to the Institution for computation, or pub-
lished in some accessible journal. These tables have been so well
received by astronomers, that, with the concurrence of the Executive
Committee, I have ventured to order the computation of a set of the
same kind ona more extensive scale for the year 1849. Copies of
these will be sent to United States officers on the coast of Oregon and
California, and will be distributed among all the other observers in this
country. They will be found of much practical importance to the
corps engaged by the general government in establishing the boundary
lines of our new possessions. It is hoped that the remuneration
allowed for the labor of computing these tables will not be considered
extravagant, when,it is mentioned that it has occupied the whole time
of Mr. Downes for nearly six months, at the rate of eight hours a day.

With the concurrence of the Executive Committee, I have also pub- °

lished an ephemeris of the planet Neptune, or, in other words, a table
indicating its position in the heavens during each day of the present
year, by which those interested in astronomy are enabled readgly to
find the place of the new planet in the heavens, or the direction in
which the telescope must be pointed in order to observe it. Copies of
this have been sent to all the principal astronomers in the world, and
it has received the highest commendation. It was calculated by Mr.
S. C. Walker from the orbit deduced by himself, a full account of
which forms one of the papers of the second volume of the Contribu-
tious. It is the first accurate ephemeris which has ever appeared of
this newly discovered member of our solar system.

An appropriation of one thousand dollars was made at the last meet-
ing of the Board for the commencement of a series of meteorological
observations, particularly with reference to the phenomena of American
storms. According to the estimate of Prof. Loomis, appended to my
last report, three thousand dollars will be required for the purpose of
reducing this part of our plan to practice. It is hoped that one thou-
sand dollars m addition will be appropriated this year, and an equal
sum the next, so that, at the end of that time, we shall be prepared for
full operation. At the last session of Congress an appropriation was
made for meteorology under the direction of the Secretary of the Navy;
and in order that the observations thus established may not mterfere
‘with those undertaken by the Smithsonian Institution, that officer has

7)
THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 153

directed Professor Espy to co-operate with the Secretary of the Insti-
tution. |

It is contemplated to establish three classes of observers among those
who are disposed to join in this enterprise. One class, without instru-
ments, to observe the face of the sky as to its clearness, the extent of
cloud, the direction and force of wind, the beginning and ending of rain,

‘snow, &c. A second class, furnished with thermometers, who, besides

making the observations above mentioned, will record variations of
temperature. The third class, furnished with full sets of instruments,
to observe all the elements at present deemed important in the science
of meteorology. It is believed that much valuable information may be
obtained in this way with reference to the extent, duration, and passage
of storms over the country, though the observer may be possessed of
no other apparatus than a simple wind-vane.

With the instruments owned by private individuals, with those at
the several military stations, and with the supply of the deficiency by
the funds of the Smithsonian Institution, it is believed that observa-
lions can be instituted at important points over the whole United States,
and that, with the observations which we can procure from Mexico and
the British possessions of North America, data will be furnished for
important additions to our knowledge of meteorological phenomena.
As a beginning to this extended system, six sets of instruments have
been forwarded to the coast of Oregon and California, for the purpose
of establishing periodical observations on the western side of the Rocky
mountains. Also, a set has been forwarded to Bent’s Fort, and another
to Santa Fe. Circulars have been prepared and will shortly be issued
for the purpose of ascertaining the number and locality of all those who,
with or without instruments, are willing to join in the enterprise. I am
indebted to Prof. Coffin, of Lafayette College, for a list of all persons,
as far as they are known, who have heretofore been accustomed to
make meteorological observations in North America, which will be of
much importance in our future investigations relative to this subject.

As a part of the system of meteorology, it is proposed to employ, as
far as our funds will permit, the magnetic telegraph in the investigation
of atmospherical phenomena. By this means, not only notice of the
approach of a storm may be given to distant observers, but also atten-
tion’ may be directed to particular phenomena, which can only be
properly studied by the simultaneous observations of persons widely
separated from each other. for example, the several phases presented
by a thunderstorm, or by the aurora borealis, may be telegraphed to a
distance, and the synchronous appearances compared and recorded in
stations far removed from each other. Also, by the same means, a
single observatory, at which constant observations are made during the
whole twenty-four hours, may give notice to all persons along the tele-
graphic lines, of the occurrence of interesting meteorological phenomena,
and thus simultaneous observations be secured. The advantage to
agriculture and commerce to be derived from a knowledge of the ap
proach of a storm, by means of the telegraph, has been frequently re-
ferred to of late in the public journals. And this, we think, is a subject
deserving the attention of the general government.

Under the head of researches, I may mention that several papers are

@
154 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

in preparation, under the direction and partly at the expense of the
Institution. The first of these relates to a series of valuable observa-
tions on the temperature and velocity of the Gulf stream, the author of
which the science of our country was called to mourn while he was
engaged in an important public service. The observations are now in
progress of reduction, and the-results will furnish an interesting memoir
for the next volume of our Contributions.

The drawings and engravings of a paper on the botany of Oregon
are also in progress; and as a small advance has been made to assist
in completing these, the memoir will fall under the head of original re-
searches, in part conducted by the Institution.

In the last report, it was mentioned that a magnetic survey of the
mineral regions of the northern lakes had been added to the geological
and mineralogical survey, the results of which were to be submitted to
the Smithsonian Institution. An appropriation was made by the Sec-
retary of the Treasury during the past summer for a continuation of
this survey; but on account of the lateness of the season at which the
arrangement was made, the person to whom the work was entrusted
was not enabled to engage in it this year. Operations, however, will
probably be commenced as soon as practicable next spring.

There is in the Land Office a large collection of facts relative to the
variation of the compass, which have been derived from the observa-
tions of the public surveyors, who are directed in all cases to note the
variation of the needle from the true meridian, at the several stations
of their surveys. The observations are made with an instrument called
the solar compass, which probably gives the variation at each place
within a quarter of a degree of the truth. ‘The number of these obser-
vations, it is believed, will make up in a considerable degree for their
want of greater precision ; and from the whole, the lines of declination
may be determined with considerable accuracy. The Secretary of
the Treasury has liberally directed that all the matter relating’ to this
subject in the Land Office may be placed at my disposal, and Mr. Wilson
has undertaken to present the whole in a series of maps, the publica-
tion of which in the Contributions cannot fail to be received as an
interesting addition to terrestrial magnetism.

Among the objects of research enumerated in the programme, is the
analysis of soils and plants; but it is the policy of the Smithsonian
Institution, in order to employ its funds most effectually in the way of
increasing and diffusing knowledge, not to engage in any operation
which could be as well if not better carried on under the direction and
with the funds of another institution. In accordance with this, an
arrangement has been made with the Commissioner of Patents that the
two Institutions may not interfere with each other; and as, at the re-
quest of Mr. Burke, an appropriation has been made by Congress for a
series of experiments on the above mentioned subjects, the Smithsonian
Institution will, therefore, for the present abandon this field of research
for others less effectually occupied.

I may also mention in this connexion, that the Smithsonian Institution
has been the means of starting an important literary enterprise, intended
to facilitate the study of the history and literature of our country. Mr.
Henry Stevens, who has been engaged for a number of years as the

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION: 155

agent in this country of the British Museum, and other European libra-
ries, has commenced the preparation of a bibliographical work, compri-
sing a description of all books relative to, or published in, America prior
to the year 1700, and indicating not only the contents and value of the
books, but also the principal libraries in this and other countries where
they are to be found. The preparation of a work of this kind will be
in accordance with that part of our plan which contemplates rendering
the Institution a centre of bibliographical knowledge, and will have a
direct influence in promoting the objects of the various historical socie-
ties which are now established in almost every State of the Union, and
in bringing the Institution into friendly relations with them. A certifi-
cate has been given to Mr. Stevens to the effect that this work, if found,
by a commission to whom it shall be referred, properly executed, will
be accepted for publication as part of the Smithsonian Contributions to
Knowledge. Assured by this certificate that the work will be properly
executed, a number of gentlemen and institutions, whose libraries will
be examined and referred to, have liberally subscribed to defray the
necessary expense of its preparation. With this encouragement, Mr.
Stevens has started for Europe to commence investigations in foreign
libraries. ‘To satisfy ourselves as to the importance of a work of this
kind, a circular letter was addressed to a number of individuals distin-
guished for their knowledge of such subjects, and the answer in all
cases was highly favorable to the scheme. Some of these answers I
have given in the appendix, together with the details of the plan of the
work as proposed by Mr. Stevens.

At the last session of Congress an appropriation of $5,000 was made,
on motion of Mr. Stanton, for a series of astronomical observations in
the southern hemisphere, for the purpose of a new determination of the
parallax of the planets, and consequently their distance from the sun,
by simultaneous observations on the planets Venus and Mars, made at
places situated north and south of the equator. This appropriation has
been found inadequate to furnish all the instruments required ; and inas-
much as the expedition should not be undertaken unless the observers
are provided with all the aids which the latest improvements in modern
science can furnish, and since, to wait for an additional appropriation
from Congress would cause the delay of a whole year, Lieutenant Gil-
liss has applied to the Institution to purchase and lend to him an achro-
matic telescope, which, if not paid for by an additional appropriation
from the government, will, after its return from the south, form part of
the apparatus of the Institution. This instrument will cost about
$2,000, to be paid for at the end of three years. The Executive Com-
mittee, to whom I applied for counsel on this subject, agreed with me
in opinion, that this was a proper occasion for the application of the
funds of the Institution to the promotion of science. The instrument
has accordingly been ordered to be constructed by an American artist,
and to be accepted only in case its performance shall,meet the approval
of a commission of practical astronomers appointed to examine it.

The position on the coast of Chili, to be occupied by the southern
observers, is peculiarly favorable to the study of the facts connected
with one of the most mysterious and interesting phenomena of terres-
trial physics—namely, the earthquake. Lieutenant Gilliss has been re-

156 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

quested to give particular attention to this subject, and for the purpose
of facilitating his inquiries a seismometer, or instrument for measuring
the intensity and direction of the earthwave, has been ordered at the ex-
pense of the Institution, to be placed in charge of the expedition during
its absence. ‘The cost of this instrument is not yet ascertained ; it will,
however, not exceed one hundred and fifty dollars.

I think it highly probable that these instruments will be paid for by
the general government. The liberal spirit which dictated the original
appropriation will, I doubt not, complete the outfit by the addition of a
sum sufficient to defray all the necessary expenses.* .

. Under the head of original researches, I may call to the Regents the

fact of my having been directed to continue my own investigations on
physical science, and to report occasionally to the Board my progress
therein. In the course of last year I found an opportunity, while at
Princeton, to commence a series of investigations on radiant heat, which
apparently produced some results of interest, but which my subsequent
engagements have prevented me from fully developing. I was also
directed to cause to be made a series of experiments on the economical
value of building material. It will give me much pleasure to obey
this instruction of the Board as soon asa place in the Smithsonian
building and the necessary apparatus are procured for properly con-
ducting the research. .

Reports on the progress of knowledge.

The Smithsonian Contributions are intended to consist of entirely
original additions to the sum of human knowledge, and are to be prin-
cipally exchanged for the transactions of learned societies, and to be dis-
tributed among public institutions. The Reports, on the other hand, are
to be of a more popular kind, and are intended for as wide a distribu-
tion as the funds of the Institution or the means of publishing them may
permit. They will give an account of the progress of the different
branches of knowledge in every part of the world, and will supply a
desideratum in English literature.

The objects of the Smithsonian Institution are not educs* yal. The
press in our country already teems with elementary works on the dif
ferent branches of knowledge, and to expend our funds im adding to
these, would be to dissipate them without perceptible effect. Neither
do we believe that the distribution of penny magazines, or tracts on the
rudiments of science, can ever supersede the labors of the school-mas-
ter. As a general rule, knowledge presented in a fragmentary form
can only be useful to minds well stored with general principles, to
which the isolated facts may be referred ; and knowledge, both fragmen-
tary and diluted, is almost worthless, even in the way of popular dis-
tribution. The elementary principles of science may be systematically
taught to a certain extent in common schools, and the reports we intend
to publish will be found of value to the teacher, and through him to the *
pupil, as well as interesting to the general reader. While these reports
are rendered as free as possible from technical terms, they will treat of

* Since writing this report, the appropriation has been made by Congress.

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. — 157

subjects requiring attention and thought to understand them. We think
it better that they should be above rather than below the average in-
telligence of the country; that they should start from a given epoch,
and, in most cases, should be preceded by a brief exposition of the
previous state of each subject.

Arrangements have been made for commencing some of these pre-
liminary reports, as well as reports on the state of our knowledge of
special subjects; among these are :

1. A report on the present state of chemistry as applied to agriculture.

2. A report on the forest trees of North America, giving their eco-
nomical uses, their mode of propagation, and their history.

3. A report on the present state of our knowledge of lightning and
the best means of guarding against accidents from its effects.

_4. A report on the late discoveries in astronomy.

5. A report on meteorological instruments, with practical observa-
tions and directions with reference to the use of them.

In connexion with this last report, I may mention that a proposition
has been made to the Institution by Professor Guyot, of the University
of Neufchatel, relative to the importance of commencing at this epoch,
and at the beginning of the labors of the Smithsonian Institution, the
adoption of the centigrade scale of the thermometer. This is a sub-
ject, indeed, worthy of the attention of the Regents. It should, how-
ever, be discussed with caution, and be decided only after due delib-
eration.

The first idea of reports on the progress of knowledge, with which
we are acquainted, is due to the Emperor Napoleon, who called upon
the French Academy of Sciences to present him with accounts of the
progress of the different branches of knowledge within a given period.
Until within the last few years the only regular reports of the kind
- were those presented to the Swedish Academy. Since that time, how-
ever, a series of annual reports on chemistry have been commenced by
an association of gentlemen m France, and also a series on the differ-
ent branches of material science, by the Physical Society of Berlin.
The several numbers of the latter are now in progress of translation,
in order to furnish in part the materials for the reports to be prepared.
for the Smithsonian Institution during the coming year.

Although comparatively little has been done in our country in the
way of original research, yet it might be important that the Institution
should call for the preparation of a report on the history of the progress
of original science in America down to the end of the present half cen-
tury. This report would exhibit a constant increase in the number
and importance of the researches made in our country, and might be
found of much service in giving due credit to the labors of those who
have been really engaged in the advance of knowledge among us. A
report of this kind, however, would require the association of a number
of persons combining literary with scientific attainments.

Occasional publication of separate treatises on subjects of general interest.

This part of the plan of organization requires to be carried into ope-
ration with much caution. It is liable to much abuse, unless the pub-

158 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

lication be restricted to a well-defined range, viz: to scientific reports
on the present state of knowledge of a given subject, to precede the
periodical reports; to translations from foreign languages of papers of
general interest ; and occasionally, perhaps, the exposition of a subject
on which, at a particular time, popular knowledge is required. We
should be careful not to establish a precedent which may lead us into
difficulty, in the way of declining the publication of works which may
be presented to us. Scarcely a week passes in which the Institution
is not requested to publish some essay or compilation, and the funds
which can be devoted to all our publications would not suffice for one-
half of those offered of this kind. The only work of this class which
has yet been attempted by the Institution, is one entitled “ Hints on
Public Architecture,’ under the direction of the Buildmg Committee.
Although the Secretary’s name was mentioned in the resolution au-
thorizing the publication of this treatise, yet he has thus far had no
connexion with it. The publication was authorized before the details
of the plan of organization were fully settled. It was at first intended
merely as a report of the Building Committee, giving an account of
the plans submitted, and the one adopted for the Smithsonian building,
together with a report of the investigations of the committee with re-
gard to the materials of construction, &c. It was afterwards changed
into the form of a regular treatise, in order that it might be referred ta
a commission of persons chosen to examine it, and that the Institution
might thus be relieved from the responsibility of pronouncing upon its
fitness for publication. I think it important that, besides the pretace of
this work, a full account of its origin should be given in an introductory
advertisement.

Tubrary.

During the past year the library has continued to increase by dona-
tions, and by the books which have been deposited by publishers, in
accordance with the 10th section of the act establishing the Institution.
The requirements of this act are, however, not strictly observed by all
publishers; and I would direct the attention of the Board to a special
report of the Assistant Secretary with reference to this point. The
whole subject will probably come before Congress during its present
session.

Professor Jewett, the Assistant Secretary, has been industriously en-
gaged during the past year in procuring statistics of the libraries of the
United States, and in digesting plans for the details of the library of the
Institution, and I beg leave to refer you to the able and interesting re-
port of the results of his labors herewith submitted. A considerable
portion of the copies of the Smithsonian Contributions will be presented .
to public institutions which publish transactions, and which are able to
present us in return with additions to our library. The volume now in
process of distribution has been preceded by a circular requesting ex-
changes of the works of all institutions which issue transactions and
catalogues of all libraries to which the Contributions may be sent.

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 159
Preparation for lecturing.

The plan of organization contemplates a series of free lectures, par-
ticularly during the session of Congress. These will be commenced as
soon as the building is ready for the purpose. This part of the plan
also cannot be put into full operation until after the building is com-
pleted. A number of gentlemen have consented to favor us with their
services. Men of talents, however, cannot be expected to leave their
homes and subject themselves to the expense of visitmg Washington,
and to the trouble of preparing a course of lectures, without a proper
remuneration. It will be necessary, therefore, that an annual appropri-
ation be made for this purpose. The amount, however, must necessa-
rily be small until the building is completed, or until all the interest of
the fund can be devoted to the primary objects of the Institution. Be-
sides this, the lecture-room in the east wing, now finished, will scarcely
hold more than five hundred persons, while the one in the main build-
ing 1s intended to accommodate twice as many.

Donation.

Dr. Robert Hare, of Philadelphia, having resigned the chair of che-
mistry in the University of Pennsylvania, which he had filled with honor
to himself and his country for nearly thirty years, has presented to the
Smithsonian Institution the instruments of research and illustration
collected and used by himself during his long and successful scientific
career. Many of these instruments are the invention of the donor, are
connected with his reputation, and belong to the history of the science
of our day. The gift is important, not only on account of its intrinsic
value, but also as establishing a precedent of liberality, which we trust
will be frequently observed by others, as well as being an expression of
Dr. Hare’s approbation of the plan and confidence in the stability of
the Institution. A number of other donations have been received, of
which a list, with the names of the donors, will be given in a subse-
quent report.

- In view of what has been stated in the foregoing report, the Secre-
tary trusts that the Board of Regents will be satisfied, if ever they had
any doubts on the subject, that the plan adopted is one well calculated
to carry out the benevolent intentions of the donor, of increasing and
diffusing knowledge among men; and that a satisfactory answer has
been given to the question frequently asked, namely: When is the Insti-
tution to begin? It will be seen that it has commenced the most im-
portant part of its operations, and the results are now in progress of
dissemination in every part of the civilized world.

Respectfully submitted :
JOSEPH HENRY,
Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.

160 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
Of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, for the year 1849.

To the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution :

GrentLemEN: In accordance with the resolution that the Secretary
shall present at each annual meeting of the Board of Regents an account
of the operations of the Institution during the past year, I respectfully
submit the following.

(

Agreeably to the scheme of finance adopted by the Board, the greater . ©

portion of all the income of the Smithsonian fund is at present devoted

to the erection of the building; and until this is paid for, the money
which can be appropriated to the active operations of the Institution will

be comparatively small; not only small in proportion to the demands -

made upon it, but small in reference to the results which the public
generally expect it to produce. It is believed, however, that a proper
consideration of the facts presented in the following report will warrant
the conclusion, that the Institution, during the past year, has been gradu-
ally extending its sphere of usefulness, and successfully bringing into
operation the different parts of its plan of organization.

It will be recollected that the several propositions of the programme
were adopted provisionally, and it is gratifying to be able to state that
experience thus far has indicated no important changes. The general
plan has continued to receive the approbation of the enlightened pablic
both in this country and in Europe, and to increase general confidence
in the power of the Institution to confer important benefits on our countr
and the world.

In presenting the different operations of the Institution, I shall adopt,
as in my last report, the principal divisions of the programme :

1st. Publication of memoirs in quarto volumes, consisting of positive
additions to knowledge.

2d. Institution of original researches, under the direction of competent —

rsons.

3d. The publication of a series of reports, giving the present state
and progress of different branches of knowledge.

4th. Formation of a library and museum of objects of nature and art.

5th. Lectures.
Publication of Memoirs.

Agreeably to the plan of the Institution, these memoirs are intended
to embody the results of researches which could not otherwise be readily
ublished, and are to be distributed to societies, public libraries, and other
institutions. An account of the first memoir was given in the last report.
It relates to the ancient monuments of the Mississippi valley, and oceu-
pies an entire volume. It has been presented, as far as opportunity would
permit, to the principal literary and scientific societies of the world, to
all the colleges and larger libraries of this country, and has everywhere

ny “f°

-

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 161

been received with much commendation. All the societies from which
we have as yet heard, have declared their willingness to co-operate
with the Institution, and to give us their publications in exchange, from
which source our library has already been enriched with valuable ad-
ditions.

It is to be regretted that our means would not permit us to distribute
the first volume more liberally than we have done, and that the price
put upon the copies offered for sale has placed them beyond the reach
of many persons desirous of obtaining them. This arose from the fact,
that in order to remunerate the authors for the expense and labor be-
stowed on the memoir, they were allowed to strike off from the types.
and plates of the Institution an edition to be sold for their own benefit.
To avoid risk of loss, the edition was a small one, and the price put
at ten dollars. An occurrence of this kind will not happen again; for
although it would be desirable to pay authors for their contributions,
yet it is now found that materials will be offered, free of all cost, more
than sufficient to exhaust the portion of the income which can be de-
voted to publications. ,

In printing the future volumes it will be advisable to strike off an
extra number of copies for sale on account of the Institution, and to dis-
pose of those for little more than the mete cost of press-work and paper.

The second volume of Contributions is now in the press, and will con-
sist of a number of memoirs which have been submitted to competent
judges and found worthy of a place in the Smithsonian publications. In
this volume we have adopted the plan of printing each memoir with a
separate title and paging. The object of this is to enable us to distri-
bute extra copies of each memoir separately, and also to furnish the
author with a number of copies regularly paged for his own use. It
will likewise enable us to classify the memoirs according to subjects..

The following is a brief account of the memoirs contained in the:
second volume, so far as they have been reported on by the commis~
sioners to whom they have been submitted :

1.. A memoir on the planet Neptune, by Sears C. Walker—An abstract
of this memoir has been published in the proceedings of the American
Philosophical Society, and has received the approbation of the scientific:

‘world. It presents the several steps of the discovery of an orbit which

has enabled Mr. Walker to compute the place of the new planet with
as much precision as that of any of the planets which have been known,
from the earliest times.* Starting from the observations of the motion:
of the planet during a period of about four months, Mr. Walker calcu-
lated an empirical orbit, which enabled him to trace its path among:
the stars of the celestial vault through its whole revolution of 166 years..
He was thus enabled to carry its position backward until it fell among:
a cluster of stars accurately mapped by Lalande towards the close of
the last century ; and, after a minute and critical investigation, he was.
led to conclude that one of the stars observed by Lalande on the night

* It is proper to state that a part of the researches given in this memoir was made during:
the author's connection with the National Observatory, under the direction of Lieutenant
Maury. An account of these will probably soou be published in the next volume of the re-
cords of operations of this observatory.

162 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

of May 10, 1795, was the planet Neptune. This conclusion was ren-
dered almost certainty by the observation, made on the first clear night,
that all the stars in the cluster above mentioned were found in place,
except the one previously fixed upon as the new planet. Some hesi-
tation was created, however, by noting that the missing star in Lalande’s
maps was marked as doubtful. In order to seitle this difficulty, the
original manuscript of the astronomer deposited in the Observatory of
Paris was referred to. It was then found that Lalande had twice ob-
served the same star; and not finding the right ascension and declina-
tion each time the same, and not dreaming it was a planet, he selected
one of the observations for publication, marking the position indicated
doubtful. The planet had moved during the interval of observation,
and thus produced the discrepancy. By allowing for the movement
during the time elapsed, the two observations precisely agree. There
could, therefore, be no longer any doubt that this star, observed and
mapped fifty years ago as a fixed star, was in reality the planet Neptune.
Mr. Walker, availing himself of this discovery, had now a series of ob-
servations embracing not a few months of the motion of the planet, but
which carried it back fifty years. From these data he was enabled to
deduce a pure elliptical orbit, or one which the body would describe
were there no other planets in the system. ‘This orbit has been
investigated by another of our countrymen in a series of profound and
beautitul researches, adding much to our knowledge both of Neptune
and Uranus. I allude to the labors of Professor Peirce, of Cambridge.

It is well known that the planet Neptune was discovered by mathe-
matical deductions from the perturbations observed in Uranus, and that
Leverrier and Adams, the independent authors of this discovery, not
only pointed out the direction in which the unseen planet was to be
found, but also, from a priori considerations, gave the dimensions, form,
and position of the orbit it describes around the sun. The directicn
indicated was the true one, but the elements of the orbit were widely
different from those subsequently found to belong to the actual orbit of
the planet. Professor Peirce submitted the data used by Leverrier and
Adams to a new and critical examination, and succeeded in discover-
ing the cause of their error, and of verifying the conclusions of Mr.
Walker. He afterwards proceeded to consider the inverse problem,
viz: that of deducing the perturbations which Neptune ought to pro-
duce in the planet Uranus. His final results gave a perfect explanation
of all the anomalies in the motions of Uranus, and furnished the data,
for the first time since its discovery in 1781, for correct tables for
determining its position in the heavens. Professor Peirce also investi-
gated the action of all the other planets on Neptune, and his results en-
abled Mr. Walker, by applying them to his elliptical orbit, to compare
the actual with the calculated place of the planet. This led to a further
correction of the elliptical orbit, and a more perfect table of calculated
places. In this way, by a series of profound and beautiful investiga-
tions, alternately combining the data of observation with theoretical
considerations, these two astronomers have perfected our knowledge of
the motion of the most distant planets of our system, and furnished the
means of giving their past and future position through all time. The
details of Mr. Peirce’s paper have not yet been prepared for the press.

"HE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 163
They will probably be given in due time to the world as a part of the
‘Smithsonian Contributions.
_ The investigations mentioned in the foregoing account have been at-
tended with very laborious arithmetical calculations. A small appro-
priation has been made to defray, in part, the expense of these. Indeed,
without the aid thus given, the discoveries we have related would
scarcely have been made—at least at this time, and in our country.

2. The next memoir is An account of the discovery of a Comet by Miss
Maria Mitchell, of Nantucket, with its approximate orbit, calculated by
herself. ‘The honor of this discovery has been duly awarded to the
author. A medal has been presented to her by the King of Denmark,
and the comet itself is now known to astronomers in every part of the
world by her name. From the peculiarities of the case, the Executive
Committee recommended that a small premium be presented to Miss
Mitchell.

3. The third memoir is On a new method of solving Cubic Equations, by
Professor Strong, of New Brunswick, New Jersey ; a purely mathematical
paper, which has been pronounced an interesting addition to that branch
of science.

4, The fourth memoir is A contribution to the Physical Geography of
the United States. It presents a section, from actual surveys, of the de-
scent of the bed of the Ohio river from its source, in the State of New
York, to its mouth, on the Mississippi. By a series of observations and
elaborate calculations, the author exhibits the amount of water which
passed down the river during a period of eleven years prior to 1849.
This, compared with the amount of rain which fell during the same
time on the surface drained by the river, gives a series of interesting
results in reference to evaporation.

It also contains a proposition for improving the navigation of the
_ Ohio, founded upon data given in the preceding part of the memoir.
Whatever may be the result of the plan here proposed, this memoir has
been recommended for publication as a valuable addition to the physi-
cal geography of the United States. The author is Charles Ellet, jr.,
the celebrated engineer of the wire bridges over the Niagara and Ohio
rivers. Another memoir is promised by the same author, which will
be a continuation of the same subject.

5. The fifth memoir is contributed by Dr. Robert Hare, of Philadel-
phia, and is intended to elucidate the remarkable phenomena exhibited
at the great fire in the city of New York on the 19th of July, 1845,
during which two hundred and thirty houses were destroyed, containing
merchandise amounting in value to sixty-two millions of dollars. “A
series of detonations, successively increasing in loudness, were followed
‘by a final explosion, which tore in pieces the building in which it took
place, threw down several houses in its vicinity, and forced in the fronts
of the houses on the opposite side of the street.” These effects were
attributed to gunpowder, though the owner of the building in which the
explosion occurred declared that none of this article was present, but
that the house contained a large quantity of nitre, in connexion with
merchandise of a combustible nature.

This memoir contains a series of investigations relative to the explo-
sions which may be produced by heated nitre in connexion with carbon-

164 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

aceous matters. The author shows, by numerous experiments, that
explosions of a violent kind can be produced by forcibly bringing into
contact at a high temperature, nitre, and substances of an inflammable
character. It also contains several new experiments on the combustion
of gunpowder under different circumstances.

6. The sixth memorr is On the Ancient Monuments of the State of New
York, by E. G. Squier, and may be regarded as a continuation of the
memoir by Squier and Davis, on the ancient monuments of the Missis-
sippi valley. The expense of the explorations which form the basis of
this memoir was two hundred dollars, one half of which was defrayed
by the members of the Historical Society of New York, and the re-
mainder by this Institution. .

7. Another memoir is by Professor Secchi, a young Italian of much
ingenuity and learning, a member of Georgetown College. It consists
of a new mathematical investigation of the reciprocal action of two
galvanic currents on each other, and of the action of a current on the
pole of a magnet. It begins with the assumption that the force be-
tween the elements of the currents and the magnet is inversely as the
square of the distance, and directly as the sine of the inclination, and
then presents the mathematical inferences which legitimately flow from
these data. The deductions are of such a nature that the author has
been able to verify them by means of well devised experiments, and
the resulis accord as nearly with the deductions as the complex nature
of the subject willadmit. The investigations involve the mathematical
theory of the galvanometer, and the experiments furnish much interest-
ing and useful information, aside from the principal object of the me-
moir, particularly on the comparative value of different kinds of galvanic
batteries. 3

8. The next paper is by Professor Louis Agassiz, of Harvard
University, and is entitled The Classification of Insects upon Embryolo-
gical Data. It gives an account of a series of new and interesting facts
observed by the author relative to the metamorphosis of insects, which
have an important bearing on general questions in zoology, and which
will probably lead to the arrangement of these animals according to a
new system of classification, founded upon more definite principles than
those heretofore adopted. |

9. The next is a memoir by Dr. R. W. Gibbes, on the Mosasaurus
and some new allied genera of the gigantic lizards which formerly in-
habited our planet, and of which the remains are now found in different
parts of the United States, particularly in the marl beds of various
parts of the country. This is an interesting addition to paleontology,
and has received,a favorable report from the commission to whom it
was referred.

Researches.

The programme of organization contemplates the establishment of
researches, under the direction of suitable persons, the expense to be
borne in whole or in part by the Institution. In the last report it was
mentioned that a telescope and other apparatus had been ordered for
Lieutenant Gilliss in his astronomical expedition to Chili, and that, with-

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 165

out this assistance, the expedition would have been delayed a year. I
-am now, however, happy to state that the expense of these instruments
has since been paid by an appropriation of Congress ; and the Institu-
tion has thus been the means of promoting the objects of the expedition
without any expenditure of its income. Certain improvements in as-
tronomical instruments, however, have been made since the departure
of Lieutenant Gilliss which would much facilitate his observations, and
enable him to do much more with his small number of assistants ; and
it may be well for the Institution to furnish him with instruments of this
kind.

Under the head of researches it may also be mentioned that, during
the past year, we have caused to be computed, at the expense of the
Institution, an ephemeris of Neptune, giving the position of the planet
in the heavens from August 4, 1846, to February 4, 1848, and also in
the last half years of 1848 and 1849. This ephemeris is based on the
orbit of Neptune established by Mr. Walker and corrected by the per-
turbations of the planet Neptune by the action of Jupiter, Saturn, and
Uranus, as deduced from the mathematical investigations of Professor
Peirce, of Harvard University.

We have distributed copies of this ephemeris to all persons known
to us who are interested in practical astronomy, not only in this country
but in Europe. It has been received with high commendation, and 1s
found to give the actual place of the planet in the heavens within the
limits of a few tenths of a second of arc; indeed, the coincidence of the
calculated and observed places is so marked, that, were the actual
planet of the heavens and that of the ephemeris to be considered as a
double star, they would have so close a proximity that no telescope yet
constructed could separate them.

Occultations for 1850.

A set of tables in continuation of those mentioned in the last and
preceding report for facilitating the calculation of the appearance of
occultations of fixed stars by the moon during the year 1850 has been
prepared by Mr. Downes, of Philadelphia, and published by the Insti-
tution. At the last session of Congress an appropriation was made for
establishing a Nautical Almanac, which will furnish, among other aids
to astronomical observation, sets of tables of the kind just mentioned.
Lieutenant Davis, of the United States navy, to whom the superintend-
ence of this national work has been entrusted, recommended that the
expense of the preparation of the tables for 1850 should be defrayed
from the appropriation for the Almanac; and this recommendation has
been concurred in by the Secretary of the Navy. ‘The Institution has,
therefore, been called upon merely to pay for the printing and distribu-
tion of the tables, and thus again enabled, with a small outlay of its
funds, to afford important facilities for the advance of science.

Meteorology.

_ Under the general head of researches we may also give an account
of the progress made in establishing the system of meteorological ob-

166 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

servations proposed in the preceding reports. Circulars describing the
plan of operation were distributed to the several parts of the Union
through members of Congress at the last session, and the results fully
equalled our anticipations. From localities widely separated from
each other, and distributed over the greater portion of the United States,
about one hundred and fifty monthly returns are now regularly re-
ceived. To carry on this system efficiently, much labor is necessarily
required in the way of correspondence; but it bids fair to furnish the
Institution with a wide field of usefulness in bringing it into communi-
cation with individuals who, though secluded in position, are desirous
of improving themselves, as well as of promoting general knowledge.
The correspondence we have thus established, and which we hope to
extend, through the aid of the members of the present Congress, will
enable us to acquire definite information on a variety of subjects besides
those which relate to meteorology. We have already accumulated in
this way a mass of curious and instructive information, which we hope,
in the progress of the development of the plan of the Institution, to digest
and present to the public.

We would mention in this connexion that two of our meteorological
correspondents have proposed the collection of statistics of diseases, in-
cluding the rise, progress, and decline of epidemics. This is a subject
we would commend to the American Medical Association. The Smith-
sonian Institution could assist in an enterprise of this kind by receiving
the information which is attainable, and collating it, under the direction
of a committee of gentlemen belonging to the medical profession.

It will be recollected that our plan of meteorological observations em-
braces three classes of observers—one to record the changes in the aspect
of the sky, the direction of the wind, beginning and ending of rain,

snow, &c.; another, in addition, to give an account of the changes of.

temperature imdicated by the thermometer ; and a third, furnished with
a full set of instruments for recording the most important atmospheric
changes. The importance of the information which may be derived
from a careful record of the weather without instruments can scarcely

be realized by persons who have given but little attention to the subject.

The place of origin, direction, velocity of motion of a storm, as well as
the direction and velocity of the wind which composes it, whether gyra-
tory or inward and upward, may all be determined by a sufficient amount
of data of the kind we have mentioned. Also, a careful record of the
observations of meteors seen by individuals from different positions
would furnish interesting data for determining the elevation and velocity
of these mysterious visitors. ,

There are other data which can only be obtained by the use of accu--
rate instruments ; fortunately, however, a comparatively small number
of observers are sufficient for determining these. The instruments should
be of the best possible construction, placed in important situations, and
observed at suitable times and with undeviating regularity by competent
observers. Few persons are acquainted with the difficulty of procuring
accurate meteorological instruments. The ordinary thermometers for
sale in the shops frequently differ several degrees from each other, par-
ticularly at the higher and the lower temperatures, and even the same
thermometer is liable, for a time after its construction, to undergo a

patie

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 167

change in the size of the bulb, and thus to derange the accuracy of the
scale. An accurate barometer is another instrument which cannot
readily be obtained, unless at too great a price for the means of ord mary
observers. The common weather-glasses, sold under the name of
barometers, though they may be of use in indicating variations of atmo-
spheric pressure, and thus assist in furnishing data for determining the
progress of aerial waves, are inapplicable to the precise and accurate
observations necessary to determine the minute changes of atmospheric
pressure, or to ascertain the height of places above the level of the
sea.

Considerable pains have been taken during the past year to ascertain
the best torm of a barometer, which could be procured at a reasonable
cost ; and, after considerable mquiry and comparison of different instru-
ments, we have at length decided upon one, with an adjustable cistern
and enclosed in a brass case, which may be transported to a distance,
and will serve as well for a mountain barometer as for indicating
meteorological changes. For the construction of these instruments, we
have employed Mr. James Green, formerly of Baltimore, now of New
York; and in order that the instruments furnished by him to ourselves,
or sold to our observers, may be comparable with each other, we have
procured a standard barometer from London, with which each instru-
ment, previously numbered, is accurately compared, and the record
carefully preserved. We have also decided upon the forms of rain
and snow gauges and wind vanes, and have ordered a number of these
to be constructed by Benjamin Pike & Son, Broadway, New York.

It is the policy of the Institution to do as much with its funds as possi-
ble, and to call in aid from every quarter whence it may be obtained.
With reference to the system of meteorology, | am happy to inform the
Board that we have received assistance from a number of sources from
which it could scarcely have been expected at the commencement of
the scheme. The last Congress appropriated two thousand dollars for
meteorology, to be expended under the direction of the Navy Depart-
ment. It was understood that Professor Espy was to be engaged in
the investigations to be made in accordance with this appropriation,
and, in order that his labors might co-operate with those of the Institu-
tion, the late Secretary of the Navy directed him to apply to me for
instructions. During the past year he has been engaged in directing
observations and making preparation for a series of experiments having
an important bearing on the explanation of meteorological phenomena.
It is understood that the remainder of this appropriation, after paying
the salary of Mr. Espy, will be expended in detraying incidental ex-
penses, such as printing, engraving, &c.

The Regents of the University of the State of New York, in 1825,
organized a system of meteorology, which has continued ever since, and
which has added many interesting facts to the stock of scientific know-
ledge. In order to extend the usefulness of this system, the Regents of
the University have lately resolved to reorganize the whole and to
supply the observers with accurate and well compared instruments.
This wo:k has been intrusted to Dr. T. Romeyn Beck and one of our
Regents, Gideon Hawley, esq., both of Albany. They have adopted
the same system and instruments as those of the Smithsonian Institution,

168 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

and have agreed to co-operate fully with us in the observation of the
general and particular phenomena of meteorology. A similar move-
ment has been made in the legislature of Massachusetts for the establish-

ment of a system of observations ; and it is hoped that the other States

of the Union will follow these examples. We are also happy to state
that the medical department of the army, under the direction of Surgeon
General Lawson, has signified its willingness to unite with us in the
same system, and to furnish the new military posts with mstruments
constructed on the same plan, and compared with the Smithsonian
standard. We hope, therefore, within the coming year, that there will
be established at least fifty stations in different parts of North America,
furnished with accurate instruments of this lind.

During the past summer I visited Canada, principally for the purpose
of examining the meteorological instruments and the method of using

them employed at the Observatory of Toronto. Captain Lefroy, the —

director of this institution, offered me every facility for acquiring the
desired information. Healso furnished me with a list of military posts
in Canada at which observations may be made, and gave assurance of
the hearty co-operation in our labors of the officers attached to these
posts. We have also a prospect of procuring permanent observations
from Bermuda, some of the West India islands, and frum Central
America. 3 as

From all these statements, it will be seen we are in a fair way of
establishing a general system of meteorology, extending over a great
portion of North America, including many stations furnished with com-
pared instruments referred to the same standard. When fully organ-
ized, it will constitute one of the most important systems ever instituted;
but to bring it fully into operation will require a judicious expenditure.
of all the funds at our disposal for this purpose. At the last session of
the Board one thousand dollars were appropriated for meteorological
purposes, the greater portion of which has been expended for instru-
ments, among which are those to serve as standards; an equal sum at
least will be required for the next year.

In connexion with the regular meteorological system, successful ap-
plications have been made to the presidents of a number of telegraph
lines to allow us, at a certain period of the day, the use of their wires
for the transmission of meteorological intelligence. We propose to fur-
nish the most important offices along the lines with sets of instruments,
and to give the operators special instructions for the observation of par-
ticular phenomena. It is hoped by this means to obtain results not
otherwise accessible. Instruments for this purpose are now in process
of construction, and as soon as they are completed the transmission of
observations will conimence.

The establishment of the extended system of meteorology which we
have just described is a work of time and labor, the correspondence
alone being sufficient constantly to occupy the time of one person; and
the adjustment of the several parts of the plan has required more time
than my other engagements would permit me to devote to it.

eS

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 169

splice as ‘acai _ Magnetic Observations.
_ A set of magnetic apparatus was ordered from London for the pur-
pose of determining the lines of magnetic intensity, decfination, and in-
clination. These are entrusted to Colonel Emory, of the Boundary
Commission, and in his possession they will probably be made to do
good service in the cause of science. As soon as the funds will admit
of the appropriation, it would be advisable to purchase several sets of
instruments of the same kind, to be placed in the hands of the scientific
explorers of our new territories, and for determining the principal mag-
netic lines across the United States.

Physical Geography.

Another subject of much interest, connected with the physical geog-
raphy of our country, is the collection of the statistics of all railway
and canal explorations which have been made in various parts of the
United States and Canada. This information, at present in the pos-
session of individuals, is of little value, and, unless collected by some
public institution, will soon be lost to the world. Surveys of this kind
furnish the most exact data for the determination of what may be called
the mountain bases or general water-sheds of the surface ; and no por-
tion of the world, of the same extent, has been so thoroughly traversed
with these explorations as the United States. Connected with these,
sketches should be made of the principal mountain ranges, barometri-
cal measurements of the higher peaks, with geological sections of the
strata through which the public works are carried. For the purpose
of commencing this collection, we have addressed letters to all persons

within our knowledge who possess information of this kind, requesting

memoirs from them containing results of their own measurements and
observations. By this means we hope to present a series of papers of
the same character as that of Mr. Ellet, and thus furnish materials for
a more accurate physical map of North America, as well as the means,
im connexion with our operations in meteorology, for a more exact study
of our climate.

During the past year Professor Guyot has made a barometrical ex-
ploration of the mountain system of New Hampshire, and he purposes
to devote a portion of each year to investigations of this kind.

Natural Fistory.

Our new possessions in Oregon, California, and Mexico offer interest-
ing fields for scientific inquiry, particularly in the line of natural his-
tory; and Dr. Gray, of Cambridge, and Dr. Engleman, of St. Louis,
aided by several scientific gentlemen interested in this branch of sci-
ence, have sent a number of collectors to develop the resources of those
regions, particularly so far as the botany is concerned. ~ |

Among these, Mr. Charles Wright has been engaged to make explo-
rations during the past year in New Mexico, at the expense of a sub-
scription by individuals and institutions. He has just returned laden
with a valuable collection of plants, seeds, &c., which are to be di-

170 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

vided among those who defrayed the expense. In behalf of the Smith-
sonian Institution $150 was subscribed towards this enterprise, and for
this we are entitled to a full set of all the objects collected. These are
to be submitted to Dr. Gray, of Cambridge, to be described in a me-.
moir by him, and to be published in the Smithsonian Contributions.
Mr. Wright is expected to start on another expedition early in the spring,
for the purpose of making explorations in natural history in the regions
around El Paso; and it will be well for the Smithsonian Institution to
further assist this laudable enterprise with another subscription of an
equal amount. .

We have also purchased, for the sum of $20, a set of the plants col-
lected by Mr. Fendler,in the vicinity of Santa Fe, during the year
1847. This adventurous explorer, under the direction of the gentleman
previously mentioned, is now engaged in investigating the botany of
the great valley of the Salt Lake, and it is proposed further to assist
him by the purchase of a set of the collections he may obtain. By co-
operating in this way with individuals and institutions we are enabled,
at a small expense, materially to advance the cause of science.

Ancient Monuments.

Another object, the prosecution of which falls particularly within
the province of the Institution, is that of obtaining descriptions of the
ancient monuments of North America. Circulars have been sent to
gentlemen in various parts of the country, requesting them to furnish
surveys and explorations of mounds and other ancient works which
are reputed to exist in their vicinity.. To facilitate these investiga-
tions, we have requested the authors of the first volume to draw up,
from the results of their experience, a set of instructions for the proper,
examination and description of works of this kind. The same sub-
ject has also been placed before several historical societies, established
in places where mounds are known to exist. In connexion with this
subject, we cannot too highly commend the policy of the new Terri-
tory of Minnesota, which, among the first of its acts, has established
a Historical Society, to gather up the record of events as they occur,
and thus to preserve the unappreciated facts of the present—destined
to become history in the future. An important and interesting part of
the labors of such societies would be the survey and exploration of
the ancient monuments which might be found in their vicinity. Brief
accounts of these might be published in the proceedings of the socie-
ties, while detailed descriptions and drawings could be given to the
world at the expense and through the transactions of the Smithsonian
Institution.

The publication of our first volume has awakened a lively interest
in this subject, and we have received accounts of various locations of
mounds and other ancient works in different parts of the country which
were previously unknown. A gentleman, well qualified for the task,
is now engaged in preparing for us an ethnological chart indicating the
relative positions, as far as they are known, of all the monuments of
this kind. This chart may be improved from time to time, and will
be the means of eliciting important additional information. Indeed, this

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 170"

whole subject should be prosecuted by the Institution, until all acces-
sible information has been collected. The Smithsonian Institution owes
this to the world. The work should be done quickly ; for the plough,
as well as the elements, are every year rendering less visible the out-
lines and distinctive forms of these remnants of the arts and policy of
the ancient inhabitants of this continent.

Bibliographia Americana.

In the last report an account is given of the preparation of a work
on the bibliography of America, by Henry Stevens, of Vermont. This
work, it will be recollected, is to contain a brief account of every book
published in, or relating to, North America, prior to 1700, with refer-
ences to the different libraries in this and other countries in which these
works are to be found. The Institution agreed to publish this work at
its own expense, provided, on examination by a commission of compe-
tent judges, it is found properly executed. Mr. Stevens is now en-

gaged in the British Museum cataloguing all the works embraced in

-

this plan, and informs me that he is making good progress in his enter-
prise.

Reporjs on the Progress of Knowledge.

Of the reports on the progress of knowledge, proposed in the plan of
organization, none have as yet been published, though several of those
mentioned in my report ot last year have been completed, or are very
nearly ready for the press. The appropriations, however, for the last
year were not found sufficient for carrying out further this part of the

lan.

: The most important report now in progress is that on the forest-trees
of North America, by Dr. Gray, Professor of Botany in Harvard Uni-
versity. It is intended in this work to give figures from original draw-
ings of the flowers, leaves, fruit, &c., of each principal species im the
United States proper, for the most part of the size of nature, and so
executed as to furnish colored or uncolored copies—the first being in-
tended to give an adequate idea of the species, and the second for
greater cheapness and more general diffusion.

This work will be completed in three parts, in octavo, with an atlas
of quarto plates—the first part to be published next spring. A portion
of this will be occupied with an introductory dissertation giving the
present state of our knowledge, divested as much as possible of all
unnecessary technical terms—of the anatomy, morphology, and physi-
ology of the tree—tracing its growth from the embryo to its full de-
velopment and reproduction in the formation of fruit and seed. This
will be illustrated by drawings from original dissections under the
microscope, and sketches made, in every instance, from nature. As
the work will be adapted to general comprehension, it will be of inter-
est to the popular as well as the scientific reader. '

Report on the history of the discovery of the planet Neptune.—The first
part of a report on recent discoveries in astronomy has been completed,
and is ready for the press. This is written by Dr. B. A. Gould, of

372 ‘EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF ‘

2 ~
Cambridge, editor of the American Astronomical Journal. Copious
references to authorities are given in foot-notes, which will render the
work interesting to the professed astronomer as well as to the less ad-
vanced student.

A report has been prepared by Professor Guyot, late of the Univer-
sity of Neufchatel, on the construction and use of meteorological instru-
ments, more particularly designed for distribution among our meteoro-
logical observers. This gentleman is now engaged, at the expense of
the Regents of the University of the State of New York, in establishing
a new system of meteorology, and im instructing the observers in the
use of the instruments ; for which service he is well adapted by his ex-
perience in a similar undertaking in Switzerland.

The report on the application of chemistry to agriculture is also
nearly ready for the press. This is by Dr. Lewis C. Beck, of Rutgers
College, New Jersey.

Collections.

Apparatus.—The plan of organization also contemplates the forma-
tion of a museum of physical instruments, which may be used for ex-
perimental illustration and original research, and may serve as models
to workmen as well as to illustrate the genera] progress of inventions
in this line. oh a

The munificent donation of Dr. Hare has enabled us to commence
this collection with very flattering prospects. It now contains, besides
the articles of Dr. Hare, instruments for the illustration of the principles
of light, heat, and sound, procured from Paris, and a full set of pneu-
matic instruments, of superior size and workmanship, constructed ex-
pressly for the Institution by Mr. Chamberlain, of Boston; also, a
number of chemical articles purchased during the last year ; a set of
magnetical instruments, already noticed; a standard barometer and
thermometers, and other meteorological instruments, procured from ~
Europe. It is proper that I mention, in this place, that we are indebt-
_ ed to Professor Snell, of Amherst, for superintending the construction
of a set of very ingenious instruments devised by himself for the illus-
tration of wave motion. It is believed that the collection of instru-
ments of research will, in due time, not only form a feature of great
interest, but that it will surpass in extent similar collections in other
countries.

It is intended to publish a descriptive catalogue of all the instruments
for the use of visitors; and it may be advisable to illustrate this by
wood-cuts, particularly as we have had presented to us all the wood —
engravings employed by Dr. Hare in describing his apparatus.

It is not in accordance with the plan of organization to confine the
instruments of observation to the immediate use of the officers of the
institution, but to suffer them to be employed, under certain restrictions,
by others who are possessed of the requisite degree of skill. This
practice may be attended in some cases with loss, and the breakage of
instruments; but the expenditure which may be incurred on this account
will probably be more than compensated by the advance to knowledge
resulting from the adoption of the plan.

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 173

A small appropriation has been made for collections in natural his-
tory during the past year; and, under the direction of a distinguished
young naturalist, upwards of ten thousand specimens of vertebrated
animals, principally reptiles and fishes, have been obtained. Many of
these are rare specimens from unexplored parts of our country, and a
considerable number of them consists of undescribed species. They
furnish the materials for an interesting series of memoirs on physiology,
embryology, and comparative anatomy. The whole cost of making
this. collection did not exceed $140. We are convinced, from the im-
‘portant results obtained by this small expenditure, that a most valuable
. working collection of objects of the natural history of North America
can be obtained at a very moderate outlay of funds. |

Library.

During the past year the process of developing the plan of the
library, as given in the programme, has been carried out by Professor
Jewett as far as the funds which could be devoted to the purpose would
allow.

Considerable progress has been made in the plan of forming a gene-
ral catalogue of all the important libraries in the United States; and
Professor Jewett has wisely commenced the preparation of a catalogue
of all the books to be found in the different libraries in the city of Wash-
ington, including those of the several departments of the government ;
and in this way he will be enabled to exhibit the importance of cata-
logues of this kind.

- He has also devoted much time to the continuation of his researches
relative to the statistics of libraries in this country, and for an account
in detail of his valuable labors in this line I must refer to his report
herewith transmitted. I will also direct attention to some important
suggestions in his report on the subject of the deposit of books for se-
curing copyright, and the establishment of a bulletin.

~

Museum.

~The formation of a museum of objects of nature and of art requires
much caution. With a given income to be appropriated to the purpose,
a time must come when the cost of keeping the objects will just equal
the amount of the appropriation ; alter this no further increase can take
place. Also, the tendency of an Institution of this kind, unless guarded
agaiust, will be to expend its funds on a heterogeneous collection of ob-
jects of mere curiosity ; whereas the plan presented in the programme
contemplates complete definite collections arranged for scientific pur-
poses, rather than for popular display. :

In this connexion there is one point which I beg to present to the
consideration of the Board as one of much importance, and which, if
possible, should be decided at this meeting, because on it will depend
the arrangement of that part of the building devoted to natural history.
‘I allude to the acceptance of the museum of the Exploring Expedition.

174 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

By the law incorporating this Institution, “all objects of art and of
foreign and curious research, and all objects of natural history, plants,
and geological and mineralogical specimens belonging to or hereafter
to belong to the United States, which may be in the city of Washing-
ton, in whosesoever custody the same may be, shall be delivered to
such persons as may be authorized by the Board of Regents to receive
them.”

This law evidently gives to the Smithsonian Institution the museum
in the Patent Office, the conservatory of plants, and all specimens of
nature and art to be found in the several offices and departments of the
government. The act, however, cannot be construed as rendering it
obligatory on the Regents to take charge of these articles, if, in their
opinion, it is not for the best interests of the Institution that they should
_doso. Though one of the reasons urged upon the Regents for the im-
mediate erection of so large a building was the necessity of providing
accommodation for this museum, I have been, from the first, of the
opinion that it is expedient to accept it.

This museum was collected at the expense of the government, and
should be preserved as a memento of the science and energy of our
navy, and as a means of illustrating and verifying the magnificent
volumes which comprise the history of that expedition. Ifthe Regents
accept this museum, it must be merged in the Smithsonian collections.
It could not be the intention of Congress that an Institution founded by
the liberality of a foreigner, and to which he has affixed his own name,
should be charged with the keeping of a separate museum, the property
of the United States. Besides this, the extensive museum of the Patent
Office would immediately fill the space allotted for collections of this
kind in the Smithsonian edifice, and in a short time another appropria-
tion would be required for the erection of another building. Moreover,
all the objects of interest of this collection have been deseribed and
figured in the volumes of the expedition, and the small portion of our
funds which can be devoted to a museum may be better employed in
collecting new objects, such as have not yet been studied, than in pre-
serving those from which the harvest of discovery has already been fully
gathered.

The answer made to some of these objections has usually been, that
the government would grant an annual appropriation for the support of
the museum of the Exploring Expedition. But this would be equally
objectionable ; since it would annually bring the Institution before Con-
gress as a supplicant for government patronage, and ultimately subject
it to political influence and control.

After an experience of three years, I am fully convinced that the true
policy of the Institution is to ask nothing from Congress except the safe-
keeping of its funds, to mingle its operations as little as possible with
those of the general government, and to adhere in all cases to its own
distinct organization, while it co-operates with other institutions in the
way of promoting knowledge; and on the other hand, that it is desira- |
ble that Congress should place as few restrictions on the Institution as
possible, consistent with a judicious expenditure of the income, and that
this be judged of by a proper estimate of the results produced.

sq?
be

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 175
Lectures.

_ At the last meeting of the Board an appropriation of five hundred
dollars was made to defray the expense ot lectures to be given before
the Smithsonian Institution, a part of which only is expended. The
first course, ia accordance with this part of the plan of organizaiion,
was by Professor Koeppen, of Denmark, on Modern Athens. These
lectures were illustrated by a number of large drawings, for the use of
which the Institution is indebted to the Lowell Institute of Boston. A
second course was delivered by Dr. Hitchcock, President of Amherst

College, on geology, in the lecture-room of the east wing of the Smith-

sonian building; and both courses were attended by large and appar-
ently interested audiences. The results of these lectures indicate that
much good may be effected in Washington by this means of communi-
cating knowledge. No city, perhaps, of the same number of inhabit-
ants, contains so many intelligent and well educated persons desirous
of obtaining information; and no point in our country is so favorably
situated for the dissemination of opinions, by means of lectures, as the
political centre of the American Union. Invitations have been given

to a number of distinguished gentlemen in different parts of the United

States to favor us with courses of lectures during the present session of
Congress, and in almost every case the invitation has been accepted.
It is intended to extend these invitations so as to call here in succession
all who have distinguished themselves in literature or science. We
shall not seek mere popular lecturers, whose chief recommendation is
fluency of speech, or powers of rhetorical declamation, but chiefly those
who are entitled, from their standing and acquirements, to speak with
authority on the subjects of their discourse, and whose character will
tend to give due importance to their communications. It is to be re-
gretted that the amount of funds which can be devoted to this object is
not as great as could be wished. It is hoped, however, that many
persons will consider the opportunity of visitmg Washington, and the
compliment paid by the invitation, as in part a remuneration for the
labor and time which their lectures may cost. But in all cases, suffi-
cient should be allowed to defray all necessary expenses, and, as soon
as the state of the funds will permit, to reward liberally, rather than
otherwise, those who are called to assist the Institution in this way. I
forbear to publish the names of those who have consented to lecture,
lest they should be accidentally prevented from filling their engage-
ment, and the public thus be disappointed.

To facilitate the approach to the building, at the time of these lec-
tures, the walks were temporarily improved, at a considerable expense
to the Institution. It is hoped that the authorities of the city of Wash-
ington will cause bridges to be erected across the canal, and walks to
be constructed through the public grounds, to facilitate the approach

‘to the building, and that the Institution will not be expected to provide

accommodations of this kind.

176 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF
Building.

The east wing of the building was taken possession of by the Secre-
tary in April last, and has since been constantly occupied. The west
wing is now finished, and it is contemplated to occupy it temporarily
as a library until the portion of the main building intended for this pur-
pose is completed.

The plan of the Smithsonian building was designed by the architect,
and recommended to the Board by a committee of the Regents, before
the programme of organization was adopted. It is not strange, there-
fore, when the building came to be occupied, that changes in the inter-
nal arrangement should be deemed advisable which would better adapt
it to the wants of the Institution. Such changes, at my suggestion,
have been made; and for the propriety of these 1 am responsible.
They are principally, however, those of simplification, and in them-
selves add nothing to the cost of the edifice. An increased expense,
however, willarise out of the furnishing of new rooms, which have been
acquired by the alterations.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

JOSEPH HENRY,

Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.

a

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 177

FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT “re
Of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, for the year 1850.

To the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution:

GenTLEMEN: During the past year the several parts of the plan of
organization have been prosecuted as efficiently as the portion of the
imeome which could be devoted to them would permit. The financial
affairs are in a prosperous condition, and though the fugds are burthened
with the erection of a costly building, and the expenditures trammelled
by restrictions growing out of the requisitions of the charter of incor-
poration, yet the results thus far obtained are such as satisfactorily to
prove that the Institution is doing good service in the way of promoting

and diffusmeg knowledge.

Though the programme of organization has been given in two of the
annual’ reports and extensively published in the newspapers, its char-
acter dees not appear to be as widely known and as properly appre-
elated as could be desired. Indeed it will be necessary at intervals to
republish the terms of the bequest, and also the general principles of
the plan which has been adopted, in order that the public may not only
be informed of what the Institution is accomplishing, but also reminded
of what, ought reasonably to be expected from its operations. More-
over, there is a tendency in the management of public institutions to
lose sight of the object tor which they were established, and hence it
becomes important frequently to advert to the principles by which they
ought to be governed. 1 beg leave, therefore, as introductory to this
report, briefly to recapitulate some of the propositions of the programme
of organization, and to state some of the facts connected with its adop-
tion.

Smiruson left his property, in case of the death of his nephew, to
whom it was first bequeathed, “to found at Washington, uuder the
name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment tor the increase
and diffasion of knowledge among men.” These are the only words
of the testator to serve as a guide to the adoption of a plan for the ex-
ecution of his benevolent design. They are found, however, when at-

‘tentively considered, to admit of legitimate deductions sufficiently defi-

nite and comprehensive.

1. ‘The bequest is made to the United States, in trust for the good of
mankind.

2. ‘The objects of the Institution are two-fold: first, to increase; se-
cond, to diffuse knowledge; objects which, though often confounded
with each other, are logically distinct and ought to be separately re-
garded. ‘The first is the enlargement of the existing stock of know-
ledge by the discovery of new truths, and the second is the dissemina--
tion of these and other truths among men.

_3. No particular kind of knowledge is designated; hence a liberal
interpretation of the bequest will include no part of the great domain of

178 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

science and literature from the degree of attention its importance may
demand.

4. Since mankind are to be benefited by the bequest, any unneces-
sary expenditure on merely local objects would not be in accordance
with the proper administration of the trust.

5. Though the funds are generally considered large, and much is
expected of them, they are really small in proportion to the demands
made upon them. The annual income of the bequest is less than half
_ the cost of the publication of a single yearly report of the Patent Office.

6. In order, therefore, that the limited income may etfect the greatest
amount of good, it should be expended in doing that which cannot be
done as well by other means,

These views, which have commanded the assent of all unprejudiced
and reflecting persons who have studied the subject, have been the
guiding principles in all cases in which I have had any power of di-
rection; and J am happy to say they are fully adopted by the present
directors and officers of the Institution.

To carry out the design ot the testator, various plans were proposed 5
but most of these were founded on an imperfect apprehension of the
terms of the Will. The great majority of them contemplated merely
the diffusion of popular mformation, and neglected the first and
the most prominent requisition of the bequest, namely, the ‘increase
of knowledge.” The only plan in strict conformity with the terms of
the Will, and which especially commended itself to men of science, a
class to which Smithson himself belonged, was that of an active living
organization, intended principally to promote the discovery and diffu-
sion of new truths by instituting original researches, under the direc-
tion of suitable persons, in History, Antiquities, Ethnology, and the
various branches of Physical Science, and by publishing and distribut-
ing among libraries and other public institutions, accounts of the re-
‘sults which might thus be obtained, as well as of those of the labors of
men of talent which could not otherwise be given to the world.

This plan, which was probably in the mind of the donor when ke
gave expression to the few but comprehensive words which indicate the
objects of the bequest, is found from our experience to be eminently
practical. It requires no costly building or expensive permanent estab-
lishment. Its operations, limited only by the amount of the income,
are such as to affect the condition of man wherever literature and science
are cultivated, while it tends in this country to give an impulse to ori-
ginal thought, which, amidst the strife of politics, and the inordinate
pursuit of wealth, is of all things most desirable.

It was with the hope of being able to assist in the practical develop-
ment of this plan, that I was induced to accept the appointment of prin-
cipal executive officer of the Institution. Many unforeseen obstacles,
however, presented themselves to its full adoption ; and its advocates

soon found, in contending with opposing views and adverse interests, a
wide difference between what, in their opinion, ought to be done and
what they could actually accomplish.

The plan was novel, and by many considered entirely chimerical ;
indeed it could not be properly appreciated except by those who had
been devoted © original research. Besides this, the law of Congress

/

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION: 179

incorporating the Institution, while it did not forbid the expenditure of
a part of the income for other objects, authorized the formation of a
Library, a Museum and a Gallery of Art, and the erection of a build-
ing, on a liberal scale, for their accommodation. It was, indeed, the
opinion of many that the whole income ought to be expended on these
objects. The Regents did not consider themselves at liberty to disre-
gard the indications of Congress, and the opinion expressed in favor ot
collections ; and after much discussion it was finally concluded to divide
the imcome into two equal parts, and, after deducting the general ex-
penses, to devote one half to the active operations set forth in the plan
just described; and the other, to the formation of a Library, a Museum
and a Gallery of Art.

It was evident, however, that the small income of the original be-
quest, though in itself sufficient to do much good in the way of active
operation, was inadequate to carry out this more extended plan—to
maintain the staff of attendants, and to defray other contingent expenses
incidental to a large establishment of this kind. Besides the Secretary
and an assistant to attend to the general operations, two principal as-
sistants would be required, one to take charge of the Library and the
other of the Museum of Natural History; and to these sufficient sala-
ries must be given, to secure the services of men of the first reputation
and talents in their respective lines. It, therefore, became absolutely
necessary that the income should be increased ; and in order to do this,
it was proposed to save the greater part of the $242,000 of accrued
interest which Congress had authorized to be expended in a building,
by erecting, at a cost not to exceed $50,000, the nucleus of an edifice,
which could be expanded as the wants of the Institution might require,
and to add the remainder to the principal.

Unfortunately, however, tor this proposition, Congress had presented
to the Institution the great museum of the Exploring Expedition; and
a majority of the Regents, supposing it necessary to make immediate
provision for the accommodation of this gift, had taken preliminary
steps, previous to my appointment, to construct a large, building, and
indeed a majority of the committee, to which the matter was referred,
had determined to adopt the plan of the present edifice. Strenuous
opposition was, however, made to this; and as a compromise, it was
finally agreed to draw from the United States treasury $250,000 of
accrued interest, and instead of expending this immediately in complet-
ing the plan of the proposed building, to mvest it in treasury notes, then
at par, and to finish the building in the course of five years, in part out
of the interest of these notes, in part out of the sale of a portion of
them, and also in part out of a portion of the annual interest accruing
on the original bequest. It was estimated that in this way, at the end
of five years, besides devoting $250,000 to the building, the annual
income of the Institution would be increased from $30,000 to nearly
$40,000, a sum sufficient to carry out all the provisions of the pro-
gramme.

Afier the resolutions relative to the division of the income, between
collections on the one hand and active operations on the other, had been
adopted, and the plan of finance as to the building had. been settled, I
was requested to confer with persons of literary and scientific reputa-

-

180 - EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

tion, and to digest into the form of a general programme the several
resolutions of the Board. In the programme which was thus produced
aud afterwards adopted, it is attempted to harmonize the different pro-
positions of the Board, and to render them all, library, collections, &c.,
as far as possible, subservient to a living, active organization. ‘Though
a valuable library will in time be accumulated, by donation and the
exchange of the publications of the Institution, the design at first is to
purchase only such books as are immediately necessary in the other
operations of the Institution, or which cannot be procured in this coun-
try; and the Librarian is required to perform other duties than those
which pertain to the office of an ordinary collector and curator of books.
He is directed to report on plans of libraries, and the best method of
managing them; to collect the statistics of the libraries of the United
States; to make a general catalogue as far as possible of all the books
in this country, and to procure all the information necessary for render-
ing the Institution a centre of bibliographical knowledge. Instead of
attempting to form a miscellaneous collection of objects of nature and
art, it is proposed to collect only those which will yield a harvest of
new results, and to preserve principally such as are not found in other
collections, or will serve to illustrate and verify the Smithsonian publi-
cations.

The tendency of an Institution in which collections form a prominent
object, is constantly towards a stationary condition; with a given in-
come, the time must inevitably come when the expenditures necessary
to accommodate the articles with house room and attendance will just
equal the receipts. There is indeed no plan by which the funds of an
institution may be more imefiiciently expended, than that of fillmg a
costly building with an indiscriminate collection of objects of curiosity,
and giving these in charge to a set of inactive curators. Happily, the
programme of organization and the system of expenditure which the
Regents have adopted, if rigidly adhered to, will prevent this state of
things, and happily the spirit of the present directors and officers who
are to give the initial form to the character of the Institution, is in.
accordance with as active operations as the state of the funds and
requisitions of Congress will allow.

it is to be regretted that Congress did not leave the entire choice of
the plan of organization to those who were to be entrusted with the
management of the bequest, and that, instead of the plan of a costly
building, there had not been adopted the nucleus of a more simple
edifice, which could have been modified to meet the wants which
experience might indicate.

The original estimate for the building, furniture, and improvement of
the grounds, was $250,000; and could the actual cost have been con-
fined to this sum, all the results anticipated from the scheme of finance
which had been adopted would have been realized at the end of five
years. During the past year, however, it has been found necessary,
for the better protection of the collections, to order the fire-proofing of
the interior of the edifice, at an increased expense of $44,000. ‘This
additional draft on the funds can only be met by extending the time for
the completion of the building ; and even this will require the appropri-
ation of a portion of the income which ought to be devoted to other

yr)

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 781

purposes. The active operations will suffer most by this draft on the
income, since it will be made for the better accommodation of the
library and the museum.

It must not be inferred, from the foregomg account, that the affairs
of the Institution are in an unfavorable condition; on the contrary,
though they are not in every respect what could be wished, still, under
the circumstances | have mentioned, they are much better than could
have been anticipated. The funds are in a very prosperous state, and
all the obstacles m the way of the usefulness of the establishment may,
by judicious management, in time be removed. The opposition which
was made to the building, led to the adoption of the plan of finance to
which [ have heretofore adverted, and trom this has been realized much

more than could have been expected.

After all the expenditures which have been made on the building,
grounds, publications, researches, purchase of books and apparatus,
not only is the origmal bequest untouched, but there is now on hand
upwards of $200,000 of accrued interest. This will be sufficient to
finish the exterior ef the building, including all the towers, the interior
of the wings, ranges, and a part of the interior of the main edifice ;
which will afford sufficient accommodation for some years to come, and’
leave $150,000 to be added to the principal.

This result has been produced by a rigid adherence to the determi-
nation of increasing the annual income; and in accordance with this,
and in obedience to the direction of the Board of Regents, a petition
has been presented to Congress, asking that $150,000 may be taken
from the Institution and placed in the treasury of the United States, on
the same terms as those of the acceptance of the original bequest, never
to be expended, and yieldin» a perpetual interest of six per cent.

If this petition be granted, all the funds will be permanently and
safely invested, and the original income will be increased from $30,000
to nearly $40,000. Out of this, besides carrying on the more important
object of the plan, it is proposed to appropriate yearly a small sum for
the gradual completion of the mterior of the building.

The great importance of a small addition to the income will be evi-
dent, when it is recollected that a definite sum is annually required to
defray the necessary expenses of the establishment, and that after this
has been provided every addition will tend to produce a greater pro-
portional amount of useful effect. The proposed increase will be suf
ficient to pay all the salaries of the officers, and leave the original
income in a great measure free to be applied to the objects contemplated
im the plan. :

At the last meeting of the Board, Professor Baird, of Dickinson Col-
lege, Pennsylvania, a gentleman distinguished for his attainments in
science, was appointed an Assistant Secretary in the department of
natural history. His appointment was made at this time more particu-
larly in order that his services might be secured to take charge of the
publications, and that we might avail ourselves of the ample experi-
ence which he had gained in this line. He entered on his duties in
July last, and besides being actively engaged in organizing the depart- _
ment of natural history, he has rendered important service in conduct- |
ing our foreign exchanges and attending to the business of the press. |

‘

{

182 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

This addition to our force was absolutely necessary to a more efficient
discharge of the duties which devolve on us. No person, except from
actual experience, can form an idea of the amount of labor required for
the transaction of the ordinary busmess. The correspondence alone
is sufficient to occupy two persons continually during the usual office
hours. -

—~ During the past year one-half of the whole income has been appro-

priated to the building; and after deducting the general expenses, the
remainder has been equally divided between the two great classes of
objects designated in the plan. The portion of the income after these

‘divisions, which could be devoted to any one object, has been necessa-

rily small; for example, all that could be expended for researches,

“publications, and lectures, and indeed for every thing of which the pub-
slic at a distance could take immediate cognizance, has not exceeded

$4,500, and yet out of this sum we have been expected to produce re-
sults for which the whole income would be entirely inadequate. I trust,
however, that a proper consideration of the facts presented in the re-
mainder of this report, will show that much has been done in proportion
to the means at our command.

Publication of Original Memoirs.

The important aid which can be rendered to the promotion of know-
ledge by the publication, and in some cases by assistance in the prepa-
ration of important memoirs, is now beyond all question. Experience
has thus far abundantly shown that much more matter of the most
valuable character will be presented for publication, free of all charge,
than the portion of the income devoted to this object will allow us to
publish. Indeed, there is now on hand, or in preparation, more material
of this kind than we shall be able, with our limited come, to give to
the world in two or three years. In view of this fact, I cannot repress
the expression of regret which I have always felt, that the restrictions
arising from the requisitions of Congress do not permit a greater expend-
iture for this most important object. It is chiefly by the publications
of the Institution that its fame is to be spread through the world, and
the monument most befitting the name of Smithson erected to his
memory.

Most of the distinguished foreign literary and scientific societies have
placed the Institution on their list of exchange, and in many instances
have presented not only the current volume of thei Transactions, but
also full sets of the preceding volumes. We have reason to believe
that before the expiration of another year, we shall receive in exchange
the Transactions of nearly all the learned societies of the world, and
that the Institution will be recognised by them ag an active co-operator
in the promotion of knowledge. Professor Baird has furnished a list
of the literary and scientific societies to which the quarto volumes have
been presented.

The following Memoirs, an account of which was given in my last
report, have been printed, or are now in press:

1. Researches relative to the planet Neptune; by 8, C. Walker.

2. Contributions to the Physical Geography of the United States; by
Charles Ellet, jr.

Zl

yr’

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 183

- 8. Memoir on the Explosiveness of Nitre; by Dr. Robert Hare.
~4, On the Aboriginal Monuments of the State of New York; by E.
G. Squier.

5. Memoir on the Reciprocal Action of two Galvanic Currents; by
A. Secchi, of Georgetown College.

6. On the Classification of Insects, from Embryological Data; by
Professor Louis Agassiz.

7. Monograph of Mosasaurus and the allied Genera; by Dr. R. W.
Gibbes.

Besides these, several other papers not described in my last report
have been printed, and are ready for separate distribution. The first
of these I shall mention is by Professor Lieber, of the College of South
Carolina, on the vocal sounds of Laura Bridgman, the blind and deaf
mute, whose mind, apparently forever consigned to darkness, has been
almost miraculously enlightened, by the sagacity, ingenuity, and perse-
verance of Dr. Howe.

There is, perhaps, at this time, no living human being who offers to
the psychologist so attractive an object of study as this individual; and
hence every observation relative to her peculiar habits is of great interest.
Dr. Lieber has, from year to year, during his summer vacations, been
in the habit of visiting Laura Bridgman, and on one occasion spent
three months in her immediate neighborhood for the purpose of study-
ing the sounds which she utters as indicative of ideas. ‘These sounds
consist principally of such as she voluntarily adopted to designate dif
ferent individuals. The results of the observations given in this paper

om aes ae A
are accompanied by a series of philosophical deductions and sugges

tions which cannot fail to interest the psychologist and physiologist.
This memoir is illustrated by an engraved fac simile of a letter from
Laura Bridgman’s own hand.

The next paper is by Professor Bailey of West Point. This gentle-
man has rendered himself favorably known to the world of science by
his researches on minute animals and plants, which, though mostly un-
seen by the naked eye, are found as widely distributed, and as perma-
nent and definite in character, as the largest organized objects in nature.
This paper gives the results of a series of microscopic observations
which the author made during his sojourn in the southern part of the
United States, whither he was ordered last winter on account of his
health. It designates numerous localities of microscopic animals and
plants, and furnishes lists of the species found in each. It also con-
tains a series of tables presenting a number of species with the differ-
ent localities where each was found. ‘The species so classed include
those of the Desmidiaze, Diatomaceee, Infusorize, and Algze. Following
these is a description of fumerous other species, most of which are rep-
resented by lithographic figures. ~

Among the interesting facts arrived at by the author, are the discovery
of an extensive stratum of fossil infusoriee near Tampa Bay, Florida;
the existence of infusoriz in the rice fields of the south ; and the demon-
stration of the cosmopolite character of many microscopic objects
hitherto believed to exist only in Europe.

_ Another paper by the same author, but presented to the Institution by
Professor Bache, Superintendent of the U.S. Coast Survey, has refer-

184 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF .

ence to a microscopic examination of soundings along the eastern coast
of the United States; samples of all the materials brought up by the
sounding apparatus of the Coast Survey having been carefully preserved
by Professor Bache in bottles, and so arranged as to present, as it were,
the suriace geology of the bottom of the sea within a certain distance
from the shore. Specimens of these were given to Professor Bailey for
microscopic examination, and the results are presented in this paper.
it exhibits the fact of a high development of minute organic forms,
mainly of Polythalamia, in all deep soundings, varying from fifty-one
to ninety fathoms, occurrmg in an abundance similar to that in which
analogous fossil forms are found in the marls under the city of Charles-
ton. It also shows that each locality has its predominant species, by
means of which alone the region whence they were taken may be indi-
cated. Many of the conclusions derived are of much interest to the
mariner, the geologist, and the naturalist. The paper closes with a
brief description of the genera and species referred to, embracing sev-
eral that are new, the whole accorapanied by numerous figures.

In connexion with the foregoing may be mentioned a paper by Mr.
Charles Girard, entitled ‘A Monograph of the Fresh Water Cottoids
of North America,” which has been accepted, and will soon be published.
The species of fish called Cottus gobio was supposed to be common to
Europe and America, and thus to form an exception toa general rule in
regard to the fresh water species of the two continents. lt has been dis-
covered by Mr. Girard and others, that the European species, as de=
scribed by Linnzus, is really composed of several, and-that while none
of these are found in North America, we have actually a number of
species peculiar to this country. he memoir contains elaborate de-
scriptions of the known species as well as of several new ones, together
with.copious notes on their scientific history, their geographical distri-
bution, affinities with each other and with foreign species, anatomical
structure, &c.; the whole illustrated by appropriate figures. It is
worthy of remark, that most of the hitherto undescribed species pre-
sented in this memoir were collected by Professor Baird, and now form
a part of the Smithsonian collection.

Another memoir, now in course of preparation, is one which will of
itself occupy a considerable portion of one of the quarto volumes of the
Smithsonian Contributions. It affords an interesting illustration of the
‘ working of the plan of organization in the way of eliciting important
scientific knowledge which would not otherwise be produced, or, if pro-
duced, could not be given to the world through any other channel.

This memoir consists of a description of the marine plants, or Alge,
which are found along the eastern and southern coasts of the United
States, and which are deserving of attention’, not only on account of
their beauty, variety, and the illustrations they present of the growth
and development of vegetable forms, but also on account of their
economical value with reference to agriculture and the chemical arts.
This volume is in the course of preparation by Professor Harvey, of the
University of Dublin, Ireland, a gentleman who is recognised as the
first authority in this branch of botany. He was induced to visit this
country by an invitation to lecture on the Algze before the Lowell In-
stitute, and by the opportunity thus offered tim of studying his favorite

yr)

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 185

branch of science in a new region. » After completing his lectures he
made a collection of the marme plants of our coast, and offered to fur-
nish drawings of the genera and species, with detailed descriptions
free of all cost, provided the Institution would bear the expense of
publication.

Upon the warm recommendation of some of the principal botanists
of the country, the liberal offer of Professor Harvey was accépted, and
he is now engaged in making, with his own hand, the drawings on stone.
The preparation of the work, besides the time expended in collecting the
specimens, will occupy two or three years. This voluntary contribu-
tion to knowledge from a man of science may surprise those whose
minds, are not liberalized by philosophical pursuits, and who cannot
conceive any object in labor unconnected with pecuniary gain.

To assist in defraying the heavy expense of the publication of this
work, it is proposed io color the plates of a part of the edition, and to
offer copies for sale. The work will also be issued in parts, so as to
distribute the cost through several years.

In addition to the foregoing, an appendix, added to Mr. Squier’s pa-
per on the ancient monuments of New York, has been printed. Also,
there has been such an urgent demand for copies of Mr. Ellet’s paper
on the physical geography of the Mississippi Valley, that it has been
thought advisable to reprint it, and distribute the whole of the first edi-

- tion among all persons to whom a knowledge of its contents would be

of peculiar importance.

‘The several papers which have been described in this and the pre-
ceding Report, will, when collected together, form the contents of the
second and part of the third volume.

The plan adopted of printing each memoir with a separate title and
paging has been found to answer a good purpose. There is no delay
in printing one paper on account of the engraving of the plates of an-
other ; and long before a volume can be completed a separate memoir
may be widely circulated among those most interested in its perusal.
As an example of this I may mention that one of the papers which
forms part of the second volume of the Contributions has already been
reprinted in the London and Edinburg Journal, with due credit given
to the Institution. ~

Reports on the Progress of Knowledge.

The income of the Institution as yet has not been sufficient for fully
reducing to practice this part of the plan of organization. ‘he prepa-
ration of these reports can only be entrusted to those who are familiar
with the subjects, and well skilled in the art of composition, and the
services of such persons cannot be obtained without an adequate remu-
neration. Of the several reports mentioned at the last meeting of the
Board but one has been published, viz: that on the discovery of the
planet Neptune, by Dr. B. A. Gould, of Cambridge, editor of the As-
tronomical Journal. It has been stereotyped, and copies distributed
amongst all our meteorological observers, and other persons in the
country known to us as being actively engaged in promoting the sci-
ence of astronomy.

186 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

The preparation of the report on the Forest Trees of North America,
though delayed in consequence of the absence of the author, Dr. Gray,
of Harvard University, on a visit to Europe, is still in progress. The
illustrations are in the hands of the artists, and the first part will prob-
ably be published during the present year. The cost of this report, on
account of the elaborate “illustrations, will be greater than was at first
anticipated ; consequently, the publication of the entire work must ne-
cessarily be spread over a number of years. It is believed, however,
that a considerable part of the expense will be repaid to the Institution
by the sale of copies at a small advance on the original cost.

The other reports on the Progress of Knowledge mentioned in my
last communication to the Regents are ready for the press, and will be
published, in whole or in part, during the present year,

The report on the statistics of Libraries of the’ United States, pre-
pared by Professor Jewett, has been ordered to be printed by Con-
gress, as an appendix to the Regents’ Report. A sufficient number of
extra copies will be presented to the Institution, for distribution to all
the libraries from which statistical nformation was received. It forms
a volume of about two hundred and twenty-five pages, and will, 1 am
sure, be considered an important contribution 1o bibliographical sta-
tistics.

Distribution of Publications.

We have found considerable difficulty in deciding upon the rules to
be observed in the distribution of the Smithsonian publications. It
is evident that, from the small portion of the income which can be de-
voted to this object, the distribution must be circumscribed. Fifteen
hundred copies of each memoir have been printed; but this number,
though all that the income could furnish, has not been found sufficient
to meet a tenth part of the demand. It should be recollected that,
though these memoirs consist of the results of new investigations of the
highest importance to the well-being of man in extending the bounds
ot his knowledge of the universe of mind and matter, yet they are not
generally of such a character as to be immediately appreciated by the
popular mind, and, indeed, they are better adapted to instruct the
teacher than to interest the general reader. They should, therefore,
be distributed in such a way as most readily to meet the eye of those
who will make the best use of them in diffusing a knowledge of their
contents.

The followmg rules have been adopted for the distribution of the
quarto voluines of collections of memoirs :

1. They are to be presented to all Learned Societies which publish

ame and give copies of these in exchange to the Institution.

To all Foreign Libraries of the first class, provided they give in
aoe their catalogues, or other publications, or an equivalent from
their duplicate volumes.

3. To all Colleges in actual operation in this country, provided they
furnish in return meteorological observations, catalogues of their libra-
ries and of their students, : and all other publications issued by them
relative to their organization and history.

$2

yy

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 187

4, To all States and Territories ; provided they give in return, copies
“of all documents published under their authority.

5. To all mcorporated Public Libraries in this country, not inclu-
ded in either of the foregoing classes, containing more than seven
thousand volumes; and to smaller Libraries, where a whole State or
large district would be otherwise left unsupplied.

The author of each memoir receives, as his only compensation, a
certain number of copies, to distribute among his friends, or to pre-
sent to individuals who may be occupied in the same line of research.
In this way single memoirs are distributed to individuals, and especially
to those who are most actively engaged in promoting discoveries.
Copies of the reports, and also in one cases of particular memoirs, are
sent to our meteorological observers. Besides these, we have placed
on the list the more prominent Academies and Lyceums, as ahs
of the minor publications. It is also intended, in order to benefit the
public more generally, to place on sale copies of memoirs and reports;
though on account of the number required for the supply of Institutions,
we foe not, as yet, been able to carry this plan into effect.

No copyright has been taken for the Smithsonian publications ; they
are therefore free to be used by the compilers of books, and in this way
they are beginning to reach the general reader and to produce a bene-
ficial effect on the public mind.

Meteorology.

The system of meteorology under the direction of the Smithsonian
Institution has, durmg the last year, made good progress. And though
the whole number of stations has not been much increased, yet the
character of the instruments adopted, and consequently the value of
the observations, has been improved both in precision and variety.

This system is intended to embrace, as far as possible, the whole
extent of North America, and to consist of three classes of observers.
One class, without instruments, to record the changes in the aspect of
the sky, the direction of the wind, the beginning and ending of rain,
the appearance of the aurora, &c. Another, in addition to the forego-
ing, to give an account of the changes of temperature, as indicated by
the thermometer. A third class, furnished with full sets of instruments,
to record all changes deemed important in the study of meteorology.

To carry on this system, the Institution has received or expects to
receive assistance from the following sources :

1. From the small appropriation made by Congress, to be expended
under the direction of the Navy Department.

2. From the appropriations made by different States of the Union.

3. From the observations made under the direction of the Medical
Department of the United States army.

4, From the officers of her Majesty’s service in different parts of the
British possessions in North America. :

5. From observations made by institutions and individuals, in different
parts of the continent, who report immediately to the Smithsonian
Institution.

A small appropriation has been made by Congress for two years pas

188 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

to be expended under the direction of the Navy Department for meteor-
ological purposes ; and Professor Espy, engaged under the act making
this appropriation, has been directed to co-operate with the Institution,
in promotion of the common object. Besides the aid which we have
received from Professor Espy’s knowledge of this subject, the general

system has been benefited in the use of instruments purchased by the
surplus of the appropriation, after paying the salary of the director and
other expenses.

During the last year, Professor Espy has been engaged in a series of
interesting experiments on the variations of temperature produced by
a sudden change in the density of atmospheric air. The results
obtained are important additions to science, and directly applicable
to meteorology. The experiments were made in one of the rooms of
the Smithsonian Institution, and with articles of apparatus belonging
io) the collection ahich« constituted the liberal donation of Dr. Hare.
An account of these investigations will be given in a report to the
Seeretary of the Navy.

It was mentioned in the last report that the Regents of the Univer-
sity of the State of New York, im 1849, made a liberal appropriation of
funds for the reorganization of the meteorological system of observa-
tions established in 1825 ; and that Dr. 'T. Romeyn Beck and the Hon.
Gideon Hawley, to whom the enterprise was entrusted, had adopted
the forms and ihe instruments prepared under the direction of the
Smithsonian Institution. Another appropriation has been made, for
1850; and the system has been carried, during the past year, into suc-
cessful operation by Professor Guyot, late of N eutchatel, in Switzerland.
This gentleman, who has established a wide reputation as a meteoro-
logical observer by his labors in his own country, was recommended
to Dr. Beck and Mr. Hawley by this Institution, and employed by
them to superintend the fitting up of the instruments in their places, to
instruct the observers in the minute details of their duty, and to deter-
mine the topographical character and elevation above the sea of each
station.

The whole number of stations which have been established in the
State of New York is thirty-eight, including those which have been
furnished with instruments by the Smithsonian Institution, and the Adi-
rondack station by the liberality of Archibald McIntyre, esq., of Albany.
This number gives one station to twelve hundred and seventy square
miles, or about one in each square of thirty-five and a.half miles on a
side. These stations are at very different heights above the level of
the sea. They were selected in conference with Dr. Beck, Protessor
Guyot, and myself. The State is naturally divided into the following
topographical regions, namely :

1.. The southern or maritime region.

2. The eastern, or region of the Highlands and Catskill monies

with the valleys of the Hudson and Mohawk rivers.

3. The northern, or region of the Adirondack mountains, isolated by
the deep valleys of the Mohawk, Lake Champlain, the St. Lawrence,
and Lake Ontario.

4. The western, or region of the western plateau, with the small
lakes and sources of the rivers.

€)

oP

t2)

)
\

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 189

6. The region of the great lakes, Erie and Ontario. ‘

I regret to state that no efficient steps have as yet been taken to
organize the system of Massachusetts, for which an appropriation was
made by the legislature, at its last session. I have lately written to
Governor Briggs, urging immediate action, and offering, on the part of
the Institution, to render any assistance in our power towards further-
ing so laudable an enterprise. No answer has yet been received.*

The observations made at the different military stations, under the
direction of the Medical Department of the United States army, have
been partially reorganized, and a number of new stations and several
of the old ones furnished with improved Smithsonian instruments. The
head of the Medical Department of the army, Dr. Lawson, has assigned
the general direction of the system of observations to Dr. Mower of
New York, to whom we are indebted for the valuable aid which this
extended set of observations furnishes the general system. The im-
mediate superintendence of the reduction of these observations is in
charge of Dr. Wotherspoon, to whose zeal and scientific abilities the
cause ot meteorology bids fair to be much indebted.

The most important service the Smithsonian Institution has rendered
to meteorology during the past year, has been the general introduction
into the country of a more accurate set of instruments at a reasonable
price. The set consists of a barometer, thermometer, hygrometer,
wind vane, and snow and rain gauge.

The barometer is made by James Green, No. 422 Broadway, New
York, under the direction of the Institution. It has a glass cistern with
an adjustable bottom enclosed in a brass cylinder. The barometer
tube is also enclosed ina brass cylinder, which carries the vernier.
The whole is suspended freely, from a ring at the top, so as to adjust
itself to the vertical position. The butb of the attached thermometer is
enclosed in a brass envelope communicating with the interior of the
brass tube, so as to be in the same condition with the mercury, and to
indicate truly its temperature. Each instrument: made according to
this pattern is numbered and accurately compared with a standard.
In the comparisons made by Professor Guyot, a standard Fortin bar-
ometer, by Mrnst, of Paris. was employed; also, a standard English bar-
ometer, by Newman, of London, belonging to this Institution. These
instruments, for greater certainty, have been compared with the stand-
ard of the Cambridge Observatory, and of Columbia College, both by
Newman; also with the standard of the Observatory of Toronto,
Upper Canada.

The results of these examinations prove the barometers made by Mr.
Green, according to the plan adopted by the Smithsonian Institution,
to be trustworthy instruments.

The thermometers are by the same maker; and those intended for

the State of New York were compared with, a standard by Bunten, of

Paris, and with another by Troughton & Simms, of London. Those
found to differ more than a given quantity from the standards were re-
jected.

* A letter has since been received, and the system placed under the direction of this Insti
tution.

190 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

The instruments for indicating the variation of the hygrometrical con-
dition of the atmosphere, consist of two thermometers, of the same
dimensions, accurately graduated. The bulb of one of these is envel-
oped in a covering of muslin moistened with water, and that of the
other is naked. 7

The rain and snow gauges, and also the wind vanes, are made under
the direction of the Institution, by Messrs. Pike & Son, 166 Broadway,
New York. Therain gauge is an inverted cone of sheet zinc, of which
the area of the base is exactly one hundred square inches. This cone
ar funnel terminates in a tube which carries the water into a receiving
vessel. The water which has fallen is measured by pouring it from
the gauge into a cylinder, so graduated as to indicate hundredths of
inches. A smaller cylinder is also provided, which gives thousandths
of inches, and may serve, in case of accident, as a substitute for the
large cylinder. The rain gauge is placed in a cask sunk in the earth,
with its mouth near the level of the ground.

The snow gauge is a cylinder of zinc of the same diameter as the
mouth of the rain gauge. The measurement is made by pressing its
mouth downward to the bottom of the snow, where it has fallen on a
level surface, then carefully inverting it, retaining the snow, by passing
under it a thin plate of metal. The snow is afterwards melted, and
the water produced is measured in one of the graduated glass cylinders
of the rain gauge.

The wind vane is a thin sheet of metal, (it might be of wood,) about
three feet long, carefully balanced by a ball of lead, and attached to
the top of a long wooden rod, which descends along the wall of the
building to the sill of the observer’s window. It terminates in the
centre of a fixed dial-plate, and its movements indicate the direction
of the wind by a pointer attached to the rod.

The observer is by this arrangement enabled to determine the course
of the wind, by looking down on the dial-plate, through the glass of
the window, without exposing himself to the storm.

Besides the full sets of instruments furnished by the State of New
York, from the appropriation of the regents of the University, the
Smithsonian Institution has furnished a number of sets to important
stations ; and, in order that they might be more widely disseminated,
we have directed Mr. Green to dispose of sets to individuals, at a re-
duced price, on condition that they will give us copies of the results of
their observations; the remainder of the cost beg paid by this Insti-
tution. A number of persons have availed themselves of this privi-
lege.

To accompany the instruments, and for the use of those who take
part in the Smithsonian system of meteorological observations, a series
of minute directions, prepared by Professor Guyot, has been printed by
the Institution. It occupies forty octavo pages, with wood-cut repre-
sentations of the instruments, and is accompanied by two lithographic
engravings, to illustrate the different forms of clouds, and to facilitate
their notation in the journals, in accordance with the nomenclature
adopted by meteorologists. A set of tables has also been furnished for
correcting the barometrical observations, on account of variation of
temperature. A set of hygrometrical tables, to be used with the wet

™

Pa

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 191

and dry bulb thermometers, and a set for the calculation of heights by
the barometer, will be prepared.

We may also mention, in connexion with this subject, that a series
of preliminary experiments have been made, in the laboratory of this
Institution, for the purpose of constructing, from direct observation, a
scale of boiling temperatures, corresponding to diflerent degrees of
rarefaction of the air. ‘With a thermometer, each degree of which
occupies one inch im length of the scale, the variations of the boiling
point corresponding to a slight change in altitude are found to be more
perceptible than those in the length of the barometrical column.

A series of experiments has also been made for testing the perform-
ance of the aneroid barometer under extremes of atmospheric pressure.
The instrument, as usually constructed, has not been found, from these
experiments, very reliable, though it may be improved, and thus serve
as an indicator of minute atmospheric changes. I think, however, it
will not answer for the determination of changes of atmospheric pres-
sure of considerable magnitude.

For the better comprehending the relative position of the several
places of observation, now. embraced in our system of meteorology, an
outline map of North America has been constructed by Prof. Foreman.
This map is intended also to be used for presenting the successive
phases of the sky over the whole country, at different points of me, as
far as reported; and we have been waiting for its completion, to com-
mence a series of investigations, with the materials now on hand, rela-
tive to the progress of storms.

A valuable collection of returns relative to the aurora has been re-
ceived, in accordance with the special instructions which we have
issued for the observation of this interesting phenomenon. ‘These are
to be placed in the hands of Captain Lefroy, of the Toronto Observa-
tory, and incorporated with observations of a similar kind which he
has collected in the British possessions of North America. An account
in full of the whole series will be presented by Captain Letroy, to be
published in the Smithsonian Contributions.

The meteorological correspondence is under the charge of Professor
Foreman. ‘This is found not only to involve considerable labor in the
way of arranging the regular returns and sending the required blanks
and directions, but also in the discussion of questions on almost every
branch of science propounded by the meteorological observers, which
we think it our duty in all cases to treat with respect, and to unswer to
the best of our knowledge. ©

Researches, Sc.
Explorations.—The programme of organization contemplates the insti-

tution of researches in Natural History, Geology, &c.; and, though the
state of the funds would permit of little being done in this line, yet we

have made a beginning. Besides the assistance rendered to the explo-

ration of the botany of New Mexico, by the purchase of sets of plants
from Mr. Wright and Mr. Fendler, as mentioned in my last report, a
small sum was appropriated to defray the cost of transportation of the
articles which might be collected by Mr. Thaddeus Culbertson, in the

192 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF
i

region of the Upper Missouri. This gentleman, a graduate of the insti-
tutions at Princeton, had purposed to visit the remote regions above
mentioned for the benefit of his health, and was provided by Professor
Baird with minute directions as to the preservation of specimens and
the objects which should particularly engage his attention. His jour-
ney was undertaken, and executed, ‘ndee particularly favorable cir-
cumstances for exploration. He was accompanied by his brother, Mr.
Alexander Culbertson, for many years connected with the American
Fur Company, who was familiar with the whole country, and had him-
self sent valuable specimens of fossil mammalians to the Philadelphia
Academy of Natural Sciences.

Mr. Culbertson first visited an interesting mere called the Mau-
vaises Terres, or Bad Lands, where his beoinen had previously found the
remains of the fossils sent to the Academy. He afterwards ascended
the Mis SsoUurI, to a point several hundred miles above Fort Union. He
returned in August last in renewed health to gladden the hearts of his
parents and friends, with the prospect of long life and usefulness; but
though he had withstood the privations and exposures of the wilder-
ness, he sank under an aitack of a prevalent disease and died after a
few weeks’ illness.

He left a journal of all the important events of his tour, which is
thought of suthcient importance to be appended to this report.

For a particular account of the interesting specimens which he pro-
cured, many of which are new and undescribed, I must refer to the
appended report of Professor Baird. A part of the specimens, those
of the fossil remains, have been referred to Dr. Leidy, of Philadelphia,
who will present the result of his investigations relative to them, for
publication in one of the volumes of the Smithsonian Contributions.

A small appropriation has also been made to defray in part the ex-
pense of exploration, relative to the erosions of the surface of the earth,
especially by rivers, and for investigations relative to terraces and
ancient sea-beaches, under the direction of President Hitchcock. An
abstract of these investigations, as far as they have been made, has been
received by the Institution; and a full account of the whole, it is ex-
pected, will soon be ready tor publication.

An exploration for the increase of the Smithsonian collection, par-
ticularly in fishes and reptiles, of which our knowledge is most imper-
fect, was undertaken by Professor Baird, accompanied by a number of
young gentlemen, his former pupils. The result of this expedition,
which cost the Institution little more than the price of materials and
transportation, was a large number of specimens, including numerous
species before unknown to science.

Experiments—A series of experiments has been made, during the
past year, under the direction of Professor Jewett, to test the value of
a new plan of stereotyping. If the result of these experiments be
favorable, it is proposed to purchase the right to use the invention, for
the purposes of the Institution. Should the invention be found to pos-
sess the character to which it appears entitled, it will not only be of
much importance to the Institution, but to the world; and we shall
have done good service to the cause of knowledge, by giving it our
countenance and assistance. Professor Jewett has found it e-pecially

, THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 193

applicable to his system of stereotyping catalogues of libraries, by sepa-
rate titles; and in this way it will certainly be of great value, even

should it fail in other respects to realize the sanguine expectations of its

inventor.

The result of the experiments will be submitted to a commission of
persons properly qualified to judge of its merits; and if their report be
favorable, a small sum will be allowed for the use of it.

Besides the experiments mentioned under the head of meteorology, |
made by Mr. Espy, on the cold produced by the rarefaction of air, Dr.
Hare, of Philadelphia, is employing articles of apparatus belonging to
the Institution, in a series of researches on the phenomena exhibited in
the air and in a vacuum by rubbing silicious minerals against each
other. The results of these experiments, with the drawings of the
apparatus employed, he intends to present to the Institution in the form
of a memoir for the Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge.

Computations.

Occultations for 1851.—For the purpose of facilitating the accurate
determination of geographical points in the United States, a list of oc-
cultations and the co-ordinates of reductions for the years 1848, 1849, and
1850, was prepared and published at the expense of the Smithsonian
Institution. Congress has since ordered the publication of an Ameri-
can Nautical Almanac; and as lists of occultations will form a part of
this ephemeris, Mr. Preston, late Secretary of the Navy, directed that
the expense of computing these tables for 1850 should be defrayed from
the appropriation for the Almanac, provided the printing and distribu-
tion were at the expense of the Smithsonian Institution. The same
course has been authorized by Mr. Graham, the present Secretary of
the Navy.

Copies of these tables, computed by John Downes, of Philadelphia,
have been, sent to all persons known to the Institution, who would pro-
bably make use of them in the way of improving our knowledge of the
geography of this country. They have been furnished particularly to
officers of the United States army, and other persons engaged in ex-
ploring our new possessions and determining their boundaries. All
persons to whom these tables were presented, have been requested
to send the result of their observations, made in connexion with the use
of them, to this Institution, or to publish them in some accessible
journal.

Ephemeris of Neptune.—It was stated, in the last Report, that the orbit
of the planet Neptune, established by the researches of Mr. Walker,
and comprised in his memoir published by the Institution, gives the
data for calculating an ephemeris or tables of the daily position of this
planet, rivalling in precision the tables for any of the older planets.
Sets of these tables were computed and published for 1848 and 1849,
at the expense of the Smithsonian Institution; but those for 1850 and
1851 have been computed under the direction of Lieutenant Davis,
superintendent of the Nautical Almanac, and at the expense of the ap-
ae under his charge, while the expense of printing the tables
nas been borne by this Institution.

13

194 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

These tables are corrected for the perturbing influence of the planets
Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus, by deductions from mathematical investi-
gations of Professor Peirce, of Harvard University. They have been
used in following the motion of Neptune, by all the principal astrono-
mers of the world, and have everywhere received the highest commen-
dation, reflecting honor on the Institution, and on the science of the
country.

Museum.

The act of Congress authorizing the establishment of the Smithsonian
Institution contemplates the formation of a Museum of Natural History.
Tt would not, however, be in accordance with the spirit of the organi-
zation, to expend the income in the reproduction of collections of ob-
jects which are to be found in every nuseum of the country. Natural
history can be much more effectually promoted by special collections
of new objects; by appropriations for original explorations and re-
searches; and, above all, by assistance in the preparation of the neces-
sary drawings, and by presenting to the world, in a proper form, the
labors of naturalists. In conformity with these views, it has been re-
solved to confine the collections, principally, to objects of a special
character, or to such as may lead to the discovery of new truths, or
which may serve to verify or disprove existing or proposed scientific
generalizations. A number of special collections, important in this
point of view, are mentioned by Professor Agassiz, in the Appendix to
my last Report; and, tor a more enlarged statement relating to the same
subject, I would refer naturalists to the accompanying report by Profes-

sor Baird, to whom the charge of the collections of natural history has
been confided.

A considerable number of specimens in mineralogy, geology, and

botany, had been received previous to Professor Baird’s connexion
with the Institution; and since he has entered upon his duties, a large
addition has been made to the stock, by the deposite of his owh cabinet,
and by donations from various sources.

The collection is principally rich in undescribed species of fishes
and reptiles ; and especial care will be taken by Professor Baird to en-
hance its value, by procuring, in all cases, as far as practicable, such
specimens as may help to solve questions of scientific interest. The
collection has been arranged in one of the rooms of the basement story,
so as to be available to the student in this branch of science, and has
already done service in this way, by furnishing the facts given in one
of the memoirs of the Smithsonian Contributions. Though letters are
constantly received requesting the Institution to purchase collections of
plants, minerals, and other objects of natural history, yet we have de-
clined, in all cases, to avail ourselves of opportunities of this kind to
increase the cabinet. Experience has, thus far, shown that specimens
of all kinds will accumulate, from donations and exchange, as rapidly
as they can be accommodated with room, and properly arranged.

I have given, in my last report, the reasons why it is not thought ad-
visable, on the part of the Institution, to accept the gift, proffered by
Congress, of the great museum of the Exploring Expedition, and I have
no reason to change my opinion on that point.

ere)

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 195

_ For a detailed account of the spcimens forming the Smithsonian col-
lection, I refer to Professor Baird’s report, herewith submitted.

American Antiquities.

During the past year we have received information of the locality
of a number of mounds, and other remains of ancient art, in different
parts of the United States. A gentleman is now engaged in the exam-
ination of the mounds of Western Virginia, with the intention of pre-
senting the results of his labors for publication in the Smithsonian Con-
tributions.

The survey of the mineral land in the vicinity of Lake Superior has
disclosed the site of an ancient copper mine, whence, in all proba-
bility, the copper of the ornaments, instruments, &c., found in the
mounds, was derived. The remains of the implements, and of the ore,
as left by the ancient miners, are exhibited in place, and afford an in-
teresting illustration of the state of arts among the mound-builders.
The geological surveyors have promised to make accurate measure-
ments and drawings of everything of interest connected with these
works, and to present them, with suitable descriptions, to the Institu-
tion for publication.

Mr. KE. G. Squier, during his sojourn in Central America, as chargé
d’affaires of the United States, made some interesting explorations re-
lative to the antiquities of that country, and has sent to this Institution
five large stone idols and several sinaller objects, as the beginning of an
ethnological museum. For the cost of shipment and transportation of
the three larger idols, by way of Cape Horn, the Institution is indebted
to the liberality of B. Blanco, esq., of New York.

For some remarks relative to the importance of forming an ethnolo-
gical museum, | beg to refer to a paper by Mr. Squier, given in the
Appendix to this Report.

Apparatus and instruments of research.

It is a part of the plan of the Institution to appropriate a small por-
tion of the funds to the purchase of sets of instruments for physical re-
search, to be used by the officers of the Institution, and, under certain
restrictions, by other persons. In accordance with this purpose, I was
requested, by the Board of Regents, to procure an astronomical clock,
with the electro-magnetic registering apparatus, to be lent to Lieutenant
Gillis during the continuance of his astronomical labors in Chih. The
clock has been imported from Germany, and is now in the hands of the
instrument-maker to receive the registering attachments. The whole
will be sent to Chili as soon as the apparatus is completed. I regret
that the difficulty of procuring the services of suitable workmen has
delayed so long the completion of these instruments.

A communication from Lieutenant Gilliss informs us that the Chilian
government has resolved to establish a permanent national observatory
at Santiago, and that it will purchase the instruments above mentioned.
The institution will therefore again, as in the case, mentioned in a former
Report, of the purchase of a telescope for the same expedition, be the
means of promoting science without an expenditure of its income.

196 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

The apparatus for determining the elements of terrestrial magnetism,
mentioned in my last Report as having been lent to Colonel Emory, has
been delivered to Col. Graham, to be used on the Mexican Boundary
Survey. To replace these, the Institution has received permission to
order another set, from London, at the expense of the government ;
and thus, by an addition to the number of instruments of this kind, the
means of promoting the science of terrestrial magnetism, in this coun-
try, will be increased.

The purchase of standard meteorological apparatus, and also the in-
struments which have been distributed to different important stations
throughout the country, is.a part of the same plan. ©

During the past year a considerable portion of the apparatus consti-
tuting the liberal donation of Dr. Hare, of Philadelphia, has been re-
paired and fitted up ; and we hope, during the present season, to com-
plete the repairs of the remainder, and to place the whole in a proper
position for exhibition and use.

Lubrary.

It has been stated, that the programme of organization is intended to
harmonize the several requisitions of Congress, and the resolutions of
the Board of Regents, with a system of active operations, the influence
of which shall be as widely extended as practicable. Though almost
every one will admit the value of libraries, and the importance of col-
lecting in this country as great a variety of books as possible, yet it
may well be doubted whether the accumulation of a large number of
books which are to be found in almost every library of the country, is,
in the present state of the funds, to be expected or aimed at. It is be-
lieved that a portion of the income devoted to the library may be more
efficiently expended in the promotion of the desired ends by other
means, and hence it was resolved to make special collections of books;
particularly to procure such as are not in the country, and also, in
order to render more available those which are now in our libraries, to
prepare, as far as practicable, a general catalogue of all the books they
contain.

In accordance with these views, Professor Jewett has devised a plan
of facilitating the publication of catalogues of libraries, which bids fair
to be of much importance to the literature of the country. This plan
has been submitted for examination to a commission of gentlemen well
acquainted with the subject, and we have received from them a very
favorable report recommending its adoption.

The propositions submitted to the commission for examination, were
as follows: ;

1. A plan for stereotyping catalogues of libraries by separate mova-
ble titles; and,

2. A set of general rules, to be recommended for adoption by the
different libraries of the United States, in the preparation of their cata-
logues.

For a full account of Professor Jewett’s plan, and of the advantages
anticipated from it, I must refer to his report herewith submitted. I
may, however, briefly allude to the leading principle of the plan, which

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 197

is to stereotype the titles of books on separate movable blocks. These
blocks once prepared, and kept in a central depository, may be used
for the printing of new editions of the catalogues for which they were
originally made, allowing the interposition of additional titles in their
proper order; as well as for the printing of all other catalogues con-
taining the same titles. The collection of the stereotype blocks of the »
titles of the several libraries will thus form the stereotyped titles of a
general catalogue of all the libraries. ‘They will lend themselves to
the construction of bibliographies of particular branches of knowledge,
and will admit of being arranged alphabetically, chronologically, or in
classes, in accordance with any required system.

These blocks are not to be made in advance of a demand for their
use. They are to be gradually accumulated, by an arrangement,
which, imposing only a temporary and light burden upon the tunds of
this Institution, will effect the great public object desired, at the same
time that it diminishes to but a fraction of the present cost the expenses
of publishing catalogues, and secures the construction of them upon a
uniform and approved system.

The details of a plan so comprehensive may well be supposed to be
difficult of adjustment, and not capable of being clearly described within
the limits of a few paragraphs. These, however, have been fully con-
sidered by a competent tribunal ; and the plan has received commenda-
tion and promises of co-operation from some of the principal institutions
of the country.

During the last year, the library has continued to increase by dona-
tion, by receipts under the copyright law, by exchanges for the
publications of the Instrtution, and by purchase. It now numbers, in
all, nearly ten thousand separate articles, and bids fair, from the same
sources, to become a very valuable collection.

Though one half of the annual interest is to be expended on the
library and the museum, the portion of the income which can be
devoted to the former will, in my opinion, never be sufficient, without
extraneous aid, to collect and support a miscellaneous library of the
first class. Indeed, all the income would scarcely suffice for this pur-
pose. Still, by means of exchanges, donations, and purchases, a
library of great value may be collected and sustained; and» this, with
the constantly increasing library of Congress, the libraries of the De-
partments, and that of Georgetown College, will furnish a collection of
books not unworthy of the capital of this nation.

From the report of Professor Jewett, it will be seen that a Gallery
of Art has been commenced, and that it is already in possession of a
valuable collection of engravings.

In this connexion, I may mention that at the last annual meeting of
the Board a letter was presented from the Hon. Abbott Lawrence,
informing the Regents that a portrait of Smithson had been offered
through him for sale to the Institution. This portrait, which was in
the possession of the widow of John Fitall, a servant of Smithson, men-
tioned in his will, was purchased for thirty guineas, and is now in the
Gallery of Art. It represents the founder of this Institution, in the
costume of a student of Oxford, and was probably painted when he
‘was not more than twenty years of age. There is, also, in the pos-

198 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

session of the Institution a medallion of Smithson, in copper, taken in
after life. Itis from this that the head on the title-page of the Smith-
sonian publications has been copied.

Lectures.

During the past session of Congress a series of popular lectures has
been given to the citizens of this piace and strangers, in the lecture-
room of the Smithsonian building. These lectures were delivered by
gentlemen distinguished for their standing, and for their attainments in
literature and science, who were invited for this purpose. The interest
in these lectures has been sustained to a wonderful degree. They have
been attended from the first by large audiences; and the results thus
far indicate that considerable good may be derived from the diffusion
of knowledge in this way, in a central position like Washington, where
persons from every part of the Union are found. Although the lectures
appear to the public one of the most prominent objects of the Institu-
tion, and although they are attended with much trouble and consider-
able expense, they really form the least important feature of the plan
adopted. So long, however, as there is a prospect of doing good by
means of them, it is due to the city in which the Institution is located
that they should be continued.

Much complaint has been made on account of the size of the lecture-
room. It is certainly too small to accommodate all who have wished
to attend. We have, however, endeavored, in several instances, to
obviate this difficulty, by procuring a repetition of the lectures; but this
plan is attended with additional expense, and*cannot, in all cases, be
adopted. Should large audiences continue, it may be well to provide
a larger lecture-room in the main building, and, by removing the seats
from the present lecture-room, convert it into a museum of apparatus.
This change, if thought advisable, can be made at very little, if any,
additional expense ; since the present wood-work of the interior of the
main building is to give place to a fire-proof structure, which will ad-
mit of being arranged as a lecture-room. Indeed, the original plan
contemplated a room of this kind in the main building ; but the arrange-
ment of it was such as to seat scarcely more than the room at present
used.

Many inquiries are made as to the publication of these lectures. In
some cases, reports of them have been given in the newspapers, and it
will be advisable to extend this practice to all; but the publication, in
a separate form, of lectures, which in many cases are not written out,
and not intended by their authors as additions to knowledge, would be
attended with much expense and little useful effect. The Institution,
in several instances, is doing better service, by publishing in full the
original researches on which the lectures are based. ‘The papers of
Professor Agassiz, of Professor Harvey, and of Lieutenant Davis, are
of this character, and will be given to the world through the Smuth-
sonian Contributions.

Pom
Ping ed

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. - 199

The following isa list of the Titles of Lectures given before the Institution
during the last session of Congress, with the names of the distinguished
epitenen. by whom they were delivered :

A single ia) on Holland, by the Rev. Dr. = Beene W. Bethune,
of Brooklyn, New York.

A course of lectures on the Relations of Time and Space, the Vast-
ness of the Visible Creation, and the Primordial Arrangement of Ex-
isting Systems; by eo) See Stephen Alexander, of Princeton, New
Jersey.

A course of lectures on Science applied to Agriculture, by Professor
J. F. W. oh Stag of the University of Durham, England.

Two lectures, one on the Tendencies of Modern Science, and the
other on the Spirit of the Age; by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Alonzo mise

of Pennsylvania.

One lecture on the Ability of the Individual to Promote Knowledge ;
by the Rev. John Hall, of Trenton, New Jersey.

A course of lectures on the Unity of the plan of the Animal Creation ;
by Professor Louis Agassiz, of Cambridge, Massachusetts.

A course of lectures on the Tides of the Ocean and their Geological
Relations; by Lieutenant Charles Henry Davis, of the United States
navy.

A course of lectures on Marine Algee or Sea Weeds, and also on the
Morphology of the Vegetable Kingdom; by Professor Wilham H.
Harvey, of the University of Dublin, Ireland.

Two lectures, one on the Origin and Growth of the Union during the
Colonial Period, and the other on some points of the History and Pecu-
harities of the English Language; by Professor Henry Reed, of the
University of Pennsylvania.

A course of lectures on the Chemical Operations of Nature; by Pro-
fessor Lewis C. Beck, of Rutgers College, New Jersey.

The first part of a general course, giving an exposition of the Dy-
namical Phenomena of Geology; by Professor Henry D. Rogers, of
Boston. iy

Whatever may have been the effect of these lectures in the way of
diffusing knowledge, it is evident, from the character of the men by
whom they were delivered, that they presented truths intended to elevate
and improve the moral and intellectual condition of the hearers.

All of which is respectfully submitted :
JOSEPH HENRY,
Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.

200 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT |
Of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, for the year 1851.

To the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution :

GenTLEMEN: Besides the care of all the property of the Institution,
and the responsibility of the direction of its operations, under the con-
trol of the Regents, the Secretary is required to give an account, at ther
annual session, of the.condition of the Institution, and of its transac-
tions during the preceding year.

Tn the discharge of this duty on the present occasion, I am happy to
inform the Regents, that the Institution under their care is still in a pros-
perous Concho: and that since their last meeting it has continued,
silently but effectually, to enlarge the sphere of its influence and useftil:
ness, and to elicit from every part of the civilized world commendations
not only of the plan of organization it has adopted, but also of the
results it has produced.

In my last Report I gave a brief account of the means employed to
increase the income, so that in addition to the requirements of Congress
in regard to the formation of a library and a museum, and the erection
of a building on a liberal scale, operations of a more active character
could be incorporated into the plan of organization.

During the past year the same policy has been observed ; and though
the officers of the Institution have been subjected to the inconvenience _
of transacting business in an unfinished building, and in rooms not in-
tended for the purpose, yet this has been considered of minor import-
ance in comparison with the saving of the funds. Every dollar now
expended on the building lessens the amount of accruing interest, and
diminishes the means of producing results which are to atfect the world
at large; hence the importance of an adherence to the plan of finishing
it by degrees. Since the last session of the Board, it has, therefore, not
been thought advisable to urge the contractor to a rapid completion of
his work, and all the expenditures on account of the building have been
made from the accrued interest of the current year, and from a portion
of that of the year preceding. There is, consequently, still on hand
the two hundred thousand dollars of accumulated interest me itioned in
the last and preceding reports. Of this, it will be recollected, $50,000
are to be applied towards finishing the building, and the remainder to
be invested as part of the principal.

The importance of increasing the funds and of gradually developing
the operations embraced in the programme, was set forth in the last
report. The Institution, it is to be hoped, is not one of a day, but is
to endure as long as our government shall last; itis therefore necessary,
in the beginning, that we should constantly look to the future, and guard
against the temptation, to which we are continually exposed, of ex-
panding too rapidly.

By a resolution of the board, at their session in 1849, the Secretary
was directed to petition Congress to take from the Institution $150,000,

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

To ithe Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution:

GENTLEMEN: Besides the care of all the property of the Institution, and
the responsibility of the direction of its operations, under the control of the
Regents, the secretary is required to give an account, at their annual session,
of the condition of the Institution, and of its transactions during the pre-
ceding year.

In the discharge of this duty on the present occasion, I am happy to
inform the Regents that the Institution under their care is still ina prosper-
ous condition, and that since their last meeting, it has continued silently, but
effectually, to enlarge the sphere of its influente and usefulness, and to elicit
from every part of the civilized world commendations, not only of the
plan of organization it has adopted, but also of the results it has pro-
duced.

In my last report I gave a brief account of the means employed to in-
‘crease the income, so that in addition to the requirements of Congress in
regard to the formation of a library and a museum, and the erection of a
building on a liberal scale, operations of a more active character could be
incorporated into the plan of organization.

During the past year the same policy has been observed; and though
the officers of the Institution have been subjected to the inconvenience of
transacting business in an unfinished building, and in rooms not intended for
the purpose, yet this has been considered of minor importance in comparison
with the saving of the funds. Every dollar now expended on the building
lessens the amount of accruing interest, and diminishes the means of produ-
cing results which are to affect the world at large; hence the importance of
an adherence to the plan of finishing it by degrees. Since the last session of
the board, it has, therefore, not been thought advisable to urge the contractor
to a rapid completion of his work, and all the expenditures on account of
the building have been made from the accrued interest of the current year,
and from a portion of that of the year preceding. There is consequently
still on hand the two hundred thousand dollars of accumulated interest men-
tioned in the last and preceding reports. Of this, it will be recollected,
$50,000 are to be applied towards finishing the building, and the rematn-
der to be invested as part of the principal.

The importance of increasing the funds and of gradually developing the
operations embraced in the programme, was set forth in the last report.
The Institution, it is to be hoped, is not one of a day, but is to endure as
long as our government shall last: it is therefore necessary, in the begin-
ning, that we should constantly look to the future, and guard against the
temptation, to which we are continually exposed, of expanding too rapidly.

By a resolution of the board, at their session in 1849, the Secretary was
directed to petition Congress to take from the Institution $150,000, and
such other sums, not exceeding in all $200,000, as may have been, or shall

[ 108 J 8

be received in accruing interest or otherwise, upon the same tefms as
those on which the original bequest had been accepted. This petition
was xeferred to a committee and favorably reported upon, but unfortunately
the press of business prevented Congress from acting upon it at their
last session. ‘The petition will again be renewed, and it is believed that
so reasonable a request will meet with a favorable reception. It is, howe
ever, thought important that the amount should be increased, and that the
sum of $250,000 be inserted in the petition, mstead of that named in the
resolution.

Jn addition to the $150,000 which the regents thus seek to invest, there

is still a portion of the original legacy remaining in England as the princi-
pal of an anmuity settled upon Madame De la Batut, the mother of the
nephew of Smithson, to whom his property was originally bequeathed.
Besides this, I am mformed, upon good authority, that the Institution is the
contingent legatee of an estate of considerable magnitude, depending on
the demise without issue of a single individual. We may also reasonably
expect that if the affairs of the Institution are properly conducted, and its
funds judiciously husbanded gr properly expended on the legitimate objects
oi the bequest, other trusts will be committed to its care. It therefore
becomes important that the limit should be at least $250,000, so that the
whole sum, including the original bequest, shall amount to a little more
than $700,000. There can surely be no just grounds of fear that the in-
come of this sum will be devoted to improper uses, so long as it is an essen-
tial part of the plan to produce fruits, the value of which can be judged by all
who are capable of appreciatmg the advance of knowledge. This request
is also in accordance with the policy adopted by the Institution of asking
nothing from Congress but the safe keeping of its funds, and the appoint-
ment to its board of regents of gentlemen of intelhigeuce and high moral
principles.
' ‘The government has thus far liberally fulfilled the obligations which it
imposed upon itself in accepting the trust. Not only has the original sum
been permanently invested in the treasury of the United States, but interest
has been allowed from the time of receiving the funds. Congress has also
made several donations to the Institution, which, though they will not
prove as valuable to us as could be wished, indicate a liberal intention. The
first gift was the great museum of the Exploring Expedition, for the accom-
modation of which the larger portion of the present building was origi-
nally intended; the second was a grant of nineteen acres of land surround-
ing the building of the Institution; the third, a copy of every book
published in the United States for which a copyright might be granted; the
fourth and last gift was that of ail the plates, manuscripts, &c., of the
Exploring Expedition, for the purpose of publishing a new edition for dis-
tribution.

These donations, though made with kindly feelings and in a spirit of
liberality, have proved singularly unprofitable. The maintenance of the
museum of the Exploring Expedition would subject the Institution to an
annual expense which would materially interfere with more important
operations. After expending several thousand dollars on the improvement
‘of the grounds, it has been deemed best to return them to the charge of
the geaeral government. Were the copyright act fully complied with,
perhaps some benefit might accrue from it to the Institution; but in the
manner in which it is at present observed, the expense of postage and of

9 [ 108

clerk hire i in recording the titles and furnishing the certificates of deposit,

has more than equalled the value to us of all the books received. Lastly,

it has been estimated that the publication of a new edition of the expensive

volumes of the results of the Exploring Expedition would cost at least fifty

thousand dollars. Fortunately, it has not been considered obligatory on
e-~the Institution, except in the case of the copyright law, to accept these
~ gifts.

Publication of memoirs.—Since the adoption of the ee of organization,
nearly fifty original memoirs, purporting to be additions to the sum of human
knowledge, have been presented to the Institution for publication. ‘Though
a number of these have been returned to their authors, principally on account
of not falling within the restricted class of communications accepted for pub-
lication, yet “they have generally been productions of much merit, and have
evinced a surprising activity of mind, and manifest a growing attention in
this country ‘to original research. ‘The probable success of this part of
the plan of organization was not overrated; for, were the whole income of
the institution devoted alone to publishing the results of the labors of men
of literature and of science, which otherwise would never see the light, it
could be profitably expended. In this respect, the Smithsonian bequest
sunplies the wants which in Hurope are met by richly endowed academies

\and national societies. °

It will be recollected that each memoir is printed separately, and with a
separate title and paging, so that it can be distributed to persons most in-
terested in its perusal as soon as it comes from the press, without waiting
for the completion of the volume to which it belongs. In this way, the
author is enabled to present a full account of his discoveries to the world
with the least possible delay, while, by the rules of the Institution, he is al-
lowed to publish an abstract of his paper in the proceedings of the Amer-

ican Association for the advancement of science, or in those of any other
properly organized society.

The number of copies of the Smithsonian Contributions distributed is
greater than that of the transactions of any scientific or literary society,
and therefore the Institution offers the best medium to be found for diffusing
a knowledge of scientific discoveries.

Every memoir published by the Institution is issued with the stam» of ap-
proval of a commission of competent judges, and in order to secure a cau-
tious and candid opinion, the name of the author, and those of the exam-
iners, are not made known to each other unless a favorable report is given,
and, in this ease, the names of the commission are printed, as vouchers for
the character of the memoir, on the reverse of the title- ~page.

This plan secures an untrammelled expression of opinion, while it induces
caution on account of the responsibility which it involves.

Besides deciding on the fitness of original memoirs for publication, the
Institution is continually applied to for information relative to almost every
department of literature and science. Respectiul attention is always given
to these applications, and when the desired answer does not fall within the
dine of study of any officer of the Institution, it is sought for from those in
whose knowledge and judgment we have full confidence. No inconsiderable
portion of time is occupied in giving the information involved in the answer
to these inquiries ; but [ am happy to inform the board that in this service,
as well as in that of examining memoirs, we have received the co-operation
of a considerable number of the most distinguished individuals in our coun

“

f 108 J 10

try, and in scarcely a single case has application for assistance in this way
been refused. By the operation of the plan adopted, the Institution can
command the talents and learning of the world, and with a small corps of
permanent officers, or a sufficient clerical force, can discharge the duty of
an association to which subjects, relative to all branches of knowledge, can
be referred. &

There is one class of requests which, by a resolution of the Board of Re-
gents, we are directed to refuse, viz: those for the examination and approval
of the innumerable inventions by which the ingenious and enterprise seek
to better their owa condition and that of the public. Were it not for this
resolution, originally proposed by Governor Cass, we would be overwhelmed
with applications of this kind, and have forced upon us the business of the
Patent Office. Besides this, the principal object of the organization is the
discovery of new truths, rather than the application of known principles to
useful purposes. Not that we would undervalue the labors of the inventor ;
but because practical knowledge has a marketable value which always in-
sures its cultivation, provided the higher philosophical truths on which it is
founded are sufficiently developed and made known. :

The idea is still very generally entertained that Smithson bequeathed his
property to this country for the diffusion of useful knowledge among the _
people, and that his intention would be best consulted by the expenditure /
of all the income in the publication and general distribution of tracts on ’
practical subjects. The adoption of this plan would be to dissipate the
funds without beneficial effect. A single report of the Patent Office costs,
In some instances, more than three times the income of the Smithsonian
fund, which itself would be insufficient for the general diffusion of a single
octavo page of printed matter. The property, however, was not left to the
inhabitants of the United States, but to the government, in trust for the
good of man; and not merel for the dissemination or diffusion of know-
ledge, but, first of all, for creatsng, originating, increasing it. 'urthermore,
Smithson does not confine his bequest to the promotion of useful knowledge
alone, in the lower sense of the term, but includes all knowledge in his
liberal and philosophical design. ‘The true, the beautiful, as well as the
immediately practical, are all entitled to a share of attention. All know-
ledge is profitable; profitable in its ennobling effect on the character, in
the pleasure it imparts in its acquisition, as well as in the power it gives
over the operations of mind and of matter. All knowledge is useful ; every
part of this complex system of nature is connected with every other. Nothing
is isolated. The discovery of to-day, which appears unconnected with any
useful process, may, in the courserof a few years, become the fruitful source
of a thousand inventions.

That the encouragement of the discovery of new truths, the publication of
original memoirs, and the establishment of new researches, are in conformity
with the design of Smithson, is not only manifest from the terms of his
will, but also from the fact, which has lately come to our knowledge, that
he at first left his property to the Royal Society of London, for the very
object embraced in this part of the plan. And what prouder monument...
could any man desire than the perpetual association of his name with a —
series of new truths! This building and all its contents may be destroyed,
but the volumes of the Smithsonian Contributions, distributed as they are
among a thousand libraries, are as wide-spread and lasting as civilization
itself,

iW [ 108 J

During the past year a number of memoirs have been accepted for pub-

lication, and are either in the press, or are waiting the drawings to illustrate

them, now in the hands of the engraver. It is the duty of the secretary,
in accordance with the original plan of the Institution, to give a popular
account of these memoirs in his annual report.

The first is a memoir by Dr. Asa Gray, professor of botany in Harvard
University, consisting of an account of a collection of plants made by Mr.
Charles Wright, in an expedition from Texas to El Paso, in the summer and
autumn of 1849.

It was stated in my report for that year, that one hundred and fifty dol-
lars had been subscribed on the part of the Institution toward the outfit of
Mr. Wright, and that the plants collected by him would be submitted to
Dr. Gray for examination and description. ‘The memoir now mentioned is
the result of this arrangement, though it also contains notices of plants
gathered by other collectors in adjacent regions, especially by Dr. Wislizenus
m the valley of the Rio Grande and Chihuahua; and by the lamented Dr.
Gregg in the same district, and in the northern part of Mexico. This me-

moir is a good exposition of the character of the vegetation, and conse-

a

quently of the climate, of the regions traversed.

Specimens of all the plants obtained by Mr. Wright belong to this Insti-
tution ; and these, with sets collected by Fendler and Lindheimer, form the
nucleus of an important and authentic North American herbarium.

Another paper on botany is by Dr. John Torrey, of the college of New

Jersey, Princeton. It gives illustrations of the botany of California, and

describes a number of new and interesting plants discovered by Colonel
Frémont in his different explorations in that country.

Some of the plants collected by this intrepid traveller have been described
in the appendix to his first and second report; but many are still unpub-
lished. Of the collections made during his third expedition, no descriptions
have been given, except that two or three of the new plants were briefly
characterized by Dr. Gray, in order to secure priority of discovery.

In the memoir presented to the Institution, Dr. Torrey has given descrip-
tions of a number of genera of new and remarkable plants, all collected by
Col. Fremont in the passes and on the sides of the Serra Nevada. With
regard to this publication Dr. Torrey remarks, that he had hoped that ar-
rangements would have been made by the government of the United States
for the publication of a general account of the botany of California ; but as
there is no immediate prospect of such a work being undertaken, this me-
moir, on some of the more interesting genera discovered by Col. Frémont,
has been prepare! tor the Smithsonian Institution.

The drawings io illustrate this paper have been made, at the expense of
the institution, | y Mr. Isaac Sprague, of Cambridge, who, in the opinion of
Dr. Torrey, rinks among the best botanical draughtsmen of our day.

The next j;aper presents the results of a series of observations made in
the years 1+ 5-6-7, to determine the dip, inclination and intensity of the
magnetic force in several parts of the United States, by John Locke, M. D.,
professor of chemistry in the medical college of Ohio. The results presented
in this paper are a continuation of a series derived from observations begun
in 1837, and prosecuted annually for ten years. The first parts of the
series have been published in the transactions of the American Philosophical
Society, and have been incorporated by Col. Sabine, in his contributions to
Yerrestrial Magnetism. A part of the observations given in this memoir

[ 108 ] 12

were made at the expense and under the direction of the United States Coast
Survey. Another portion was made in accordance with the direction of the
Hon. Robert J. Walker, late Secretary of the Treasury, as a part of the
investigations instituted for the exploration of the mineral lands belonging
to the general 9 government. This paper has been examined by competent
judges, and recommended for publication in the Smithsonian Contributions,
as an important addition to knowledge.

A paper has also been presented for publication by the executors of the
late Doctor Troost, of Nashville. It consists of descriptions and drawings
of a very numerous family of extinct zoophytes, to which the organic re-
main called the stone lily belongs. The vicinity of Nashville appears to be
a remarkable locality for these remains, and the paper of Professor Troost
describes several hundred species, of which two only have living represen-
tatives.

The memoir, however, is not in a condition to be published without
revision, and additions to bring it up to the state of knowledge at the pre-
sent time. This labor has been gratuitously undertaken by Professor
Agassiz, of Cambridge, and Professor James Hall, of Albany. The collec-
tion of specimens, from which the drawings were ‘made, is now in the pos-
session of these gentlemen, and the memoir will be published as soon as the
corrections and additions are made.

The next memoir is on the winds of the northern hemisphere, by Profes-
sor James Coffin. The design of this communication, in the words of the
author, is ‘to answer the following questions, viz:

“1. What is the average direction in which the lower strata of the air
moves over different regions of the northern hemisphere ?

«<2. What is the rate of progress in the mean direction as compared
with the total distance travelled by the wind ?

“3. What modifications do the mean direction and rate of progress
undergo in the different months of the year ?

«4, What is the direction of the deflecting forces that cause these
modifications ?

“5, What is the average relative force and velocity of winds from seve-
ral points of the compass ?

“6. How will the introduction or omission of the latter element affect
the answer of the preceding questions?”

The data used in answering these questions have been collected with
great labor, and consist of observations made at no less than five hundred
and seventy-six different stations on land, and a large number taken during
numerous voyages at sea. The field of observation includes a zone which
extends from the equator to nearly the parallel of 85° of i north latitude, and
occupies a period, taken in the aggregate, of 2,800 years.

Several of the foregoing questions have been answere.| approximately by
other writers, but neve r, itis believed, from as extensive &n induction as is
presented in this memoir.

This paper is illustrated by a number of maps and diagra:ys, which ren-
der its publication very expensive. It was presented to the Institution more
than a year ago, but the appropriation for printing was not suflicient to
allow of its publication at that time.

The Institution has also commenced the publication of an extended
memoir, consisting of a grammar and lexicon of the Dakota language, the
results of the joint labors, during eighteen years, of the Dakota mission,

13 [ 108 ]

assisted by the most intelligent natives of this tribe of Indians. The whole
has been arranged, and placed in its present form, by the Rev. S. R. Riggs,
of the American Board.

This work was prepared under the auspices of the Historical Society of
Minnesota, and recommended by this association to the favorable attention
of the Smithsonian Institution. It is designed to Meee the requirements of
the missionary in his labor of diffusing the hieht of rel igion 2 and civilization
among one of the most numerous and important tribes of Indians in the
country. It also forms an interesting addition to ethn ology, which will be
highly prized by all devoted to this branch of knowledge.

language is not originally a thmg of man’s device, or the result of con-
ventional art, but the spontaneous production of human instinct, modified
by the mental character, the ael conditions, and other peculiarities of
the people or tribe among which it had its origin, or by whom it is used.
It is subject to definite laws of fonaetiah and “developement, and is inti-
mately connected with the history of the migrations and affiliations of the
bene by whom it is spoken, and hence becomes an object of interest to the
student of the natural history of man.

In accordance with the policy of not expending the Smithsonian fund in
doing with it what could be equally well done by other means, this memoir
was first referred to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, with the hope that it
might be adopted as a part of the materials of the volumes published under

the direction of that bureau; but this was not found practicable, and the
task was therefore undertaken by the Institution.

The memoir will occupy an entire volume, and would have been too
much for our present income, had not about one-third of the whole cost of
publication been promised by subscription from the members of the Histori-
cal Society of Minnesota and the American Board of Missions. The latter
institution defrays the expenses of Mr. Riggs while he is engaged in su per-
intending the passage of the work through the press. It 1 isa “pleasant clr-
cumstance that i in this instance, as well as in many others, the organization
of the Institution enables it to co-operate with other institutions, and to
assist them in their labors of promoting knowledge.

This memoir, which is now in the press, was referred for critical examin-
ation to Professor Felton, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and to Professor
Turner, of New York. The latter has furnished us with a report on the
importance of collecting information relative to the different dialects now
in use among the Indians.

Dr. Joseph Leidy, of Philadelphia, has prepared a memoir for the Insti-

tution, accompanied by numerous illustrations, entitled «* A Flora and Fauna
of Animals.” Itis an elaborate history of a most remarkable series of
plants, in many cases accompanied by parisitic animals, found growing, as
an ordinary or natural condition, within the interior of the bodies of living
animals. In some of the latter, it is stated, growing plants are never
absent; and in a species of insects, viz: Papulus Cornutus, a forest of
vegetation is always found covering the inner surface of the ventriculus or
secon stomach.

The plants of course are Cryptogamic, and are algoid in their character.
Some are as long ag half an inch, but usually they are very much smaller.
They grow attached to the mucous membrane of the cavities in which the
are found, and occasionally from the exterior covering of worms infesting
the same cavities. Several genera and species of these plants are charac-

[ 108 J : 14

terized under the names of ELuéerobryus Elegans, E. attenuatus, Arthro-
mitus cristatus, Cladophytum comatum and Corynocladus radiatus.

The mode of growth and reproduction of several of the species has been
carefully traced and fully illustrated by figures.

The researches are prefaced by some observations on the laws of para-
sitic life in general, ane are presented in a highly philosophical manner,
and entirely free ‘from hypothesis—the whole forming one of the most
remarkable papers on physiology which has ever been produced by our
countrymen.

‘Lieutenant Charles Henry Davis, United States Navy, Superintendent of
the American Nautical Almanac, has presented a memoir on the dynamic
effects of the tides.

This memoir is a continuation of one presented by the author to the
American Academy a few years ago, and is of much interest, not only ina
scientific pot of view, as connected with important ceological changes,
but also on account of the practical bearings upon the transformations
which are constantly going on at the entr ance of rivers, channels, and
in the formation of headlands and promontories. Were our glohe a
perfect spheroid of revolution, surrounded by water of uniform depth,
the tides of the ocean would consist of nearly perpendicular undulations
of the particles of the liquid, anda mere translation of form, without a
transference of matter. But, in the case of a globe of irregular surface,
covered with water of varying depth, the oscillations of the ocean must
constantly produce currents in definite directions which tend continually
to change the position of the movable materials which are found at the
bottom of the sea, particularly as we approach land. A part of the force
of the particles of water forming the sinking swell of the wave, in the case
of an obstruction to their free descent by a ‘diminished depth, is expended
in producing a current along the inclined plane of the surface leading to
the shore.

Lieutenant Davis has entered with much ardor upon the new field of
research, and after an examination of various parts of the shore of the
United States, through a series of years, in which he was engaged on the
coast survey, has succeeded in developing the laws of action which give
rise to the changes before mentioned.

He finds that the tendency of the flood-tiae is to transport the matter
from the bottom of the ocean and deposit it on land. He is enabled to
explain the character of the alluvial formations, to account for their pecu-
liar shape, their comparative sizes, their accumulation, and to predict the
results of certain combinations of circumstances on their future changes.
The particular object of this memoir is to inquire ito the mechanical ope-
rations of the tides, and the uses they may have served in the general
economy of the globe in directing the loose materials of the earth’s crust.

Smithsonian r reports and other publications. —Since the last meeting of
the Board of Regents, the report of Professor Jewett on the public libraries
of the United States has been published and widely distributed. It is im-
possible to collect at once full and reliable accounts of all the libraries of
the country, and this report is intended merely as a beginning, to be fol-
lowed by others on the same subject. It has been sent to all the libraries
of the United States, with the request that its deficiencies may be pointed
out and additional materials furnished to render it more perfect. ‘The
great interest which is felt in this work is manifested by the amount of sta-

15 [ 108 J

tistical information which has already been received in return for this
volume. ; .

A report has also been published on the recent improvements in the
chemical arts. It is compiled from articles which have appeared during
the last ten years in the various journals of science and the arts in the Eng-

- lish, French and German languages. ‘Though this report is chiefly intended

to benefit the practical man, yet it will be found interesting to the general
reader, as exhibiting the cotemporaneous advance of science and art, and
the dependence of the latter on the former for the improvement of its most
important processes.

_ ‘The accounts given in the report aliuded to do not consist of descriptions
of methods which have been merely proposed and published without prac-
tical verification. On the contrary, care has been taken to select such as
have been actually tried, or such as offer great probability of success from
the well-established principles on which they are based.

The preparation of this report was entrusted to Professor James C.
Booth, assayer of the United States mint at Philadelphia, who associated
with himself Mr. Campbell Morft, of Baltimore. The work has been ex-
ecuted in a manner highly creditable to the authors, and will, I doubt not,
prove very acceptabie to the public. Notes will be made of the new
inventions of the same class, as they appear in the journals, so that in the
course of a few years another report of a similar kind, or one which may
be consulered a contmuation of this, can be published.

Copies, at the mere cost of printing, paper and commission, are offered
for sale. ‘The matter has been stereotyped, in order to supply all the de-
mand, and to reproduce this member of the series, should the subject be con-
tinued.

The progress of the elaborate report on the forest trees ‘of North America,
mentioned in the last two reports, was for some time arrested by the ab-
sence of the author, Dr. Gray, in Europe. He has now, however, returned,
and will resume the preparation of the drawings, as soon as the funds of the
Institution will admit of the expenditure. ‘This work has proved a more
expensive undertaking than was at first anticipated, and can only be finished
on the original plan, by extending the time of its publication over several
years. It will form a valuable contribution to the botany and economical
and ornamental arts of our country.

Dr. F. G. Melsheimer, of Dover, Pennsylvania, has presented to the In-
stitution a catalogue of the Coleopterous insects of North America, with
references to the principal places of) description. ‘This has been put to
press, but progresses slowly on account of the great care necessary In cor-
recting the proofs. When printed, it will be of great service to the cause
of American entomology.

Besides the reports, other works are in progress, among which may be
mentioned a small volume by Professor Baird, consisting of practical direc-
tions for the collection and preservation of specimens of Natural History.
This will be illustrated with numerous figures, and issued as soon as the
engravings can be procured. A part of the letter-press has been finished.
ft is.especially designed for the use of travellers and officers of the Army
and Navy who may be inclined to make collections for the Smithsonian Insti-
tution, but will be of general interest to the cultivators of Natural History.

A volume of tables of usein Meteorology and other branches of scientifie
observations, has been prepared, under the direction and at the expense of the:

f 108 J 16

Institution, by Professor Arnold Guyot. The following are the contents of
this volume, viz:

1, Thermometrical tables for the conversion of the scales of different
thermometers into each other.

2. Hygrometrical tables giving the elastic force of vapor, the relative
humidity &c. Boe

3. Barometrical tables for the comparisons of different scales, reduction
of observations to the freezing point, and correction for capillary action. |

4, Hypsometrical tables for calculating altitudes by the barometer, and
by the difference of the boiling point. .

5. Tables of the corrections to be applied to the monthly means to obtain
the true mean.

6. A set of miscellaneous tables frequently required in physical investiga-
tions.

These tables supply a desideratum in the English language, and will
doubtless be highly prized by all engaged in physical research. It is pro-
posed to extend their number so as to include a wider range of objects, and
to publish them in parts to suit different purposes. Copies will be dis-
tributed with the quarto volumes of our publications, and sent to meteoro-
‘logical observers. The tables have been stereotyped and may therefore be
offered for sale at a low rate.

Since the date of the last report, a number of separate memoirs have been
bound together so as to form the second volume of the series of Smithsonian
Contributions. ‘The memoirs, an account of which has just been given,
will be ready for distribution during 1852. .

The second volume has been forwarded to all the colleges and other
institutions specified in the rules adopted for the distribution of the Smith-
sonian publications in this country, and to all the first class libraries and
principal literary and scientific societies abroad. ‘Through the liberality of
the members of the Senate of the United States and its officers, we have
been enabled to send to our foreign correspondents, in addition to our own
publications, copies of reports to Congress, and other works published at
the expense of government. In return, the Institution has received a series
of flattering acknowledgements and valuable presents, not only of the cur-
rent numbers of transactions, but in several instances, of entire sets of all
the volumes. ; i
_ The promotion of knowledge is much retarded by the difficulties ex-

perienced in the way of a free intercourse between scientific and literary
societies in different parts of the world. In carrying on the exchange of
the Smithsonian volumes, it was necessary to appoint a number of agents.
Some of these are American consuls, and other respectable individuals, who
have undertaken in most cases to transact the business free of all charge,
and in others for but little more than the actual expense incurred. ‘These
agencies being established, other exchanges could be carried on through
them, and our means of conveyance, at the slight additional expense owing
to the small increase of weight; and we have accordingly offered the
privilege of sending and receiving small packages through our agency to
institutions of learning, and in some cases to individuals who choose to avail
themselves of it. The offer has been accepted by a number of institutions,
and the result can not fail to prove highly beneficial, by promoting a more
ready communion between the literature and science of this country and
the world abroad.

soi

A

i? [ 108 J

As a part of the same system, uci was made through Sir Henry
Bulwer, the British minister at Washington, for a remission of duties on
packages intended for Great Britain, and we are informed that a permanent
arrangement wil! probably be made, through the agency of the Royal
Society, for the free passage through the English custom-house, of all
packages from this Institution.

The Smithsonian exchanges are under the special charge of Professor
Baird, who has beer: unwearied in his exertions to collect proper materials,
and to reduce the whole to such order as will combine security with rapidity
of transmission. )

The system of exchange here described has no connection with that
established between national ¢ governments by Mr. Vattemare. It is merely
an extension of one which has been in operation on a small scale for nearly
half a century between the American Philosophieal Society and the Ameri-
can Academy on this side of the Atlantic, and the several scientific societies
on the other.

_ Ancient Monuments Te success of the first memoir published by the
Smithsonian Institution has awakened much attention to American antiqui-
ties, and a number of communications have been submitted on this subject.
Among these is one by Mr. William Pilgeon, of Virginia, who has spent a
number of years in the exploration of mounds, and other ancient remains,’
on the upper branches of the Mississippi.

The results of his labors are of a very interesting character, though the
facts contained in his memoir are too much mingled with the traditions re-
ceived by him from the Indians, and with his own hypotheses, to be accepted
asa part of the Smithsonian Contributions. After repeated conversations with
Mr. Pidgeon, I was clearly of opinion that his researches ought to be given
to the public in some way, in order that his statements might receive due
attention, and be corroborated or di ener e by other explorers; and Iam
pleased to be able to state that a gentleman of Washington has undertaken
to arrange and edit these researches, and that they will be published in a sep-
erate volume for the benefit of the authors.

We have also received communications relative to mounds from Mr.
Charles Whittlesey of Ohio, from Mr. Titian R. Peale of Washington, and
Mr. William E. Guest of Ogdensburg, New ¥ ork. The first of these may
be considered as supplementary to the memoir of Messrs. Squier and Davis,
describing works omitted in their survey. ‘The second gives a plan and
description of the mounds which formerly existed on the present site of
St. Louis, Missouri, made during the visit of Major Long’s party in 1849
to that country, on their ey to the Rocky mountains. This sketch is now
interesting on account of the fact that, in the rapid progress of improvement,
these mounds have been nearly obliterated, and that they can only be pre-
served to science, as they existed more than thirty yearsago, by this publi-
cation.

The third is an account, with drawings, of ancient works at Prescot, in
Canada west. The great size of the remains of trees which occupy the
ground, evince the long time which must have elapsed since these works
“were constructed, aud the entire absence of stone pipes and arrow heads has
induced the belief that they are of a higher antiquity than those in the Ohio
valley.

The last two contributions will form a single memoir, the plates for which
are partially completed,

[ 108 J 18

But the most interestine circumstance connected with the study of the
ancient remains of this country is a recent action of the Amesican Antiqua-
rian Society of Worcester, Massachusetts. This institution ~was founded in
1812 by the zeal and liberality of Isaiah Thomas, for the pv.rpose of collect-
ing and preserving such manuscripts, pamphlets and other articles as relate
to the history of this country, and for the exploration anc) publication of its
antiquities. It was at the expense of this society thet the original re-
searches of Mr. Atwater, on the mounds of the Ohio valley, were first pub-
lished, and during the last two years the condition of/ its funds has again
enabled it to take the field, and to direct its attention to the remarkable
antiquities in the State of Wisconsin.

These antiquities, it is well known, consist of representations, on a gigan-
tic scale, of birds, beasts and fishes, and though many of them have been
surveyed, and accounts of them given in the memoir of Messrs. Squier and
Davis, comparatively few of those which are said to exist have been explored
or delineated. For this reason, the council of the society have engaged Mr.
I. A. Lapham, an experienced engineer, to make explorations and surveys,
and drawings of these mounds. He has been engaged in these operations
for two seasons, and is now employed in making up an account of his labors.

To insure harmony of action m the cultivation of the wide field of re-
search offered in the investigations of the ancient monuments of this coun-
try, the Antiquarian Society has agreed to present to the Smithsonian Insti-
tution the results of the explorations of Mr. Lapham for publication, end
to reserve its limited funds for further explorations. The memoirs will be
examined and revised by the society, and will be published under its auspices
in the Smithsonian Contributions.

This arrangement is another pleasing evidence of the feeling with which
the efforts of this Institution are regarded, and the willingness with which
other institutions co-operate with it in the important work of promoting
original knowledge.

Hzplorations, Researches, &c.—During the last year several minor
explorations have been made in the line of natural history, partly at the
expense of the Institution. ‘The sum of fifty dollars was. appropriated to
Professor C. B. Adams, of Amherst College, to pay in part his expenses
while making collections in the West Indies and Panama. For the sum
advanced, an ample return has been made in new and rare specimens.
Professor Baird and Mr. Charles Girard have also made explorations which
have added tu the collections of the Institution at a cost little beyond that
of the expense of transportation.

In this connexion I may mention that Professor Baird has contributed
the report on the vertebrate animals collected by Captain Stansbury in his
expedition to the Salt Lake region, and facilities have been given at the
Institution to a number of persons in making scientific reports to Congress.

A series of experiments also have been made in our laboratory by a com-
mission appointed by government to examine the stone proposed for the
extension of the Capitol. It is believed that the Institution may, in the
aid it affords the government in scientific operations, more than repay all
the obligation imposed by the acceptance of the Smithsonian trust. _

It was mentioned in the last report, that the specimens which were pro-
cured by Mr. Culbertson from the Upper Missouri, had been referred to
Dr. Joseph Leidy, of Philadelphia, for examination. He has since made a
report (see Appendix) giving a brief statement of the results of his inves-

19 [ 108 J

tigation. From this report it appears that the specimens are of much
scientific interest, showing as they do, for the first time, the existence in
this country of an eocene deposite, rivaling in the number of its species of
extinct animals the celebrated basi: of Paris.

Occultations.—It has been mentioned in the preceding reports, that lists
of occultations, and tables of reductions, have been published, from 1848 to
1851, inclusive. The cost of the computation of these tables, as well as
that of their publication for the past two years, was borne by the Institu-
tion, but since then Congress has ordered the establishment of an American
Nautical Almanac; and as these tables will form a part of this ephemeris,
Mr. Preston, the late Secretary of the Navy, directed that the expense of
the computation should be defrayed from the appropriation for the Almanac,
the printing and distribution to be at the charge of the Institution. A
similar order has been given by the Hon. Wm. A. Graham, the present
Secretary of the Navy, relative to the tables for 1851 and 1852.

The tables for 1852, are much extended’ by the introduction of occulta-
tions visible in every part of the earth. The form is also somewhat altered
in order better to adapt it to the arrangement to be adopted by the Nautical

Almanac.

The primary object of these tables is to facilitate the accurate determi-
nation of the longitude of places within the territory of the United States,
and in this respect they have done good service, especially in the hands of
the officers of the coast surv ey, andthe explorers and surveyors of our new
possessions on the coast of the Pacific. Their extension will render them
useful to geographers in every part of the world. They have been com-
puted, for the present and the last two years, under the direction of Lieut.
Davis, the accomplished superintendent of the American Nautical Almanac.
As soon as this work, which will be an honor to the country, is ready to be
issued, the publication will be relinquished by the Smithsonian Institution. —

We observe again, in this case, the policy of not expending the funds of
the Institution, in doing what other means can accomplish.

It will recollected that Mr. Sears C. Walker, astronomical assistant of
the United States coast survey, prepared for the Smithsonian Transactions
a memoir containing a determination of the true orbit of the planet Nep-
tune, and that from this orbit, and the mathematical investigations of Pro-
fessor Pierce, an ephemeris of Neptune was compiled. ‘The ephemeris was
prepared for the years 1845 and 1849, under the direction and at the expense
of this Institution, but for the years 1850-’51—’52, it was computed under
the superintendence of Lieutenant Davis, and at the expense of the appro-
priation for the Nautical Almanac, while the cost of printing and of the
distribution has been defrayed by the Institution.

The ephemeris has been generally adopted by the principal astronomers
of the world, and Professor Airy, the astronomer royal of Great Britain,
has undertaken the labor, in his last volume of Greenwich Observations, of
critically comparing his observations on the planet in the heavens with the
predictions of the Smithsonian ephemeris. From these comparisons it is
found that the ephemeris gives the position of the planet with a degree of
precision not inferior fo that with which the places of the planets longest
known are calculated. The labors, therefore, of Mr. Walker on the elements,
and Professor Pierce on the theory of the planet Neptune, have been
crowned with complete success. It is proposed hereafter to collect all the

[ 108 ] 30

observations which may have been made on the planet, and compare them
with the ephemeris, in order, if nee IN still further to correct the orbit.

Meteorology.—The ceneral system of meteorology now in operation in
this country, and descr ibed in the last report, has during the past year been
continued and gradually extended. The instruments constructed under the
direction of the ‘Tnstitution, with the aid of Professor Guyot, have been further
improved, and some slicht changes, indicated by experience, have been made
to render them more convenient to the practical observer and they may
now be consitered not only equal in accuracy to the instruments of the best
construction from abroa:i, but in some respects superior. They are furnished
with the means of read adjustment to the standard : ~struments, anu being
In every Instance accur -cly comnared before they are used, and the error
corrected, tie labor of inserting a correction in the j journal is Gekdet New
_efforts have also been made to obtain a still more accurate comparison be-
“tween the standard barometer of this country and those of the more impor-
tant European observatories. or this purpose a second standard barometer
by Newman, compared with the standard of the Royal Society, and a ba-
rometer by Himst, compared with the standard of the Paris observatory,
were ordered at the expense of the Institution. By a long series of com-
parisons between these two instruments and others at Cambridge, (Massa-
chusetts,) Toronto, (Canada West,) and Washington city, the object sought
has, it is believed, ise en obtained. The thermometers also, constructed by
Mr. Green, of New York, for the Institution, have been compare.l with
European Socty and an important step has thus been made towards
obtaining reliable results as to the absolute meteorological elements of the
different parts of this continent.

It was staie:l in the last report that the regents of the university of New

York had made an appropriation for supplying thirty-three academies in »

that State with instruments, and had civen the establishment of the whole
system in charge to this institution. "She State of Massachusetts has also
made a similar appropriation and arraugement. During the past year the
instruments for this State have been constructed, and a part of the stations
established wider the care of Professor Guyot.

At the last meeting of the American association, a Ae pen was made, anda
series of resolutions adopted, (see appendix) for extending the system of obser-
vations with ihe same instruments to other parts of this continent. ‘These
resolutions diected the committee to memorialize Congress for aid in ex~

tending the systera under the direction of this Institution; to request the:

Secretary of t:.e Treasury to provide for making observations at the several
light-houses t» be established on the coast of California; to ask the sur-
geon-general io establish new stations at important points ; to memorialize
the other States of the Union to follow the example of New York and

Massachusetts, and also the Canadian government to cooperate m the

same enterpris.

What may be the result of the labors of the members of the comn.ittee
to which this duty is entrusted, it is impossible to say. ‘They can scarcely
fail, however, 1o awaken a more general interest in the enterprise, a.id to
receive a favorable response to some of: the requests.

Since the date of the last report, the system particularly intended to
investigate the nature of American storms, immediately under the care of
this Institution, has been continued and improved, both in the numLer of
the stations, and, in some degree, in the character of the instruments. An

21 [ 1087

appropriation was made to furnish a larger number of stations than prey yi-
ously with barometers and thermometors, by distributing these instrume nts
in some cases entirely at the expense of the Institution, and in other/, by
selling them to the observers at half their original cost; but the derannd
was so great, and the loss by breakage in transmitting the instrument;; so
frequent, that the appropriations were soon exhausted, and until we can
afford to devote a large sum to the object, and employ a special agey t to
transport the articles to their destination, it will be inadvisable to attg mpt
anything more in this way.

Though the instruments employed by these observers in some case ; can

not be relied on for giving absolute results, yet they serve a good pw ‘pose
in determining changes of pressure and temperature, and the return) give
all the varying phases of the sky.
' Thus far, the returns which have been received from this system . have
been arranged in folio volumes, and a beginning has been made in th e way
of deducing general conclusions from them, which may test the value of
the observations and lead to their improvement by suggesting other) objects
of inquiry. The results already obtained give promise of interest ing and
valuable additions to our knowledge of the nature of the storms wh ich tra-
verse this continent during the ‘winter seasons, and will probably) serve to
settle definitely several theoretical questions of much interest to the meteor-
ologist.

The meteorological correspondence of the Institution is pring ipally at-
tended to by Professor Foreman, and the labor which this involvios is suffi-
cient to occupy the greater portion of his time. The letters received from
this class of coéperators are not confined to the subject of me teorology,
but include the whole domain of physical science. We cons ider it, as
before observed, a duty in all such cases to give the informatio n required ;
and if this is not in’the possession of the officers connected wit h the Insti-
tution, it is procured from other sources.

For the details as to the management of the meteorologi cal affairs of
the Institution, see Professor Foreman’s report on this subject .

Library and Collections.—It will be recollected that the income of the
Institution was, by a compromise alluded to ina former report., to be divided
into two equal parts, one part to be devoted to the formation of a museum,
a library and a gallery of art, and the other to publications, ‘researches and
other active operations. The terms of this compromise ha‘ ve been rigidly
adhered to, as will be seen by a reference to the general st atement of ac-
counts given in the last report. Up to the date of the appc intment of Pro-
fessor Baird, in July, 1850, the part of the income devoted tc the collections
was expended on the library, or on objects pertaining tt it. Since that
time, a portion has been devoted to the museum. ‘

It is proper to remark that this compromise was found¢:d upon another,
namely, that the cost of the building and furniture shovild be limited to
two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. But in order tu 1 he better security
of the collections, the regents have since found it necessar y to add, in round
numbers, fifty thousand dollars to this sum, which must of ‘course diminish the
income which would otherwise have been devoted to the: active operations.

It is evident that one spirit, if possible, should pervade: the whole organi-
zation, and that the same policy should ‘be adopted with reference to all
parts of the plan. Among the maxims which have been acted upon, that

\* 108 J 22

et occupying ground untenanted by other institutions, and of doing nothing
wii'h the funds which can be equally well accomplished by other means,
has commended itself to the intelligent and reflecting portion of the public ;
an lit has always appeared to me that this is as applicable to the formation
of «:ollections of books and specimens, as to the publications and other ope-
ratiions of the Institution.

\Vith reference to the library, the idea ought never. be entertained that
the portion of the limited income of the Smithsonian fund which can be de-
vote d to the purchase of books, will ever be sufficient to meet the wants of
the .American scholar. On the contrary, itis the duty of this Institution to
increase those wants by pointing out new fields for exploration, and by
stim? tlatine other researches than those which are now cultivated. Itis a
part .of that duty to make the value of libraries more generally known, and
their want in this country more generally felt; to show i what branches
of kn¢ wledge our libraries are most deficient; to point out the means by which
those (\ leficiencies can be supplied ; to iastruct the public in the best methods
of proi uring, arranging, cataloguing and preserving books; to give infor-
mation| as to the best form and construction of library buildings; in short, to
do all v shich was originally intended in the plan of rendering the Institution
-acentre of bibliographical knowledge, t6 which the American scholar can
refer for all information relative to books in general, and particularly to
those in \ our own country... -The libraries of the country must be supplied
by the cqountry itself; by the general government; by the State govern-
ments; b\y cities, towns and villages; and by wealthy and liberal individuals.
It is to bé: hoped that in the restoration of the hbrary of Congress, a foun-
dation wil\ | be laid for a collection of books worthy of a government whose
perpetuity| principally depends on the intelligence of the people.

The pro} er management of books, and general instruction as to their use,
are matters, perhaps of more importance than their accumulation in any one
place. It i\s estimated that about twenty thousand volumes, including pam-
phlets, purp rting to be additions to the sum of human knowledge, are pub-
lished annua\ lly ; and unless this mass be properly arranged, and the means
furnished by | which its contents may be ascertained, literature and science
will be overv\helmed by their own unwieldy bulk. The pile will begin to
totter under its own weight, and all the additions’ we may heap upon it
will tend to ac to the extension of the base, without increasing the elevation
and dignity of\ the edifice.

One of the 1\n0st important means of facilitating the use of libraries, par-
ticularly with 1\ eference to science, is well digested indexes of subjects, not
merely referring* to volumes or books, but to memoirs, papers, and parts of
scientific transa\ctions and systematic works. As an example of this, I
would refer to \the admirably arranged and valuable index to natural phi-
losophy and the\ mechanical arts by Dr. Young. “If my library were on
fire,’ seid a cel brated author, ‘‘and I could save but one scientific book,
it wovld be Dr. |Young’s index.’’ . This work comes down to 1807; and I
know of no richer gift which could be bestowed upon the science of our
own day than the continuation of this index to the present time. Ever
one who is desirous of enlarging the bounds of human knowledge should, in
justice to himself, jas well as to the public, be acquainted with what has pre-
viously been done|in the same line, and this he will only be enabled to ac-
complish by the use of indexes of the kind above mentioned.

The most important operation during the past year relative to the library,

23 | 108 J

is the progress made by Professor Jewett in completing his plan of stereo-
typing catalogues with separate titles, described in the last report.

To reduce this plan to practice a series of original experiments were re-
quired, involving the expenditure of much time and labor. For this purpose,
in preference to the usual method of stereotyping, a new one, invented
by Mr. Josiah Warren, of Indiana, has been adopted on the recommendation
of a committee to whom it was referred for examination. It is a fact well
known to inventors, that however simple the theoretical plan of effecting
a desired object. may appear, a series of unforeseen difficuties must be en-
countered in the details, before the idea can be realized im actual results.
These difficulties, in the present case, it is believed have been overcome, and
the plan is now ready to be applied to the formation of a general and uni-
form catalogue of the libraries of the Country. ‘The course proposed is
first to proceed with the catalogues of the library of the institution in ac-
cordance with the rules recommended by the commission appointed to re-
port on this subject. This, stereotyped by the new process, may be dis-
tributed as a model for the other libraries which may adopt the plan. After
all parts of the plan have thus been thoroughly tried, it Will be desirable to
commence on some large collection. ‘The late accident which has happened
to the library of Congress will induce the necessity of a new catalogue,
and it is hoped that a liberal and enlightened policy will lead to the adoption
of the Smithsonian plan. This will not only enable the government to issue,
at a trifling expense, a new catalogue every year, with all the additions in
their proper place, but also to assist in giving to the country an improved
system of cataloguing, and facilitate the production of a general catalogue
of all the libraries of the country. .

Since the publication of the account of Mr. Jewett’s plan of forming
general catalogues, the invention has been claimed separately by two indi-
viduals in Europe. It is true, the want of such a plan has long been felt,
and a general idea may have been conceived as to how it might be accom-
plished, but no attempts have been made to reduce it to practice, and indeed
had they been made, they could not have succeeded, and would have done
injury to the cause.’ The conditions necessary to success never before ex-
isted, and a premature attempt always tends to lessen public confidence in
an enterprise, when the proper time for its actual accomplishment arrives.
Besides this, there is a wide difference between the mere suggesting the
possibility of aplan, and actually overcoming the difficulties which arise at
every step in reducing it to practice.

With reference to the copyright law, something ought to be done to put
the whole matter on a better footing. I repeat the assertion before made,
that this law, as it now exists, imposes a tax on the Institution, without an
adequate return. ‘The great majority of the books received are such as are
found in almost every public and private library ; but very few of them
would ever be purchased by the Institution, and are consequently dear at,
any price, even that of shelf-room and attendance, not to mention cost of
transportation and of furnishing the certificates.

Granting the proposition that it is important a copy of every book origi-
nally published in this country should be somewhere preserved, it does not
follow that the Smithsonian fund ought to be burdened with the expense
of this charge. |

If they should be preserved, it becomes the duty of Congress to provide
for their care, as much as it does for that of the models of the Patent Office,

[ 108 ] py

and no good reason can be assigned why the one should not be imposed upon
the Institution as well as the other. Indeed, models are a species of books
intended to convey ideas which printing cannot impart.

The objection to the present arrangement may “be obviated by adopting
the suggestion of Professor Jewett, that but one copy, instead of three, of
each book, be sent to Washington for deposite, and that in place of the
other two copies, a small fee be paid to the Institution; sufficient to defray
all expenses ; the maxim again being applied of not expending the funds in
doing that which can and ought to be done by other means.

By reference to the report of the Librarian, it will be seen that the col-
lection of books has continued to be increased by purchase, by copyright
and by exchange. from the last mentioned source the Institution is ob-
taining a most valuable series of books of the highest interest to the
scientific student, consisting principally of the transactions and proceedings
of learned societies. Ina few years, it is believed, as complete a collection
of these will be gathered as it is possible to obtain.

The museum is io consist, according to the law of Congress, and the
terms of the compromise, of ‘““objects of art, of foreign and curious
research and of natural history, of siete and geological and mineralogical
specimens.’’ It would, how vever, | be unwise in the Institution to attempt
the formation of full collections of all these objects, or, in other words, to
form an establishment similar to that of the British museum. ‘The whole
income devoted to this object would be entirely inadequate. The portion
of the main building appropriated to the museum consists of a single room
two hundred feet long | by fifty feet wide. ‘This space may be entirely filled
in the course of three years, without the purchase of a single article, if the
means be adopted which present themselves at the seat of government for
making collections. But when this space is filled the accumulation of speci-
mens must cease, or an addition be made to the building, which, to har-
monize with the present edifice, would involve a large expenditure. ‘The
question then arises, from what source is this money to be obtained? It
cannot be derived from. the annual income of the capital, for this would
cripple the more oe operations. It may. be said that Congress
will furnish the means; but this is relying ona very uncertain source, and
the policy of applying ‘to Congress for any aid is doubtful.

Furthermore, a promiscuous collection, embracing full sets of the objects
above specified, is unnecessary i carrying out the “plan of organization of
the Institution.

For SoS the organic remains brought from the upper Misscuri by
Culbertson, have been examined and reported on by Dr. Leidy, of Philadel-

hia, in that ces and the plants from California and Mexico have been re-
fenced to Dr. Torrey at Princeton, and to Dr: Gray at Cambridge. In this
way, not only has the learning of these gentlemen been brought into requi-
sition, but also their special cabinets rendered subservient to our use. The
coéperation of the learning and talent, as well as the use of the libraries
and collections of the whole country, is an essential feature of the plan
and ought not to be lost sight of.

1 would, however, distinctly disavow the intention of underrating the
importance of collections in themselves. On the contrary, it ought to be
the duty of the Smithsonian Institution to point oat the means by which
they may be made, and to aid in the work, to the extent of its ability, by

25 {108 J

embracing all opportunities which may offer for procuring specimens for
distribution, and by facilitating exchange and assisting explorations.
Though the formation of a general collection is neither within the
means nor the province of the Institution, it is an object which ought to
engage the attention of Congress. A general museum appears to bea
necessary establishment at the seat of government of every civilized nation,
The navy, the army, and the whole corps of commercial and diplomatic
agents in foreign countries, all consider it their duty to send to the seat of
government of their own nation, every object which may serve to improve
or to interest the people. Indeed the government of the United States has
already formed the nucleus of such a museum in:the collections now in the

Patent Office. An establishment of this kmd can only be supported by “ei

government, and the proposition ought never to be encouraged of putting
this duty on the limited though liberal bequest of a foreigner. The Smith-
sonian Institution will readily take the mental direction of an establishment
of this kind, give plans for its organization and arrangement, provided it
be requested to do so, and the means for effecting the object be liberally
sifpplied. . :

I make these remarks with reference to the collections, because I am
fully impressed with the fact that the tendency of the Institution will be to
a statical condition, in which the income will be absorbed in the support
and accommodation of objects of a doubtful or contingent value. There
is even danger in receiving donations from individuals. The articles may
be valuable in part, but may consist also of much which the institution
cannot well afford to keep. Besides this, it is extremely difficult to dis-
charge, acceptably, the duty of the curator of property thus acquired.
Since the house-room and the income of the Institution for the accommoda-
tion and support of collections are limited, great care must be exercised in
the choice of the articles, and preference given to those which are of im-
portance in determining problems of interest, and which give promise of the
ready production of new and interesting results.

For a detailed account of the additions {o the museum during the past
year, and the present state of the collections, 1 must refér to Professor
Baird’s report herewith presented.

In an appendix to this will be found a list of the donations, with the
names of the donors alphabetically arranged. These consist principally of
specimens not generally found in other collections, and though they may
not be very attractive to ordinary visitors, the student of natural history
will find in them much of interest.

The circular prepared by Professor Baird, describing the method of col-
lecting and preparing specimens, and indicating objects especially desirable,
has proved effective in procuring important contributions.

Among the objects which should be collected and preserved with care,
are the remains of the specimens of the arts of the aboriginal inhabitants
of this country, the contents of mounds, and the stone implements found
on the surface of the earth. ‘The implements and industrial products .of
the present tribes of Indians should also be gathered as the materials for
the advance of the new and interesting science of ethnology. Of the eon-
tents of mounds, but a limited amount of specimens exist, and as these are
not, like the spontaneous productions of nature, constantly in the process
of reproduction, every article should be diligently sought for, and carefully
preserved. Some additions have been made to the collections in this line.

/\

f 108 J

‘The museum of natural history, besides plants and minerals, numbers
eighteen hundred and fifty jars, contaming specimens im spirits, of mammalia,
reptiles, fishes, articulata, mollusca and radiata, amounting in all to twenty-
five hundred species. Besides these, there are about nine hundred specimens
of skulls and skeletons, and three thousand of skins of European and
American birds.

Lectures.—Iin accordance with the suggestion contained in the act of
incorporation of the Institution, courses of lectures have been given during
the past year in the lecture-room of the Smithsonian building, and the
reports of these lectures are generally copied in the public papers through-
out the Union. Though the plan of diffusing knowledge by means of lec-
tures is too restricted in its influence to meet fully the liberal views of the
Smithsonian bequest, yet there is no place in the United States where such
means will have a tendency to affect more minds and do more good than in
the city of Washington, where persons from all parts of the country
assemble during the sessions of Congress. It was supposed, at first, that the
interest in these lectures would soon die away; but the experience ‘of three
years has indicated no tendency of this kind. This is in part owing to the
constant influx of strangers and change of inhabitarts. Besides this, there
is in this city, in proportion to the whole number of inhabitants, a large
number of intelligent persons with moderate salaries, who gladly avail
themselves of the means of improvement offered oy the gratuitous lectures
of the Institution.

As an evidence of the high appreciation of the advantages which these
lectures afford the citizens of Washington, I may mention that the corpo-
ration of the city has ordered, since the last meeting of the board, a bridge
to be constructed over the canal at Tenth street, for the special accommo-
dation of those who attend the evening instruction given at the Institution.
This bridge, with a well-drained and well-lighted “path across the public
grounds, w vill afford a direct and comfortable approach to the building from
a central point on Pennsylvania avenue.

In my last report I mentioned the fact that much complaint had been
mace through the public papers on account of the size of the lecture-room.
It was the criginal intention of the Regents to construct a lecture-room in
the main building, though, according to the plan proposed, the number of
persons it would hold would scarcely have been greater than that now accom-
modated. ‘This plan, however, was thought to be unsafe, because it was
at first not proposed to fire-proof the interior ; but since, an opposite course
has been resolved upon, a large lecture-room may with safety be con-
structed in the main building, and the present lecture-room, having tempo-

rarily served the purpose, may be applied to other uses.

The proper construction of a lecture-room is, however, a problem of
great difficulty, which in the present instance will be much enhanced by
the form and peculiarities of the building. It must be well-adapted to
sight, to sound, to ventilation and warming. A room might be constructed
which would seat five thousand persons; but we know of none such, in every
part of which an ordinary speaker can be distinctly heard. Too much
must therefore not be expected with reference to the new lecture-room,
though every endeavor will be made to render it as perfect as the conditions
to which it is unavoidably subjected will allow.

The selection of the lecturers, and the arrangement of the courses, have
been found, in some cases, an unpleasant and perplexing duty. The gen-

ey,

23 f 108 J

tlemen invited, as a general rule, have been men of high standing, and have
been chosen on account of their reputation and moral worth, rather than
with reference to their proficiency in the art of rhetoric. It is not the aim
of the Institution in these lectures merely to please the ear, but to impart
important truths which may be valued for their own sake.
Many. applications have been made for the use of the lecture-room of the

- Institution for pay lectures and exhibitions of a private character, but these
have in all cases been refused. The use of the room has, however, on seve-
ral occasions been given to the faculty of Columbia College, and also for
the meetings of the Teacher’s Association of the District of Columbia.
The organization of this association took place in the Smithsonian building
in 1850, and its meetings have been regularly held in the lecture-room from
that time to the present. It is believed that the spirit of the will of Smith-
son is properly consulted, in giving encouragement and rendering facilities
to these meetings. The association has been kept up with much spirit, and
J am sure that much good has resulted from the organization. It has
served to cherish a feeling of harmony among the teachers, and to awaken
a spwrit of improvement relative to education and general knowledge.

The following is a list of the titles of lectures given before the Institution

during the last session of Congress, with the names of the gentlemen by
whom they were delivered :

A course of six lectures on History as a science, and a single one on Poetry, by Dr.
Samuel H. Cox, of Brooklyn, New York.

Two lectures on Induction and Association, by Dr. John Ludlow, Provost of the Univer-
sity of Pennsylvania.

A course of five lectures on Entomology, and one on the Alps, by Rev. Dr. John G.
Morris, of Baltimore, Maryland.

Two lectures on the History and the Forms of the Nnglish Language, by Professor W. C.
Fowler, of Amherst, Massachusetts.

One lecture on the Architecture of the Middle Ages, by Dr. A. H. Vinton, of Boston.

Two lectures by Professor S.S. Haldeman, of Columbia, Pennsylvania, on the Mechanism
of Speech, and its bearing upon the natural history of the human race.

Two lectures on Geology, by Dr. Benjamin Silliman, Sr., of Yale College, New Haven.

i
A) ab

ih Sil
+ ny

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 993

SIMTH ANNUAL REPORT” (op (Ras ee

Of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, for the year 1852.

~~
~

e
To the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution :

~GenytLemENn: The object of the Annual Report of the Secretary is
not only to present to the Regents an account of the transactions of the
period which elapses between their successive sessions, but also to
make such suggestions as may be important to the tuture management
of the affairs of the Institution, and to state such facts in reference to
it as may be interesting to the public, or which may furnish a connected
history of its transactions.

Since the beginning of the Institution no change has taken place in
the policy originally adopted with reference to the system of active
operations. ‘The details of this plan were well considered, and its im-
portance as the only means of properly carrying out the intention of
the donor was fully understood at the first. The theory of the plan was
expressed in a few propositions, which have been constantly kept®in
view, and acted upon as far as the law of Congress and other restric-
tions would permit.

This plan, although prosecuted under very unfavorable circumstances,
has produced results such as to render the name of the Institution
favorably known wherever science and literature are cultivated, and
to connect it indissolubly with the history of the progress of knowledge
in our times. As proof of this we need only state the following facts:

The Institution has promoted astronomy, by the aid furnished the
researches which led to the discovery of the true orbit of the new
planet Neptune, and the determination of the perturbations of this
planet and the other bodies of the solar system, on account of their
mutual attraction. It has also aided the same branch of science by
furnishing instruments and other facilities to the Chilian expedition,
under Lieut. Gilliss; and by preparing and publishing an ephemeris
of Neptune, which has been adopted by all the astronomers of the
world.

It has advanced geography, by providing the scientific traveller with
annual lists of the occultations of the principal stars; by the moon, for
the determination of longitude ; by the preparation of tables for ascer-
taining heights with the barometer ; and by the collection and publica-
tion of important facts relative to the topography of different parts of
the country, particularly of the valley of the Mississippi. . rights

It has established an extended system of meteorological investigation,
consisting of several hundred intelligent observers, who are daily noting
the phases of the weather in every part of the continent of North
America. It has imported standard instruments, constructed hundreds .
of compared thermometers, barometers, and psychrometers, and has
furnished improved tables and directions for observing with these
instruments the various changes of the atmosphere, as to temperature,
pressure, moisture, &c. It has collected, and is collecting, from its

224 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

observers, an extended series of facts, which are yielding deductions of
great interest in regard to the climate of this country and the meteo-
rology of the globe. ,

~ The Institution has advanced the science of geology, by its researches
and original publications. It has made a preliminary exploration of
the remarkable region on the upper Missouri river called the ‘‘ Bad
Lands,” and is now printing a descriptive memofr on the extraordinary
fossil remains which abound in that locality. It has assisted in explo-
rations relative to the distribution in this country of the remains of
microscopic animals found in immense quantities in different parts of
the United States.

It has made important contributions to botany, by means of the
published results of explorations in Texas, New Mexico, and Califor-
nia, and by the preparation and publication of an extended memoir,
illustrated with colored engravings, on the sea-plants of the coast of
North America. .

It has published several important original papers on physiology,
comparative anatomy, zoology, and different branches of descriptive
natural history; and has prepared and printed, for distribution to trav-
ellers, a series of Directions for collecting and preserving specimens.

@ {t has advanced the science of terrestrial magnetism, by furnishing
instruments for determining the elements of the magnetic force, to vari-
ous exploring expeditions ; and by publishing the results of observations
made under its direction, at the expense of the government. __

It has collected and published the statistics of the libraries of the
United States, and perfected a plan of stereotyping catalogues, which
will render effective, as a combined whole, all the scattered libraries
of the country.

The Institution has been instrumental in directing attention to
American antiquities, and has awakened such an interest in the subject
as will tend to the collection and study of all the facts which can be
gathered relative to the ancient inhabitants of this continent. It has
also rendered available for the purposes of the ethnologist afd philan-
thropist the labors of our missionaries among the Dakotas, by publish-
ing a volume on the language of this tribe of Indians; and has done
good service to comparative philology by the distribution of directions
tor collecting Indian vocabularies.

It has established an extended system of literary and scientific ex-
changes, both foreign and domestic, and annually transmits between the
most distant societies and individuals, hundreds of packages of valu-
able works. It has presented its own publications, free of expense, to
all the first-class libraries of the world, and thus rendered them acces-
sible, as far as possible, to all persons who are interested in their study.
No restriction of copyright has been placed on their republication ;
and the truths which they contain are daily finding their way to the
general public, through the labors of popular writers and teachers.
The distribution of its publications and its system of exchanges have
served not only to advance and diffuse knowledge, but also to increase
the reputation, and, consequently, the influence of our country ; to pro-
mote a kindly and sympathetic feeling between the New World and
Old—alike grateful to the philosopher and the philanthropist.

ae,
ae

a

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 995

s 7 . * e
These are the fruits of what is called the system of active operations

__of the Institution, and its power to produce other and continuous results

is only limited by the amount of the income which can be appropriated
to it, since each succeeding year has presented new and important
fields for its cultivation. All the anticipations indulged with regard to
it have been fully realized ; and, after an experience of six years, there
can now be no doubfof the true policy cf the Regents in regard to it.

I am well awaye, however, that the idea is entertained by some that
the system of active operations, though at present in a flourishing condi-
tion, cannot continue to be the prominent object of attention; and that
under another set of directors, other counsels will prevail and other
measures be adopted, and that what has been done in éstablishing this
system will ultimately be undone. It is true, there is cause of fear that
the policy in this respect may be chafiged ; for the system we are here
considering requires constant exertion, and is little suited to the tastes
and habits of these who seek place and position from mere personal
considerations. ‘There is cause to fear, also, from the experience of the
past, that the general expenses of a large building, the support of the
establishment necessarily connected with it, and the cost of collecting,
preserving, and exhibiting specimens of nature and art, will so increase
as to paralyze the spirit of activity. Furthermore, the proposition is
frequently urged upon the Regents, by persons who havegnot duly con-
sidered the will of Smithson, or who tail to appreciate the importance
of the present plan, that a large portion of the income should be
devoted to the diffusion of a knowledge of some popular branch of
practical art; and there may be some fear that a timid policy on
the part of the friends of the Institution will lead them to favor such
a plan.

To obviate these tendencies, it is the duty of the present Regents, if
they are convinced that the policy of active operations is the true one,
to endeavor to correct, as far as possible, the errors which may have
been committed in the beginning, and to give the Institution such an
impulse in the proper direction, that it cannot deviate from it without
immediately arresting the attention of the enlightened public, both at
home and abroad, who will not fail to demand, authoritatively, a suf-
ficient reason for the change.

A promise has been made to all persons in this country, engaged in
original researches, and who are capable of furnishing additions to the
sum of human knowledge, thafthe result of their labors shall continue
to be presented to the world through the Smithsonian publications.
The honor of the Institution is also pledged to the scientific and literary
societies from which it has receivéd exchanges, in this and other coun=
tries, that it will continue to send to them at least an annual volume of |
Contributions, of a character similar to those with which they have
already been presented. It is on this condition that the library has been
so richly favored, not only with the current volumes of Transactions,
but also, in many cases from the oldest societies, with full sets of all
the previous volumes of their series of publications. Besides this, the
libraries of all the colleges and literary and philosophical societies of
this country are supplied ‘- full sets of the Smithsonian Transactions ;

15

2296 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

a
and in this way a foretaste has been given of the fruit of the operations
which will tend, in some degree, to insure their continuance.

But if, notwithstanding all this, the Institution is destined to a
changeyof policy, what has been well done in the line we are advo-
cating never be undone. The new truths developed by the re-
searches originated by the Institution, and recggded in its publica-
tions; the effect of its exchanges with foreign’ countries; and the
results of the cataloguing system, can never be obliterated; they will
endure through all coming time. Should the government of the United
States be dissolved, and the Smithsonian fund dissipated to the winds,
the ‘‘ Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge” will still be found in
the principal libraries of the world, a perpetual monument of the wis-
dom and liberality of the founder of the Institution, and of the faith-
fulness of those who first directed ‘its affairs.

Whatever, therefore, may be the future condition of the Institution,
the true policy, for the present, is to devote its energies to the system
of active operations. All other objects should be subordinate to this,
and be in no wise suffered to diminish the good which it is capable of
producing. It should be prosecuted with discretion, but with vigor 3
the results will be its vindication.

It was stated in the last Report that the Institution had been the
contingent legatee of a considerable amount of property. During
the past year the facts with reference to this bequest have been inves-
tigated, and it appears that Mr. Wynn, of Brooklyn, N. Y., deceased,
left a legacy to his wife, and the greater part of his property, valued at
$75,000, to his daughter, a child six years old, with the condition that
at the death of this daughter without issue, the property should come to
the Smithsonian Institution. In making this bequest Mr. Wynn says,
in his will: ‘I know-no benevolent institution more useful and appro-
priate than the Smithsonian Institution at Washington.”

This circumstance is highly gratifying to the friends of the Institu-

tion, not because it offers a remote possibility of an increase of the
funds, but on account of the evidence it affords of the liberal views of
the deceased, and of his confidence in the proper management and im-
portance of the Smithsonian bequest. The will of Mr. Wynn induces
us to believe that the right administration of the Smithsonian fund will
cause similar examples of liberality on the part of wealthy individuals
of our country ; and in this point of viey the responsibility which rests
on those who have the direction of the affairs of this Institution is
greater than that with reference to the -good which the income itself:
may immediately accomplish. ) ;
») Though it is scarcely to be expected that many unconditional be-
Mcsis will be made, yet the example of Smithson may induce the
founding of other institutions which may serve to perpetuate other
names, and increase the blessings which may flow from such judicious
liberality. Man is‘a sympathetic being; and it is not impossible that
Smithson himself may have caught the first idea of his benevolent de-
sign from the example of our countryman, Count Rumford, the princi-
pal founder of the Royal Institution of London. ill ca

Bequests for special purposes, bearing thenames of the testators, are
not incongruous with the plan of this Inffttution. Lectureships on

: THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 997

particular subjects, annual reports on special branches of knowledge,
provision for certain lines of research, and libraries for, general use or
special reference, may be founded under the name of those who be-
stow the funds, and be placed under the direction of, and incorporated
with, the Smithsénian Institution. The charge, however, of such be-
quests ought not to hg accepted unless they are sufficient in themselves
to meet the expegses of the object contemplated by them, and would
not incumber ormpede the legitimate operations of the Institution.
For example: were a library of a hundred thousand volumes offered, it °
would be unwise to accept it were it not accompanied by the funds
necessary to the erection uf a building and to the proper support of the
collection. .

In July, 1850, a new system of accounts was introduced, which has
been continued to the present time. According to this system, every
payment is made by an order of the Secretary on the Treasurer, who,
in turn, gives his check on Messrs. Corcoran & Riggs, with whom the
semi-annual interest and the other income of the Institution are de-
posited. As often as once a quarter all the bills are examined and re-
ferred to their appropriate classes, in presence of all the officers of the
Institution. After the accounts are posted, they are referred to the
Executive Committee for final examinatien.

By a reference to the report of the Executive Committee, it will be
seen that the funds are in a good condition, and that, although durifig
the past year $14,047 has been paid on the building, there is still on
hand, after all the expenditures for publications and other purposes,
besides the original bequest, upwards of $200,000 of accrued interest.
It is to be regretted that Congress has net yet acted on the petition re-
questing the perpetual fending of $150,000 of the last-mentioned sum.
lt is highly important that this money should be permanently invested
as a part of the principal, so that it can reitheryge lost nor expended.
There are ne other means of effectually accomplishing this result, ex-
cept by tunding it in the Treasury of the United States. The propo-
sition should be pressed upon Congress, though there may be, at present,
mo very certain prospect of success; for, if the petition be refused, and
the money be afterwards lost by improper investment or injudicious
expenditure, the responsibility would, in part, rest with the govern-
ment.

The charge ef this fund, agd of all the disbursements, is attended
with much solicitade. It goes a degree of responsibility which, to
a person unaccustomed to large financial transactions, is very onerous.
I beg leave, however, in this place to mention the obligation which the
Institution is under to W. W. Corcoran, esq., for the aid which he has,
in all cases, afforded in the management ef the funds, and the judicious
advice which he has always given relative to their investment.

From the repert of the Building Committee it appears that the con-
tract fer finishing the interior of the wings and ranges, and the rooms
of the towers, has been completed. The whole interior of the main
building, comprising a rectangular space of two hundred feet long,
fifty wide, and about sixty high, remains to he finished with fire-proof
materials. It is proposed to divide this space inte two stories and a

228 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF
basement; these stories to be devoted to the library, the’museum, and
a large and convenient lecture-room. , .

The business of the Institution would be much facilitated were this
part of the building completed. Since Congress has authorized the
establishment of a library and museum, it will be well to place all the
objects of interest to the public in the main building, and make this
exclusively the show part of the establishment, devoting the wings and
ranges, and rooms of the towers, to the business “ae ces: and other
purposes of the Institution. In the present condition of affairs there is
no part of the edifice to which the public has not access, and, conse-
quently, business has to be transacted amidst constant interruptions.
The loss of time and effective life to which all are exposed who oceupy
a position of notoriety im the city of Washington, is truly lamentable ;
and where this is increased by facility of access to gratify mere curi-
osity, the evil becomes scarcely endurable. Progress in business, under
such circumstances, can only be made by an encroachment on the
hours usually allotted to rest, and that, too, at the expense of wasted
energies and shortened days.

Publications. &

During the gast year the following memoirs, described in the previ-
ou Reports, have been collected into volumes and distributed to public
institutions in this country and abroad: .

1. Observations on Terrestrial Magnetism.

2. Researches on Electrical Rheometry.

3. Contributions to the Natural History of the Fresh-water Fishes of
North America.

4, First part of the Marine Algz of the coast of the United States.

5. Plantes Wrightigne Texano-Neo-Mexicane, Part I.

6. Law of Deposité of the Flood Tide, its dynamical action and
office. : oi

7. Description of Ancient Works in Ohio.

8. Occultations visible in the United States during the year 1852.

9. A Grammar and Dictionary of the Dakota language.

The memoir last mentioned occupies an entire volume, the fourth of
the Smithsonian series of Contributions. The other memoirs are con-
tained in the third yolume of the same series.

“The remaining memoirs, described iy last Report, are still in the
press, the printing of them having been delayed by the exhaustion of
the appropriation for the year, and by several necessary corrections. A
sufficient number of papers will, however, be printed in the course of
a few months, with the new appropriation, 1o complete the fifth volume
of Contributions ; and if the means prove sufficient, we can readily
issue the sixth volume during the present year.

The result of the plan of publication has fully realized the anticipa-
tions which were entertained of its usefulness. It supplies the food
it feeds upon. The appearance in the Contributions of a memoir
on any subject immediately directs attention to that subject, and induces
other laborers to engage in the same field of exploration. This is par-.
ticularly manifest in the interest awakened with regard to the antiqui-

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 229

ties of our country, and to the language of the Indian tribes, by the
publications of the Institution on these subjects.

The following is an account of the memoirs received since the date
of the last a a
1. Contributions to the History of the Marine Algze of North Ameri-
ca: By Dr. W. H. Harvey: Part IL.

In the Report for 1850, an account was given of the acceptance for
publication of aneextended and expensive memoir of the Marine Algz
of the eastern and southern cdasts of the United States, by Professor
Harvey, of the University of Dublin. ~The first part of this memoir .
was published last spring, and has found much favor with th®*botanical
world, as well as with the inhabitants and visitors 6f our sea-board.
The second part of the same memoir is now printed, and will be ready
for distribution in the course of a few weeks. It is illustrated by twen-
ty-four plates, and comprises 240 pages of printed matter.

The common name of the class of plants which forms the subject of
this memoir, viz : sea-weeds, has subjected the Institution to the charge
of expending its funds on trifling and unworthy objects; and as the
same objection may be made to many of the papers forming the series
of Smithsonian Contributions, a few words in vindication of researches
of this character may not be inappropriate.

Nothing in the whole system of nature is isolated or unimportant.
The fall of a leaf and the motion of a planet are governed by the sale
laws. The structure of a lichen and the formation of an oak are equally
the result of definite plans. It is in the study of objects, considered
trivial and unworthy of notice by the casual observer, that genius finds
the most important and interesting phenomena. It was in the investi-
gation of the varying colors of the soap-bubble that Newton detected
the remarkable fact of the fits of easy reflection and easy refraction
presented by a ray of light in its passage through space, and upon
which he established the fundamental principle of the present gen-
se of the undulatory theory of light. Smithson himself, the
founder of this Institution, considered the analysis of a tear as nowise
unworthy of his peculiar chemical skill; and well might he so con-
sider it; for the knowledge of the composition of every secretion of the
body is of importance, in a physiological point of view, as well as in
the preservation of health and the cure of disease. The study of the
cause of the spasmodic muscular contraction of a frog, when brought
into contact with two pieces of metal, revealed to Galvani the first facts
of the branch of science which now bears his name. The microscopic
organization of animals and plants is replete with the highest instruction ;
and, surely, in the language of one of the fathers of modern physical
science, “ nothing can be unworthy of being investigated by man which
was thought worthy of being created by Gop.”

These remarks are particularly applicable to the study of the lower
classes of the organic creation. Nature everywhere exhibits economy
of means in attaining the most complex and diversified ends. Every
result is produced in the simplest manner when viewed in relation to
the whole design. #AlF parts of organized beings, whether plants or
animals, are formed of a few elementary structures, variously trans-

230 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

formed and combined. To obtain a knowledge of the plan and process
of organization, we must begin with the most simple combinations,
precisely as we would do in the study of mathematical analyses, im
which the student commences with the least complicated formule,
and gradually proceeds to those of a more involved chaMcter. It is
for this reason that the study of the alge, or sea-weeds, is of special
interest to the physiologist. The framework of every vegetable is
built up of cells or little membranous sacks. All vegetable structures,
whether wood, bark, or leaves, are forméd of aggregations of these cells,
_ differently moulded and united. As we pass along the series of organ-
-ized fori we may descend from those of a higher to these of a lower
complexity, until; in the class of algze, we arrive at plants of which the
whole body is composed of a few cells strung together; and finally at
others, the simplest of organized bodies, whose entire framework is a
single cell... Now, it is only by a critical study of these rudimentary
forms, and by tracingthem into their complex combinations, that man
can ever hope to’ arfive at a knowledge of the laws of organization.
We might speak of the importance of a knowledge of the algee in their
application to agriculture and the chemical arts; but what we have
here stated will be a sufficient reason for their study, independent of
all minor considerations.

2. The next memoir, consists of an account of a series of researches
ifthe comparative anatomy of the frog, by Dr. Jefiries Wyman, of
Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The whole animal kingdom may in one sense be considered as the
different development of four separate plans of organization, giving
rise to four different classes of animals, viz: the Radiata, the Articulata,
Mollusca, and Vertebrata. Whatever discovery is made with regard
to the organization of any of the species belonging to any one of these
classes, tends to throw light on the organization of the whole class ;
and it is only by the careful study of all the different animals of a
class, and a comparison of their analogous parts, that we can arrivggat
a knowledge of the general laws which control the development of 4.
whole. Thus the study of human anatomy is the basis of the inves-
tigation of the anatomy of all animals jwith a back-bone; and con-
versely, the anatomy of any animal of this class tends to throw light on
that of man. pn

Dr. Wyman’s paper gives an account of a series of elaborate inves-
tigations of the neryous system of a very common, but, in a physiolo-
gical point of view, highly interesting animal.

The following are the several points of the memoir :

(1.) An anatomical description of the more important parts of the
nervous system.

(2.) Comparisons between them and the corresponding organs of
other animals, both higher and lower in the scale.

’ (3.) The metamorphoses which they undergo, especially the spinal
chord and some of the cranial nerves, showing the existence of a more
complete analogy between the immature condition of Batrachian rep-
tiles and the class of fishes, than has hitherto beei#moticed. .

(4.) An application of the facts observed in connexion with the cranial
nerves to the philosophical anatomy of the nervous system, showing

a

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 231

what is believed to be the true nature of the special sense nerves, as
contrasted with other cranial or the true spinal nerves, and the con-
formity of the other cranial nerves to the common spinal type. |

3. The next communication has the following title: ‘« Plantes Wrighti-
ane Texano-Neo-Mexicane, Part 1: By Dr. Asa Gray, Professor of
Botany in Harvard University.”

It has been stated in two of the preceding reports that a small
appropriation was made for botanical explorations in Texas and New
Mexico, and that the results had been placed in the hands of Dr. Gray
for scientific investigation. The first memoir on this subject was. de-
scribed in the last report. Jt has been printed, and copies distributed
to all the working botanists in this country and Europe. It also forms a
part of the third volume of the ‘‘ Smithsonian Contributions.”

The object of the present memoir is to give a scientific account of
the collections made by Mr. Wright, under the direction of Col. J. D.
Graham, U.S. Topographical Engineers, and Major W. H. Emory, of
the Boundary. Commission, in New Mexico and in Eastern Texas,
during the sammer and autum of 1851, and the spring and early part
of the summer of 1852.

The description of the plants from this region was previously carried
as far as the order Composite. In the present paper Dr. Gray gives a
similar account of the recent collections up to the same point, and re-
serves the other portions of these collections made by Mr. Wright, with
the remainder of the undescribed plants of Fendler and Lindheimer,
to be described in a general memoir. One portion of the collection
was made from July to November, from El Paso to the Copper Mines
of Santa Rita del Cobre, in the southwestern part of New Mexico;
and thence into the northern part of the Mexican State of Sonora, as far
as Santa Cruz, returning to the Copper Mines by way of Guadalupe
Pass, and thence back to El Paso. The plants obtained during this
tour are of exceeding interest, and comprise a larger portion of new
species than any other collection that has fallen into Dr. Gray’s hands.
Another portion was obtained in the vicinity of El Paso and the rancho
of Frontera, and down the Rio Grande tor sixty or seventy miles;
also, up the valley of the river as far as Camp Fillmore, and thence
into the Organ mountains, which bound the valley on the east.
Another collection was made in a hasty excursion to Lake St. Marie
and Lake Guztman, in Chihuahua. These several collections afford
many novelties, no botanist having previously explored this region at
the same season of the year.

It is expected that a full account of the topography and productions
of this country will be given in the reports of Colonel Graham and
Major Emory. VRS

The interest which attaches to the results of explorations of this
kind is not confined to the botanist, but extends to the physical geo-
grapher and the political economist. An accurate description of the
botany of a region is a sure guide to a knowledge of its power of pro-
ducing and sustaining vegetable and animal life, and consequently of
its value in a commercial and political point of view. _ | i

4, Dr. Leidy, of Philadelphia, has presented a memoir on the extinet
species of the ox of America. In this paper he indicates the former

232 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF
existence of four species of the ox, which were probably contempora-
neous with the Mastodon and the Megalonyz. Fossil remains of these
animals have been frequently found in the United States, and descrip-
tions of them are scattered through various works; but no approach
has before been made to a correct view of the number and character
of the species. The present existing species of ox are found indige-
nous in every part of the world except South America and Australia;
and this is the more remarkable, because the domestic ox introduced
into the former country by Europeans exists in immense herds on the
pampas ina wild state. There is a similar fact with regard to the
horse. America, at the period of its discovery, possessed no indigenous
quadruped of this kind, though the climate is highly favorable to its ex-
istence, and the remains of two extinct species are frequently found.
Two of the species of ox deseribed by Dr. Leidy belong to the genus
Bison, and one of these is of gigantic size. The other two species be-
long to a new genus called Bootheriwm. 7 :

5. Another memoir presented by the same author forms an interesting -
addition to our knowledge of the extinct gigantic sloth tribe of North
America. It comprises a description of remains of the Megalonyz,
Mylodon, Megathervum, and of a new genus called Evriptodon.

The scientific world is indebted -tor the first account of the remains
of a large extinct quadruped of the sloth tribe to President Jefferson.
Fragments of the bones of this animal were found in a saltpetre cave in
Greenbrier county, Virginia. They were regarded with little or no
interest by the persons who first observed them, and, as they encum-
bered the saltpetre bed, would probably have been thrown out and
suffered to decay, had not the news of their existence reached the
ears of the distinguished individual before mentioned. Though de-
voted to politics, he was too much of a philosopher not to see in these
mouldering fragments of a skeleton objects of high interest connected
with the past history of our globe. He described them ina memoir
published in the Transactions of the American Philosophical Society at
Philadelphia .1797, and gave to the animal to which they belong the
name of Megalonyzx, or the great claw. The materials ia his possession,
however, were too scanty to allow of his determining the true character
of the quadruped. Dr. Wistar, of Philadelphia, suspected the animal
to have been a gigantic sloth; and this opimion was confirmed by
Cuvier, from the ample materials for comparison at his command.
The original bones described by Jefferson are preserved in the
collection of the Philosophical Society; but, besides these, Dr. Leidy
had access to specimens of the remains of the same animal, found in
different parts of the United States. From the study of these he has
been enabled to throw much additional light upon the characters of
the Megalonyz. He considers that the only remains of this animal yet
known are those found in the United States, and satisfactorily proves .
that the lower jaw of an extinct quadruped discovered by Dr.’ Darwin
in South America, and referred by naturalists to the Megalonyx of Jef-
ferson, does not belong to an animal of the same genus. |

The remains of the Mylodon, or gigantic sloth, were first discovered
by Darwin in his researches in the southern part of South America.
Remains of another species found in North America were described

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 233

by Dr. Harlan, but were erroneously referred to the Megalonyx: Dr.~

Leidy, in his memoir, describes the collection of the remains of this
animal belonging to the New York Lyceum.

The Megatherium, which is the largest of all the extinct sloth tribe,
when full grown, was more than fourteen feet long, including the tail,
and eight feet high. It was first discovered in South America, but
has since been found in Georgia; and it was from this locality, the
only one in the United States yet known, that the remains described by
Dr. Leidy were obtained. ‘ , |

The fourth and new genus of American sloths, called the Eriptodon
by the author, is established upon a peculiar form of teeth which
belonged to an animal of about the size of the Megulonyx, the bones of
which were also found in Georgia.

Dr. Hays, one of the commission to which this memoir was sub-
mitted, remarks in his report, that ‘‘the author has not only made
valuable additions to our knowledge of an interesting tribe of animals,
but has also collected and arranged the facts previously known so ag
to throw new light on the subject, and to render his memoir an im-
portant starting point for future investigators.”

Grammar of the Choctaw language.

The publication of the volume on the Dakota language described in
the last Report, has called forth another important memoir on compara-
tive philology, namely, a Grammar of the Choctaw language, by the
Rev. Harvey Byington, for thirty years a missionary among the In-
dians. .

It was referred for examination to Professor Felton, of Cambridge,
and to Professor Gibbs, of Yale College, both of whom pronounced it
an important addition to ethnology, and warmly recommended its
publication. 'The work was afterwards placed in the hands of Pro-
fessor W. W. Turner, formerly professor of Hebrew in the New York
Theological Seminary, now librarian of the United States Patent Office.
Previous to sending it to the press, the author, after nutherous inter-
views with Professor Turner, concluded that this memoir was succep-
tible of so much improvement by a further study of the language, that
he asked leave to withdraw it for a time. This request was of course
granted, and Mr. Byington has returned to his missionary labors, and
will again present the work after it has received the desired improve-
ments.

Reports and other minor publications.

Since the date of the last Report to the Regents, the following articles

have been printed and partially distributed:
1. Directions for making Collections in Natural History. This is a
pamphlet of twenty-four pages, by Professor Baird, and is much called

_ for by the correspondents of the Institution.
2. A work by Professor Jewett, containing an exposition of the sys-
tem adopted by the Smithsonian Institution for constructing catalogues
of libraries, by means of separate stereotype titles, with rules for the

234 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

guidance of librarians, and examples for illustration. This work is
comprised in seventy-eight pages, and though not large, it has been
produced at the expense “of much time and labor.

3. A second emission of the Report on the Recent Improvements in
ihe Chemical Arts has been printed and in partdistributed. ‘This work

stereotyped, and therefore copies can be supplied at any time, at a
finan atively small cost.

4. A description of the Portraits of the North American Indians in
the gallery of the Smjthsonian Institution, by the painter of the portraits,
J. M. Stanley, esq. This is a pamphlet of seventy-six pages, and con-

tains brief sketches of the characters and incidents m the ‘history of

forty-three different tribes of Indians.

5. The first part of the collection of tables to facilitate roeraane aie
and other calculations, by Professor Guyot: this was mentioned in the
last Report, and has been stereotyped and distributed. It is a very
acceptable present to the meteorological observers of the Institution,
and other persons engaged. in scientific investigations.

Several reports on ‘different subjects are in progress of preparation ;
but the appropriation for this part of the programme of operations is at
present so small, that the completion of them has not been urged upon
the authors. The first part of the report on forest trees, by Dr. Gr ay,
of Cambridge, will be ready for the press be latter pas of the present
or beginning of the next year.

Distribution of publications and exchanges.
Copies of the Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge are sent to

all the first-class libraries and literary and scientific societies of the
world, and in return the Institution receives an equivalent in Transac-

tions and other publications... After the printing of the first volume of

Contributions was completed,a copy of it and of the programme of ors
ganization were sent to the principal foreign literary and scientific insti-
tutions, with the request that they would exchange publications, on the
condition that a volume of equalimportance should be presented to them
annually. At first the number of responses to this proposition was
small; but since the character of the Institution has become known and
appreciated, the works received in exchange have rapidly increased in
number and importance. 'The whole number of articles received during
1852 is four thousand seven hundred and forty-four, which is more
than three times that of all the previous years. ‘The publications re-
ceived in many cases consist of entire sets of ‘Transactions, the earlier
volumes of which are out of print, and cannot be purchased. They
are of use in carrying on the various investigations of the Institution,
and of value to the country as works of reference. They ought not to
be considered as donations to the library, but as the products of the active
operations, which the Institution is at liberty to dispose of in the man-
ner best suited to further its designs. ‘The principal object, however,
of the distribution of the Smithsonian volumes, is not to procure a large
library in exchange, but to diffuse among men a knowledge of the new
truths discovered ‘by the agency of the Smithsonian fund. 'The worth
and importance of the Institution is not to be estimated by what it accu-

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 235

mulates within the walls of its building, but. by what it sends forth to

_the world. Its great mission is to facilitate the use of all the implements
of research, and to diffuse the knowledge which this use may develop.
The Smithsonian publications are sent to some institutions abroad, and
to the great majortty of those at home, without any return except, in
some cases, that of co-operation in meteorological and other observa-
tions. Applications for these publications have now become so numer-
ous, that the edition printed will supply but a part of the demand, and
it becomes a difficult matter to select the places which will best sub-
serve the purpose of rendering them accessible to the greatest number
of persons who would be benefited by their perusal.

In connexion with the distribution of its own publications, the Insti-
tution has adopted an arrangement to establish and promote a more
general exchange of literary and scientific productions between this
and other countries. For this purpose it receives packages from soci-
eties and individuals in the different parts of the United States, and
transmits them to England or the continent, and through its agents dis-
tributes them to the parties for whom they are intended. It also re-
ceives the articles sent in return, and forwards them to those to whom
they are addressed. To facilitate this operation, the packages to the
Institution are addressed to the collector of customs in New York, and
by him, on the certificate of the secretary, admitted free of duty, and
without the delay of an examination.

In carrying out this plan, the Institution is much indebted to the
liberal course adopted by the government of Great Britain, and to the
ready co-operation of the Royal Society of London. Ali packages in-
tended for Great Britain, for some parts of the continent, and_ the

East Indies, are directed to the care of the Royal Society, and on the
certificate of its president, are, by a special order of the government,
admitted duty free, and’ without the delay and risk of inspection, The
epackages are afterwards distributed by the agent of the Institution, or
by those of the Society.

This system of exchange does not stop here. The Royal Society
has adopted the same plan with reference to Great Britain and all
other parts of the world; and the Smithsonian Institution, in turn, be-
comes an agent in receiving and distributing all packages which the
Society desires to send to this country. A general system of interna-
tional communication, first started by this Institution for the distribu-
tion of its own publications; has thus been established, which will tend
to render the results of the labors of each country in the line of litera-
ture and science common to all, and to produce a community of interest
and of relations of the highest importance to the advancement of know- °
ledge, and of kindly feeling “‘ among men.”

The results of the operations of the system-of foreign exchanges
during the year 1852 are exceedingly gratifying. The whole number
of packages sent out, including the Smithsonian publications, is 572,
containing 9,195 articles, and weighing 9,855 pounds. There have
been received, in addition to the 4,745 articles for this Institution, 637
packages, containing an unknown number of volumes, for other insti-
tutions in this country. \ The details of the business of the exchanges
are entrusted to Professor Baird; and I would refer, for a. particular

236 ‘EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

statement of all the facts connected with it, to his report, herewith
submitted. Tent

The planet Neptune.

It has been mentioned in the last annual reports that Mr. 8. C.
Walker, of the U.S. Coast Survey, prepared, at the expense of the
Smithsonian Institution,.a memoir containing an exposition of the ele-
ments of the true orbit of the planet Neptune, and that from this orbit,
and the mathematical investigation of Professor Pierce, of Cambridge,
an ephemeris of Neptune had been deduced, which has been accepted
by all the astronomers of the world as the only certain guide to the
position of the planet. This ephemeris was prepared for 1848 and
1849, at the expense of the Institution; but since the last-mentioned
date it has been calculated at the expense of the appropriation for the
Nautical Almanac, while the cost of printing and distribution has been
defrayed by the Institution. The same arrangement will continue for
the ephemeris of 1853 and 1854, after which the whole will be trans-
ferred to the Nautical Almanac.

A — Occultations.

‘The moon, in her passage eastward around the earth, continually
passes between us and the fixed stars or planets which lie in her path,
and obscures them from our view. ‘The instant of the disappearance
of a star behind the moon, or the occultation of a star, as the phenome-
non is called, can be noted by observers widely separated from each
other, and hence this phenomenon becomes a ready means of deter-
mining the difference of longitude between two places. The employ-
ment of occultations for fixing geographical positions is easy, and leads
to accuracy in the results. The telescope may be of moderate size,»

and requires no accurate adjustment; the position assigned it may be -

such as to suit the convenience of the observer. The trequent occur-
rence of occultations renders the use of them of great importance to the’
travelling observer; and the publication of lists of these, and of tables
for their reduction, is essential 10 the improvement of geography. They
are of particular value in this country, on account of the frequent ex-
ploring and surveying expeditions now carried on by our government
and our people, and to be continued for an’indefinite time in the exten-
sive territory of the West, and the newly-acquired possessions of the
Southwest. Tables of occultations for 1849 and 1850 were prepared
and published at the expense of this Institution; but for subsequent
years the expense of their preparation has been defrayed by the appro-
priation for the Nautical Almanac, under the direction of Lieutenant
Davis, while the composition and press-work are still at the expense
of the Institution. As soon as the Nautical Almanac is fully commenced,
the publication of these tables will be entirely relinquished to this en-
terprise of the government.

Up to 1850 the tables published were of occultations visible in the
United States. Since, however, the preparation of the tables has been
in charge of the director of the Nautical Almanac, the list has been so

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 237

extended as to make it useful to geographers in general as well as to
those of the United States. This extension was rendered important on
account of the surveys undertaken by our government in other parts
of the globe. Also, a table has been added, giving the correction of
the latitude due to the oblate spheroidal figure of the earth.

When we consider the character and condition of the vast continent
of North America, which it belongs to us chiefly to reduce to a habit-
able o-oo state, we shall perceive that the practical. scientific
explorer"has no higher duty than to settle the geography, the magnet-
ism, the natural history, and the climate, of these regions.

Researches.

At the session of the Regents in 1849, an appropriation was made
to supply Lieutenant Gilliss with a telescope for his expedition to
Chili, to aid him in his observations for a new determination of the
distance of the inferior planets, and, consequently, of the actual
distances of the’ several members of the solar system. A subsequent
appropriation was made for the purchase of an astronomical clock tor
the same purpose. ‘The first appropriation was repaid to the Institu-
tion by a grant from Congress to cover the expenses of the expedition,
and the second will also be reimbursed by the purchase of the clock
and all the other instruments by the Chilian government, for the per-
manent establishment of an observatory in that country. .

By these operations, the Institution has been the means of rendering
essential aid to science, without in the end diminishing the amount
of its income. Lieutenant Gilliss, after voluntarily exiling himself from
his family and his country for four years, has returned with a rich har-
vest of materials in astronomy, meteorology, magnetism, and natural

history, in the reduction, generalization, and description of which the

Institution may also furnish important aid.

The sum of one hundred and fifty dollars has been advanced to
Professor C. B. Adams, of Amherst Qollege, to defray in part the expense
of an exploration of the molluscs of the West Indies. This subject is
intimately connected with the geological changes which have taken
place on the surface of our globe; and it was with particular refer-
ence to this point that Professor Adams undertook these researches.
This is his second expedition to the same regions ; and in both instances
the Smithsonian Institution has seconded his proposition, and warmly
recommended it to the favorable consideration of the trustees of Am-
herst College. A small sum appropriated in this way, though not
enough in itself to produce much effect, is still sufficient to complete the
amount to be raised, and thus serve to determine the commencement
of the enterprise.

Meteorology.
> " é ; ‘
The general system of observations relative to the meteorology of
the continent of North America, described in the previous Reports, has

- been continued and extended. It consists at present of the tollowing

classes, viz:

a Y

838 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

i. The Smithsonian system proper, made up of voluntary observers
in different parts of the United States, who report immediately to the
Institution.

2. The system of observations of the University of the State of New
York, re-established under the direction of this Institution, and sup-
ported by the State of New York.

3. The system of observations est tablished under the direction of this
Institution, by the State of Massachusetts. es.

4, The extended system of observations made at. the several'military
posts of the United States, under the direction of the Surgeon General
of the army.

5. Separate series of observations by exploring and surveying par-
ties, in some cases directed, and in part furnished an instruments, by
this Institution.

6. Meteorological records from British America, consisting of obser-
vations made at the various posts of the Hudson’s Bay Company, and
at the residence of private individuals in Canada.

In the first three of these classes there are about two hundred ob-
servers distributed over the entire continent. In the older States they
are very thickly distributed, and they are entirely wanting in none.
Texas, ‘Ar kansas, the Indian ‘Territory, Missouri, lowa, and Mineeseia:
have each competent and reliable observers reporting directly to the
Smithsonian Institution, in addition to those at the military posts which
are in the same regions.

Further westward, and more widely separated, the observers at the
military posts, and those of surveying and exploring parties, continue
the connexion of the system to the Pacific coast, where the number of
military posts is greater, and private observers are’again found.

The New York system embraces twenty-five academies as stations,
all furnished with new and reliable instruments at the Soe of the
State.

In Massachusetts twelve stations are furnished in like manner, of
which eight have reported. ne

In 1852 ninety-seven military posts reported meteorological observa-
tions, and for 1853 the number will be greater rather fen less.

The whole number of stations and observers available in making the
deductions for 1852 was three hundred and fifty; and this number;
either reporting directly to the Institution or furnishing their observa-
tions for its use, may be relied upon for the current year.

Besides the observations derived from this general system, a large
collection has been procured from individuals in different parts of the
country, who have kept records of the weather, in some cases for
many years. This collection was obtained by issuing a circular from
the Institution, requesting copies of any records which might have
been kept relative to the climate of this country. ‘The amount of in-
formation received in answer to this circular was far greater than was
expected, and much more valuable matter was thus called forth than
was previously known to exist.

In order that the materials procured from the niorenientond sources:
may be rendered available for scientific or practical purposes, it is
necessary that they should be reduced, discussed, and arranged. for

7

M4

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. _ 289
publication. This work was commenced at the close of 1851, and
has been proseeuted with considerable vigor during the past year. It
was given by me in charge to Mr. Lorin Blodget, of Western New
York, who has engaged in the work with much ardor, has devoted to
it his whole time and attention, and has evinced an,unasual degree of
talent for investigations of this character.

The results which have thus far been obtained are of interest to the
Science of meteorology, and valuable to the practical arts of life. The

_ following is a descriptive list of the deductions presented in‘a tabular

form:
Temperature Tables.

1.:Tables of general mean temperature for a series of years, em-
bracing a summary of the annual means for the years 1849,
1850, 1851, and 1852, with a general summary of reliable obser-
vations of mean temperature on the North American continent.

2. ‘Tables of mean temperature for each month, season, and year, for
1849, 1850, 1851, and 1852, embracing 273 stations in 1849; 284
in 1850; 300in 18513; and 396 in 1852. :

3. Tables of mean’ temperature at each observed hour for the same
periods and the same stations.

4. Tables of the monthly extremes of temperature, with the range
above and below the monthly mean, for the same periods and the
same stations.

5. Collection of tables of temperature at different stations, observed
for a series of years.

6. Miscellaneous tables of temperature, not conforming entirely to either
of the above divisions.

The first class of tables embraces six hundred and seventy stations,
distributed over the entire continent, from the West Indies and Mexico
to the Polar seas.

The second class has a more limited range, and is generally confined
to the United States and its territorjes, as observed by the military sys-
tem, and that of the Smithsonian Institution, with a few stations in
Canada and the British possessions on this continent.

The third class of tables is nearly the same in extent with the pre-
ceding, and for three complete years, viz: 1850, 1851, and 1852.

The fourth class is of the same extent and time.

The fifth is a climatic arrangement of tables from various stations
extending in continuous series over periods varying from five to sixty
years.

Tables of Precipitation.

1. Tables of distribution of precipitation in rain and melted snow for
each month, season, and year, for 1849, 1850, 1851, and 1852.

2. General tables of precipitaticn for a series of years, containing the
results of the preceding tables, with a general summary of all

reliable and accessible observation of fall of rain on the North |

American continent. These tables-give results from about four
hundred stations, principally in the United States, its Territories,
and the West Indies. qe)

240 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

3. fice tables and single series, extending over long periods, and
where reliable observations have been made.

A series of charts has been constructed to exhibit the’ distribution of
temperature on the North American continent, by isothermal lines; and
also another series, illustrative of the distribution of precipitation for

each month, season, and year of 1850, 1851, and 1852, and for the
periods given in the general tables. It is proposed to present these
results to Congress as a part of the Annual Report of the Regents, and
as the first fruit of the labors of the Smithsonian Institution on the sub-
ject of meteorology.

ee
=~

Catalogue of Libraries.

In addition to the preparation of the work previously mentioned, Pro-
fessor Jewett has continued his experiments on the new process of stereo-
typing, to be used in his system of cataloguing. Much difficulty and
delay a been experienced in the prosecution for these experiments, on
account of the want of workmen to construct the peculiar apparatus
required. The services of aningenious and skilful artisan have, however,
been secured; and the process is now brought to such a state that it
can be applied with certainty, and abridement of labor, to produce the
best specimens of typography.

The system of catalogues described in previous Repos though future
experience may su ogest other improvements, is now apparently perfect
in all its details. A stereotyping office has been established in the
basement of the west wing of the Smithsonian building, and the Insti-
tution is ready to commence the formation of a seneral catalogue of
the principal libraries of the United States. The ‘commission to which
the catalogue system was referred, recommended that measures be
taken to procure the preparation and printing of the catalogue of the
Library of Congress. The cost of the first collection of ‘stereotype
titles can be best borne by this library, and it will be the first to reap
“the benefit of this invention. The stereotype blocks of the titles can
be preserved in the Institution, and a new catalogue annually fur-
nished at a small expense, with all the additions ieertcd a in their proper
places. The same titles will be employed in printing the catalogues of
other libraries, and the new ttles which may be prepared for these
will, in turn, be used for the Library of Congress.

I beg leave to commend this subject to the immediate consideration
of the Board of Regents. The whole plan is in perfect harmony with
the active operations, and has always received my cordial commenda-
tion. ‘The Institution has incurred the expense of reducing it to prac-
tice, so far as it depends on mechanical arrangements; and it now only
requires to be applied, to realize all the benefits which have been anti-
cipated in regard to it, to do honor to the Institution and to confer de-
served reputation on its author.*

*Nore.—Since this report was presented to the Board of Regents, Congress has appro-
piiatedthree thousand dollars to commence the catalogue of its library on the stereotype
plan, under the direction of the Smithsonian Institution,

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. . 241
Labrary.

Daring the last year the library has received important additions
from the books presented in exchange for the volumes of the Smithso-
nian Contributions and other publications. The whole value of the
works thus received during the year, according to the estimate of Pro-
fessor Baird, is not less than from four to five thousand dollars. From
this source alone a highly interesting and valuable collection of books,
pertaining to all branches of positive knowledge, will, in time, be ob-
tained. The reputation which the publications of the Institution have
given it abroad, has induced individuals to present a number of valua-
ble works to the library. For an account of the whole, I must refer to
the report of Professor Jewett, herewith submitted. The library has
also been increased by the purchase of such books as were required in
the operations of the Institution, and with a series of scientific and
other periodicals.

- The copyright law is still in existence, and the library has received,
during the past year, the usual number of articles from this source.
The remark, however, may again be made with truth, that the action
of this law, as it now exists, imposes a burden on the: Institution from
which it should be relieved.

According to the report of Professor Jewett, the whole number of
articles now in the library is twenty-one thousand seven hundred.

Museum of Natural History.

The additions to the collection in natural history, under the perse-
vering efforts of Professor Baird, have increased in a compound ratio
over those of previous years. Large additions will also be made by
the exploring expeditions which are about to leave for the different
parts of this continent and distant seas; but the expense of preparing
and transporting these, it is hoped, will be defrayed by the general
government. For a detailed account of the number and variety of the
specimens collected, I must refer to Professor Baird’s report accompa-
nying this communication.

Gallery of Art.

Besides a library, a museum, and lectures, the act of Congress estab-
lishing the Smithsonian Institution directed the formation of a gallery
of art. 'The only articles belonging to the Institution which have been
yet collected in accordance with the last-mentioned regulation of Con-
gress, are the valuable series of engravings by the old masters, de-
scribed in a previous report. One of the original propositions of the
programme is that of encouraging art, by providing a suitable room for
the exhibition of pictures free of expense to the artist. In accordance
with this, the large room in the west wing will be devoted to this pur-
pose. It now contains a very interesting series of portraits, mostly
full-size, of one hundred and fifty-two North American Indians, with
sketches of the scenery of the country they inhabit, deposited by the
artist who painted them, Mr. J. M. Stanley. These portraits were all

16

949 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

taken from life, and are accurate representations of the peculiar fea-
tures of prominent individuals ot forty-three different tribes, inhabiting
the southwestern prairies, New Mexico, California, and Oregon. The
faithfulness of the likenesses has been attested by a number of intelli-
gent persons who have visited the gallery, and have immediately re-
cognised among the portraits those of the individuals with whom they
have been personally acquainted. ‘The artist expended in the work of
obtaining these pictures ten years of his life, and perseveringly devoted
himself to his task in the face of difficulties and dangers which enthu-
siasm in the pursuit could alone enable him to encounter. The Institu-
tion has published a descriptive catalogue of these portraits, which are
of interest to the ethnologist as representatives ot the peculiar physiog-
nomy, as well as of many ot the customs, of the natives of this continent.

Lectures of the Institution.

Public lectures have become one of the characteristics of the day,
and next to the press perhaps tend, more than any other means of dif-
fusing knowledge, to impress the public mind. The liberal price paid
by the Lowell Institute, and some of the associations in our large cities,
induces men of reputation to devote themselves to the preparation of
popular lectures. In some parts of the country a number of adjacent
cities or villages enter into an arrangement by which the same lecture
may. be repeated, in succession, at each place; and in this way the
amount paid becomes sufficient to call forth the best talent. A plan ot
this kind has been adopted by the Athenzeum of Richmond, Virginia,
with reference to the lectures before the Smithsonian Institution, the
effect of which has been mutually beneficial. Popular lectures appear
better adapted to present literary and historical facts, and to give
information relative to subjects of art and of morals, than to impart a
knowledge of scientific principles. ‘These require more attention and
continuous thought than can be generally expected from a promiscuous
audience. Hence the scientific lecturer frequently aims at a brilliant
display of experiments, rather than to impress the mind with general
principles.

Local lectures are too limited in their influence to meet a proper.
interpretation of the will of Smithson; yet they were ordered by Con-
ogress, and are calculated to do more good in this city than in any other
part of the Union.

In selecting lecturers, the consideration of mere popular effect has
not been regarded. ‘The persons chosen have been such as to give
weight to the lecture, and to reflect credit on the Institution. The
object has been to give instruction rather than amusement—to improve
the public taste rather than to elicit popular applause. The Institution,
to be respected, must maintain a dignified character, and seek rather
to direct public opinion than to obtain popularity by an opposite
course.

The moral effect which the lectures have on the city of Washington
cannot be otherwise than beneficial. When the weather is favorable,
the room is every evening crowded before the hour of commencement
with an intelligent audience. The lecturers have generally been per-

9

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 243

sons from a distance, who have expressed surprise to find such a large

and respectful attendance ma city which is commonly thought to be

exclusively devoted to politics and amusement. The plan of inviting

gentlemen of reputation and influence from a distance renders the

Smithsonian operations familiar to those best qualified to appreciate

their value, and best able to give a correct account of the character of
the Institution in their own districts of country, as well as to vindicate

its claims to the confidence and friendly regard of the public. The

results of this course, and the distribution of the volumes of Contribu-

tions to colleges and other institutions, it is hoped, will so establish the

Institution in the good opinion of the intelligent and influential part of
the community, that it may bid defiance to the assaults of those who
are ignorant of its true character, or are disappointed in not sharing its

honors without the talents or the industry to win them.

The following is a list of the titles of lectures given during the last
session of Congress, with the names of the gentlemen by whom they
were delivered :

A course of three lectures by Dr. E. K. Kane, U.S. N., on Argtic
Exploration.

A course of three lectures by President Mark Hopkins, of Williams
College, on Method applied to Investigation.

A course of four lectures by Prof. W. B. Rogers, of the University
of Virginia, on the Phases of the Atmosphere.

A course of twelve lectures by Dr. Benjamin Silliman, sen., of Yale
College, on Geology.

A course of two lectures by Prof. C. C. Felton, of Harvard Univer-
sity, on Greek Literature.

One lecture, by Job R. Tyson, esq-., of Philadelphia: Queen Eliza-
beth and Oliver Cromwell, their characters and times, contrasted and
compared.

A course of six lectures by Dr. B. A. Gould, jr., of Cambridge, on
the Recent Progress of Astronomy.

A course of six lectures by Prof. Louis Agassiz, of Cambridge, on
the Foundation of Symmetry in the Animal Kingdom.

A course of six lectures by Prof. B. Silliman, jr., on the four ancient
elements—Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.

Omitted from previous report: A course of twelve lectures by Dr.
Henry Goadby, on the Structure and Functions of Insects.

In the last Report to the Regents some general remarks were made:
relative to the library and museum, and nothing has since occurred to:
change the opinions then expressed. On the contrary, the experience
of another year has tended to confirm these opinions, and to clearly
exhibit the fact that it will be impossible to continue with the present
income some of the most important operations, and rigidly adhere to
the resolution of the Regents of 1847, to devote one half of the whole
income to the library and museum, besides all the expenditures still
required on the building for the accommodation of these objects. By
a reference to the annual reports of the Executive Committee, it will
be seen that the general incidental expenses have continually increased.

244 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF
+

from year to year; and it is evident that they must continue to increase
in a geometrical ratio, on account of the greater repairs which, in time,
will be required on the building. After deducting trom the income the
cost of repairs, lighting, and heating; of messenger, attendants, and
watchmen; of stationary, transportation, and postage; after dividing
the remainder by two, and deducting from the quotient the expense of
the public lectures, the final sum to be devoted to the most important,
and, indeed, the only legitimate object of the bequest, is exceedingly
small. ?

The attempt has, however, been made in good faith to carry out the
resolution of February, 1847; and if items which may properly be
charged to the library and collections were added to this side of the
aceount, the balance up to the present date would be in favor of the
active operations. But the plan has not been found to work well in
practice. ‘The income is too small properly to support more than one
system of operations, and therefore the attempt to establish and sustam
three departments, with separate ends and separate interests, must lead
to inharmonious action, and consequently to diminished usefulness.

aiLowever proper such a division of the income might have been in
the beginning, in order to harmonize conflicting opinions, and to submit
with proper caution the several proposed schemes to a judicious trial,
the same considerations do not now exist for its continuance; changes
have since occurred which materially alter the conditions on which the
resolution was founded. The plan of active operations was not at first
fully understood even by the literary men of the country. It was con-
sidered chimerical, and incapable of being continued for any length of
time; and hence it was thought important to provide for the means of

falling back upon a library and collections. ‘The experience of six

years has, however, established its practicability and importance, and
it is now considered by the great majority of intelligent persons
who have studied the subject, the only direct means of realizing the
intention of the donor. Again: the building was to have been finished
in five years, and the income after this was to be increased by the
interest on the remaining surplus fund; But the Regents have found it
necessary, for the better security of the library and museum, to add fifty
thousand dollars to the cost of the edifice; and ten years will have
elapsed from the beginning, instead of five, before any income from
the surplus fund will be available. This additional expense is not
incurred for the active operations, and the question may be asked
whether they ought to bear any part of this additional burden. Further-
more, at the time the division was made, it was thought obligatory on
the part of the Institution tu support the great museum of the Exploring
Expedition ; but the Regents have since concluded that it is not advisa-
ble to take charge of this collection ; and Congress, by its appropriation
for the enlargement of the Patent Office, concurred in the opinion
expressed in the Senate by the Hon. Jefferson Davis, that it was a gift
which ought not to be pressed upon the Institution. ‘The inquiry may
also, in this case, be made, whether it is advisable in the present state
of the funds, and the wants of the active operations, to expend any
considerable portion of the income in the production of a collection
cf objects of nature and art. Again: the active operations are procur-

~i\

—

igre)

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 245

ing annually, for the library, by exchange, a large number of valuable

books, which, in time, of themselves will form a rare and valuable

collection; and even if the division of the income is to be continued,
a sum equal in amount to the price of these books ought to be charged
to the library, and an equal amount credited to the active operations.

Though a large library’connected with the Institution would be
valuable in itself, and convenient to those who are in the immediate
vicinity of the Smithsonian building, yet, as has been said before, it
is not essential to the active operations. It would be of comparatively
little importance to the greater number of the co-laborers of the Insti-
tution, who are found in every part of the United States, and are not
confined even within these limits. The author of the great work
on the American Algae, now publishing in the Smithsonian Contribu-
tions, is a resident member of Trinity College, Dublin; and very
few of the authors of the Smithsonian memoirs reside in Washington.
The libraries, therefore, of the whole country, and in some cases of
other countries, are at the service of the Institution and employed for
its purposes.

Similar remarks apply to the museum. It is not the intention
of the Institution to attempt to examine and describe within the
walls of its own building all the objects which may be referred to it.
To accomplish this, a corps of naturalists,,each learned in his own
branch, would be required, at an expense which the whole income

would be inadequate to meet. In the present state of knowledge, that —

profound attainment necessary to advance science can be made by
an individual, however gifted, only in one or two narrow lines; and
hence several members are required to complete a single class in any
of the learned academies of Europe: therefore the plan which was
once proposed, of establishing on the Smithsonian fund an academy
of associated members, was entirely incompatible with the limited
income of the Institution. The more feasible and far less expen-
sive organization was adopted, of referring, for investigation, all sci-
entific questions of importance, as well as objects of natural history,
to persons of reputation and learning in different parts of the United
States, and perhaps, in some cases, in foreign countries. By the
operation of this plan, which has been found eminently practicable,
the collections, as well as the libraries of the whole country, are ren-
dered subservient to the use of the Institution.

There can be but little doubt that, in due time, ample provision will
be made for a library and museum at the capital of this Union worthy
of a government whose perpetuity depends upon the virtue and intelli-
gence of the people. It is, therefore, unwise to hamper the more im-
portant objects of this Institution, by attempting to anticipate results
which will be eventually produced without the expenditure of its
means.

The prominent idea embraced in the Smithsonian organization, is
that of co-operation and concerted action with all institutions and indi-
viduals engaged in the promotion of knowledge. Its design is not to
monopolize any part of the wide fields of nature or of art, but to invite
all to partake in the pleasure and honor of their cultivation. It seeks
not to encroach upon ground vccupied by other institutions, but to ex-

i

246 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

pend the funds in doing that which cannot be as well done by other
means. It gives to the words of Smithson their most liberal inter-
pretation, and “‘inereases and diffuses knowledge among men” by pro-
moting the discovery of new truths, and by disseminating these in
every part of the civilized world.
Respectfully submitted :
JOSEPH HENRY,

Secretary Smithsonian Institution.

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

To the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution :

_ GentLemen: Nothing of especial interest has occurred during the
past year to mark an epoch in the history of the institution over which
you preside. The several objects set forth in the plan of organization
have been prosecuted as far as the funds which could be devoted to
them would allow. <A knowledge of the true character of the institu-
uion has been gradually extended, and it is a subject of gratification
that the plan of operations is more highly appreciated the better it is
understood. Every succeeding year which is added to the age of the
institution will render it more stable. so long as it pursues undeviatingly
the same course. All establishments, however, which are supported
by bequests, intended to promote the public good, are necessarily sub-
jected to the scrutiny of all who consider themselves personally inter-
ested in the trust. The managers are overwhelmed with suggestions,
and subjected to illiberal criticisms, and unless they are firmly con-
vinced of the propriety of their course, and have sufficient moral cour-
age to pursue it notwithstanding opposition, there is danger of vacilla-
tion, and of an attempt to gain popularity by adopting measures not
calculated to promote the desired end. It should, however, be recol-
lected that opinions ought to be weighed rather than counted, and that
nothing of importance can be accomplished, either by an individual or
an institution, except by constant and laborious exertion in one direc-
tion. In the beginning of this institution the plans best calculated to
realize the liberal intentions of the donor were adopted after due delib-
eration, and have been constantly adhered to and developed as far
as the requisitions of Congress and the limited income would allow.
From the character of James Smithson and his pursuits there can
be no reasonable doubt as to his intention in regard to the bequest.
He was a man familiar with the precise language of exact science,
and no other construction ought to be put upon the words of his will
than that which a strict interpretation will allow He leaves his prop-
erty to found an establishment which shall bear his own name, and
have for its object “the imcrease and diffusion of knowledge among
men.” It would evidently be incompatible with an enlarged and just
interpretation of this will to contine its benefits exclusively to one peo-
ple, and especially would it be unworthy the character of a great nation -
to accept the administration of a bequest intended for the good of man-
kind, and to apply it exclusively to its own use. —

Nothing apparently can be further from the truth than the idea which

8 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

was first prevalent in this country that Smithson left his money merely
to diffuse practical knowledge among the people of the United States.
On the contrary he intended ‘this institution as a monument to his name
which should be known of all men, and prized by the student ot every
branch of literature and science, which should not be restricted to merely
spreading abroad the knowledge which already exists, but, above all,
should be the means of enlarging the bounds of human thought. He
was also too much of a philosopher to confine his bequest to the promo-
tion of any one branch of literature or science, and therefore ieft the
trust free to be applied to all.

His will recognises a well established and very important distinction
with regard to knowledge, viz: its increase and its diffusion. These,
though “frequently confounded, are very different processes, and each
may exist independent of the other. While we rejoice that im our coun-
try, above all others, so much attention is paid to the diffusion of knowl-
edge, truth compels us to say that compar atively little encouragement
is given to its increase.

‘There is another division with regard to knowledge which Smithson
does not embrace in his design, viz: the application of knowledge to
useful purposes in the arts; and it was not necessary he should found an
institution for this purpose. There are already in every civilized coun-
try establishments and patent laws for the encouragement of this
department of mental industry. As soon as any branch of science can
be brought to bear on the necessities, conveniences, or luxuries of life,
it meets with encouragement and reward. Not so with the discovery
ot the incipient principles of science. ‘The investigations which lead to
these receive no fostering care from government, and are considered by
the superficial observer as trifles unworthy the attention of those who
place the supreme good in that which immediately administers to the
physical necessities or luxuries of life.

It physical well being were alone the object of existence, every ave-
nue of enjoyment should be explored to its utmost extent. But he who
loves truth for its own sake, feels that its highest claims are lowered
and its moral influence marred by being continually summoned to the
bar of immediate and palpable utility. Smithson himself had no such
narrow views. The prominent design of his bequest is the promotion
of abstract science. It leaves to the teacher and the teeming press to
diffuse popular knowledge, and to the Patent Office and the manufac-
turer to facilitate and reward the application of science to the useful
arts. In this respect the institution holds an otherwise unoccupied
place in this country, and adopts two fundamental maxims in its policy :
first, to do nothing with its funds which can be equally well done by
other means ; and, segond, to produce results which, as far as possible,
will benefit mankind in general. Any deviations from these maxims
which the history of the institution may exhibit, must be referred to the
original requirements of the law of Congress authorizing its establish-
ment, and not to the plan of active operations at first proposed i in the
programme, and which has constantly been kept in view from the be-
ginning until the present time.

A miscellaneous and general library, museum, and gallery of art,
though important in themselves, have from the first been considered by

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 9

those who have critically examined the will of Smithson, to be too re-
stricted in their operations and too local in their influence, to meet the
comprehensive intentions of the testator ; and the hope has been cher-
ished that other means may ultimately be provided for the support of
those objects, and that the whole income of the Smithsonian fund may
be devoted to the more legitimate objects of the noble bequest.

I have been informed by the Commissioner of Patents that the space
now occupied in the building of the Patent Office by the national mu-
seum is imperatively required for the display of models; and he sug-
gests that a part or the whole of the Smithsonian building shall be pur-
chased for the deposit of this collection. If Congress will entirely
relieve the Smithsonian fund trom the expense of collecting and main-
taining a museum, a large portion of the present building would be
unnecessary, and the proposition to purchase a part or the whole of it
might properly be entertamed. The Smithsonian Institution, if required,
would take the supervision of a government museum, and would tum
over to it all the specimens collected after they had been examined and
described. The importance of a collection at the seat of government
to illustrate the physical geography, natural history, and ethnology of
the United States, cannot be too highly estimated. But the support of
such a collection ought not to be a burthen upon the Smithsonian fund.

It was stated in the last report that the plan of an equal division of
the income between the library and museum on the one hand, and the
lectures, the publications, and researches on the other, was found not
to work well in practice. It leads to inharmonious action, and to a
system of expenditure by no means compatible with proper economy
or the limited income of the Smithsonian tund. The subject has, how-
ever, been referred to a special committee of the Regents, which I trust
will give it due consideration, and report their views during the present
session of the Board.

Publications —During the past year no diminution has taken place in
the objects of interest which have presented themselves for the assist-
ance and patronage of the institution. The amount of publications has
only been limited by the appropriation which could be devoted to this
purpose.

1. The first memoir published during the past year is one by Dr.
Joseph Leidy, Professor of Anatomy in the University of Pennsylvania,
entitled ‘* The Ancient Fauna of Nebraska.”

A considerable portion of the country between the Mississippi and
the Rocky mountains consists of the more recent geological deposits,
and particularly on the upper Missouri there exists a tract of country
known by the name of the Mauvaises Terres, or the Bad Lands;
this at one time was probably the bottom of an immense lake, in
which perished thousands of animals having no representatives at this
time on the surface of the earth. It appears that the waters of this
’ lake were removed by some convulsion of nature, that the sediment at
its bottom became indurated, and that afterwards the whole country
was traversed by an immense wave of water, which carried away the
softer parts of the strata, and left standing the harder parts in a series
of irregular prismatic and columnar masses, frequently capped with

10 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

irregular pyramids, and extending upwards to a heighth of from one to

two hundred feet. ‘ Viewed in the distance, these rocky piles in their

endless succession assume the appearance of massive architectural.
structures, with all the accessories.of buttresses, turrets, and tapering

spires.”’ The portion of the surface thus excavated forms a valley of
ninety miles in length and thirty in breadth, which in its most depressed

portion is about three hundred feet below the surface of the surrounding

country. So thickly are the natural towers studded over the surface

of this extraordinary region, that the traveller threads his way through

deep confined passages, which resemble the narrow irregular streets

and lanes of some of the old towns of the continent of Europe. At the

foot of these columns, the remains of the ancient animals, which Jived

and breathed long before the advent of man upon the face of the earth,

are found in such abundance as to form of this tract an extensive

cemetery of vertebrated animals, rivaling, in the variety of its extinct

species, the celebrated beds of the Paris basin.

This region having been brought to notice by a few fossil remains
procured through the agents of the American Fur Company, an appro-
priation of about $200 for its exploration was made by the Smithsonian
Institution to Mr. Thaddeus Culbertson, who was about to visit, on ac-
count of his health, the sources of the Missouri. ‘The specimens of
fossil remains which were thus procured, together with a collection
subsequently presented to the institution by Capt. Stewart Van Vliet,
of the U. 8S. army, and several specimens kindly lent by Dr. Prout, of
Missouri, were referred to Dr. Leidy for examinaton. In addition to
these he had the use of a collection lent by Prof. O’Loghland, of Mis-
souri, specimens belonging to the Academy of Natural Sciences, Phila-
delphia, and a collection made by Dr. Evans, at the instigation of Dr.
D. Dale Owen, the whole embracing all the specimens which have
yet been brought to the east fromthe Bad Lands. ‘The bones are com-
pletely petrified, and their cavities filled with silicious matter. They
are preserved in various degrees of integrity, some being beautifully
perfect and others broken and imperfect, the latter having been evidently
subjected to violence while imbedded in a soft mud. The animals
belong to the classes mammalia and chelonia, or turtles. With a single
exception, all the species of mammalia belong to the great order of un-
gulata or hoofed animals, of which there are seven species of four
genera, which belong to the ruminantia, or cud-chewing animals ; two
species of one genus belonging to the paradigitata ordinaria, or even-
toed animals ; one species of the solipedia, or solid-hoofed animals ; and
four species of three genera belonging to the imparidigitata ordinaria,
or uneven-toed animals. ~

The first specimen described belonged to a peculiar genus of rumi-
nants which, among recent animals, is more nearly allied to the musk,
and was probably hornless. ‘The next is of a remarkable genus of
ungulata, representing a type which occupies a position in the wide
physiological interval existing between recent rumimants and the anom-
alous fossil animal called the anoplotherium. Another genus is called
oreodon, and constitutes one of the links necessary to fill up the very
wide gap between existing ruminants and an exceedingly aberrant form
of the same family now extinct. Another organic relic is that of an

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 11

animal which combined the ruminant and carnivorous characteristics,
of which there are several species. There are also two remarkable
species of rhinoceros, differing from any remains of this animal found
in other parts of the globe. The existing species of the rhinoceros
are met with in Africa, Asia, and the islands of Java and Sumatra.
Remains of extinct species have been found in Great Britain, the con-
tinent of Europe, Siberia, and the Himalayas ; ; but no trace of this
genus had previously been discovered in America. Another fossil
remain belongs to the feline family, about a fifth smaller than the
American panther, and is probably the most ancient known genus of
this animal. Hundreds of fossil turtles are found in the ‘‘ Bad Lands;’
they belong to the genus testudo, of which five species are described
in this paper.

The memoir occupies one hundred and twenty-six pages, and is il-
lustrated by twenty-four plates, one of which isa folio. It has already
been printed and copies distributed among working geologists. No
copy-right is secured on the publications of the Institution ; and it may

~ be mentioned here, as an illustration of the manner in wick the know-
lege contained in the Smithsonian memoirs reaches the public gener-
ally in a popular form, that one of the figures of this paper has already
been copied, and some of its materials given in a recent work on
geology.

2. Another paper, the printing of which is nearly complete, is on the
«« Winds of the Northern Hemisphere.”’ by Prof. James H. Coffin, of
Lafayette college, Haston, Pennsylvania. It is the same which was
mentioned in the Report for 1851. Its publication has been delayed in
consequence of the difficulty experienced in finishng the maps and
printing the tabular matter, and also on account of additions made to
it by the author. It is a very elaborate memoir, of two hundred pages,
consisting principally of tabular matter, and illustrated by thirteen maps.
The most important results arrived at in this paper are as follows :
There exists in the northern hemisphere three great zones of wind ex-

tending entirely around the earth, modified and, in some cases, partially
interrupted by the configuration and charater of the surface. The
first of these is the trade-wind, near the equator, blowing, when unin-
terrupted, from northeast to southwest. ‘This belt is interrupted, how-
ever, in the Atlantic ocean, near the coast of Africa, upon the Mediter-
ranean sea, and also in Barbary, by the action of the Great Desert.
The second is a belt of westerly wind, nearly two thousand miles in
breadth, between latitude 35° and 60° north, and encircling the earth,
the westerly direction being clearly defined in the middle of the bale
but gradually disappearing as we approach the limits on either side.
North of this, there is another system of winds flowing soutlwardly
from high north latitudes, and gradually inclining towards the west, as it
moves iuto a latitude of greater easterly velocity.

Subsequent investigations have led Prof. Cothn to conclude that the
lines which separate “these systems are not parallels of latitude, but
circles, having a common pole in’about latitude 84° north, and longi-
tude 105° west from Greenwich, and that a. winds of high naithers
latitudes diverge or radiate from this point.

The principal cause of these phenomena is the greater heat a the

12 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

sun between the tropics, which rarifies the air, and causes it to ascend
into the higher regions; producing below a current from the pole to-
wards the equator, and above a current in the opposite direction. The
resulting motions to and from the equator are not in a north and south
direction along the meridians, but are modified by the rotation of the
earth ; at the surface they deviate towards the west, and in the return
current above towards the east. If the point mentioned by Prof. Coffin
as the centre of the winds of the polar zone really exists, it is probably
that of maximum cold; the air at this point would be condensed, and
flow from it in radial lines in every direction along the surface of the
earth. The paper is an important addition to meteorology, and has
cost the author years of labor. ‘The publication of it has also been very
expensive, particularly on account of the maps and tables.

3. Another memoir accepted for publication is, ‘‘ An Account of a
Tornado that passed near New Harmony, Indiana, April 30, 1852, by
John Chappelsmith.”

The eastern portion of the North American continent is almost every
year visited at different points by one or more tornadoes of frightful
energy, but of exceedingly circumscribed limits; and it is almost an
opprobrium to the science of this country that more reliable data have
not been coilected towards settling definitely the conditions of these re-
markable phenomena, and for ascertainmg their cause. For this pur-
pose, however, mere verbal descriptions of the effects are alone insufh-
cient; there must be added to these accurate instrumental surveys, and,
if possible, the indications of the barometer, thermometer, and hygrom-
eter. The first accurate report of this kind was that by Professor A. D.
Bache, relative to a tornado which passed over the city of New Bruns-
wick, in New Jersey, in 1834. A similar survey was made by Pro-
fessor Eustis, of Harvard University, of the tornado of August 21, 1851,
which passed near Cambridge.

We consider the present memoir as an exceedingly valuable addi-
tion to the stock of our knowledge on this subject. It gives not only
all the collateral phenomena as far as they could be obtamed, but
presents a map of one square mile of the track on which are elabo-
rately plotted the relative position and bearings of the prostrated trees.
Some idea may be obtained of the enormous energy of this tornado
from the statement of the author, that “on a single square mile ot
the track thousands of trees, many of them having a stem fifteen feet
in circumference, were prostrated by a force acting simultaneously in
opposite directions, and moving onward at the rate of a mile in a
minute.”

The author critically analyses the force at work, and arrives at the
conclusion that the proximate cause of the phenomenon is an inward,
upward, and onward moving column of air. Besides the map, the
memoir is accompanied by diagrams and sketches to illustrate the char-
acter and effects of the tornado.

4, Another memoir is entitled ‘‘ The Antiquities of Wisconsin,”’ ex-
amined and surveyed by I. A. Lapham.

In the Report for 1851, it was mentioned that Mr. Lapham, an expe-
rienced engineer, had undertaken, under the direction of the American
Antiquarian Society of Worcester, Massachusetts, to make explorations,

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 13

surveys, and drawings of the aboriginal antiquities of Wisconsin; and,
to insure harmony of action in the cultivation of the wide field of re-
search offered by the ancient monuments of this country, that the Anti-
quarian Society had agreed to present to the Smithsonian Institution
the results of the labors of Mr. Lapham for publication, and to reserve
its own funds for further explorations. Mr. Lapham’s memoir has been
completed; and, after having been examined and reported upon by a
committee of the Antiquarian Society, has been presented to the Insti-
tution for publication. It consists of several hundred pages of manu-
script, illustrated by sixty-three large drawings or plates adapted to the
size of the Smithsonian contributions, a map of the country, and ninety-
seven figures or smaller designs, intended to be engraved on wood and
interspersed with the text.

Elaborate works of defence, and such as are apparently designed for
religious or sacrificial ceremonies, so numerous in other sections of the
country, are seldom found in Wisconsin. In place of these, less ele-
vated structures, though often on a scale of considerable horizontal
extent, representing a variety of fanciful forms, abound along the sides
of the streams and borders of the lakes. The figures are principally
those of lizards, turtles, birds, bears, foxes, and men, and they appear
to be confined within a limited territory, between the Mississippi and
Lake Michigan. It is very remarkable, says the committee, that none
of the earlier travellers appear to have noticed the animal shape of the
embankments; but this is accounted for by the extent and flatness of
the works, and the difficulty of recognising them while covered with
trees or a dense growth of other vegetation. Indeed, the surveyors who
first attempted to plot them, were sometimes surprised at the figures
developed under their hands, and which could not have been perceived
on the ground, unless from an elevated point of view.

The memoir of Mr. Lapham, with a few unimportant exceptions,
includes an account of every known work or assemblages of works in
this region, and the whole were carefully surveyed by himself or by
competent individuals under his direction. On the map are laid down
the relative position of the earth-works; and from this it appears that
they lie chiefly along the course of streams and the borders of the in-
terior lakes. Nearly the same forms are repeated in different localities,
but with dissimilar arrangement, and often with slight, yet evidently
intentional, variation in figure. The works are enumerated as follows :

a. Tumuli of a conical shape and slight elevation.

6. Oblong mounds not more than three or four feet high, of regular
width, extending in a straight line from twenty feet to several hundred,
and even a thousand.

c. Embankments in crescent and serpentine forms.

d. Embankments tapering uniformly in width from one extremity to
the other, and terminating in a point.

e. Similar tapermg embankments, with two projections on one side,
near the larger end, which are called lizards, and are very numerous.

jf. The same general form, with projections on both sides at the larger
end, and with a similar tapering tail, sometimes of exceedingly dis-

14 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

proportionate length. These frequently present a strikmg resemblance
to a turtle, and are known by the name of that animal.

g. Oblong embankments, with arms or wings extended on either side.
These vary from simple crosses to figures of birds and men, the head
being usually omitted.

h. Representations of animals of more definite outlines and better
proportions: among these are bears, foxes, otters, &c., and upon the
Wisconsin river, buffaloes. It is proved by numerous excavations that
the works which resemble animals are destitute of relics; they are
mere relievos or embossments on the surface of the earth, seldom ex-
ceeding four feet in height, and in some cases but a few inches. Mr.
Lapham disclaims all intention of indulging a disposition to theorize or
speculate on the origin or design of these remdins, and declares his ob-
ject to be merely the faithful performance of the office of surveyor, to
study the facts, and to report them in as much detail as may be neces-
sary, leaving to others the deductions which, in connexion with other
information, may be drawn from them. In the opinion of the commis-
sion appointed by the society to examine the memoir, “ Mr. Lapham
has accomplished his task with great thoroughness and artistic skill; he
seems to have explored the entire field, to have industriously delineated.
every object of interest, and to have omitted no detail of drawing or
description which could conduce to a clear understanding of the matter
of which he treats.”” The publication of this memoir, which will be
alike creditable to the author, the Antiquarian Society, and this Institu-
tion, will furnish an interesting addition to the antiquities of this country,
which cannot fail to be hailed with pleasure by the ethnologist.

5. Two botanical papers, furnished by Dr. John Torrey, of the New
York Medical College, have been published during the past year. The -
first describes a new plant, to which the author has given the name of
Darlingtonia Californca. It.is a new pitcher-plant, which was first de-
tected by Mr. W. D. Brackenridge, assistant botanist in the United
States Exploring Expedition under Captain Wilkes. It has hitherto
been found only near the Shasta mountain, on the Upper Sacramento.
The specimens brought home by Mr. Brackenridge were without flowers
or seed-vessels, so that the genus of the plant could not be determined,
but it was taken for a new Sarracencia. After many years, the flowers
were discovered by Dr. G. W. Hulse, and brought to Dr. Torrey, who
has shown that the plant is an entirely new genus of the same small
but very interesting natural order to which the Sarracencia belongs.
He has bestowed upon it the name of Darlingtonia, in honor of Dr.
William Darlington, of West Chester, Pennsylvania, author of several
valuable botanical works. The genus formerly dedicated to this veteran
botanist by De Candolle having been reduced to an older one, Dr.
Torrey embraced the opportunity of restoring the name, and connect-
ing it with one of the most remarkable plants of North America.

6. The second memoir by Dr. Torrey is an account of a new mari-
time shrubby plant, called ‘Batis Maritima,’” which grows on the
shores of Key West, Jamaica, Cuba, and the neighboring parts of the
continent. It has been known to botanists for more than one hundred
and fifty years, yet, strange to say, it has not till now been correctly
described, nor its place in the natural system determined with any cer-

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 16

tainty. Dr. Torrey considers it as the type of a distinct order; nearly
allied to the empetracez, or crowberries.

Both memoirs are illustrated with plates, from beautiful drawings
made by Sprague, at the expense of the institution.

7. The next memoir is a “‘ Synopsis of the Marine Invertebrata of the
Grand Manan, or the region about the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick,”
by William Stimpson.

The island of Grand Manan, a part of the natural history of which
this paper is intended to illustrate, lies at the mouth of the Bay of
Fundy, ard is surrounded by deep water, the bottom of which abounds
in a variety of marine animals.

The memoir consists of a compend of observations made on the
marine fauna of this region during a residence of three months in the
summer of 1852, and also of a catalogue of the marine invertebrata
found on the shores and in the adjacent waters.

Minute surveys of the marine animals of a given district are highly
interesting; it is only by a comparison of the results of such examina-
‘tions made at a series of points along a coast, that an accurate know-
ledge can be obtained of their distribution, and of the effects of exter-
nal circumstances on their growth, habits, and economy. By such
surveys we can ascertain whether a species may inhabit two distant
localities without occurring in the intermediate space, a fact which has
an important bearing on several interesting questions relative to geolo-
gical changes.. The author is a pupil of Professor Agassiz, and has
been appointed one of the naturalists in the North Pacific Exploring
Expedition, under Captain Ringgold.

The paper occupies sixty-six pages, and is illustrated by thirty-seven
' lithographic figures.

8. A memoir has also been presented, and is now in the press, “ On
some new American species and localities of Microscopic Organisms,”’
by Prof. J. W. Bailey, of West Point, New York.

Nearly two centuries have passed away since Leeuwenhoek, an
eminent physician of Holland, discovered by means of the microscope
a department of organized nature, consisting of bodies imperceptible
to the unaided vision, and displaying active forms, so strange and varied
in their appearance, that they excited a general curiosity. The dis-
covery, in some of them, of organs of motion, convinced him of their
animal character, and he gave to them the name of anzmalcules. They
were afterwards called infusoria. Many opinions were entertained
with regard to their character. Linnzeus considered them as liteless,
oily particles, and their movements as altogether passive. We owe,
however, to Prof. Ehrenberg, of Berlin, an extended series of obser-
vations on this subject, the results of which are, that the infusoria are
organized bodies; the greater part, if not all, are animals; they exist
in all quarters of the globe, as well on land as at the bottom of the
sea, and their silicious and calcareous remains form, in this country,
wide-spread fossil strata. At Andover, Massachusetts, there is a bed
of these remains of fifteen feet in thickness, and underlying the city of
Richmond, Virginia, one of twenty-eight feet. Professor Bailey has
distinguished himself by researches in the same line, and has published
on this subject a series of papers in Silliman’s Journal, and in two

16 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

memoirs in the Smithsonian Contributions. In the present memoir he
has described new species of diatomacez, limnias, auliscus, peridi-
nium, cothurnia, and monactinus; he has given the American locali-
ties of Amphitetras antediluviana, and tetragramma, and gives an ac-
count of the organic forms found in the Groton water, New York.

One of the species described forms a material resembling white clay,
which occurs in a large deposit at Suisun bay, about thirty miles above
San Francisco; and should, says Prof. Bailey, this fact meet the eye
of any scientific traveller in California, it may induce him to furnish
further information concerning the geological relations ot this interesting
deposit, and to collect a good supply of specimens for a more complete
study.

Tt has been known to the New York microscopists, but not to the
public generally, that the Croton water abounds in beautiful microsco-
pic organisms, and particularly in, diatomaceze and desmidiew. ‘The
author found in the sediment collected by means of a filter at the
Astor House, more than fifty different species of these organisms. Of
these the gallionella crotonensis is in the greatest abundance, and.
thousands of its fragments must be daily swallowed by those who use
the unfiltered water. It is so abundant that Prof. Bailey suggests that
it may yet prove of importance as a means of detecting the traudulent
dilution of various substances by this water.

This memoir is illustrated by a number of wood-cuts and thirty- eight
elaborately drawn figures on a steel plate beautifully executed by J. E.
Gavitt, an amateur naturalist and artist of Albany, New York.

9. During the past year the catalogue of Coleoptera by Frederick
Ernst Melsheimer, M. D., mentioned in a previous Report, has been
published and distributed. It forms an octavo volume of 174 pages.

At first sight it would appear that the study of insects is the most
trivial and furthest removed of that of any part of creation from useful
purposes ; but independently of the interest which attaches to it as an
exposition of animated nature, and an exhibition of organization and
life in curiously diversified forms, there is scarcely any branch of
natural history more intimately connected with the pursuits of the hus-
bandinan, the naval architect, and even those of the artist and the
bibliographer, than entomology. It is the duty therefore of this institu-
tion to afford every facility for the acquisition of this branch of know-
ledge, and to increase the number of those who make it their special
study.

The coleoptera form one of the largest and most widely distributed
class of insects; and on account of their boring habits, some of the
species are highly destructive to timber. In order, however, to study
them properly, it is necessary that the same species which exist in this
country and in Europe may be identified,’and that those which are new
here may be separately described. The present memoir gives the
names of all those which have been described, with references to the
works where the descriptions may be found. Dr. Melsheimer has
spent several years in the preparation of this work. It was referred
for examination to Professor 8. S. Haldeman and Dr. J. L. Le Conte,
who reported in favor of its publication, and offered to superintend its

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 17
printing and to bring it down to 1851. This they have done at the
expense of much time and labor, and have thereby added materially to
the usefulness of the catalogue.

10. A second edition of the report on recent improvements in the
chemical arts has been printed, and in due time an additional volume
on this subject will be prepared.

11. The general interest which has been awakened by the recent
application of electricity to purposes in the useful arts, and its recog-
nised connexion with many important and mysterious phenomena of
nature, led to the conclusion that an account of the recent discoveries
in this branch of science would be highly prized by a large class of
readers. In accordance with this view, a report by M. Miller, of Ber-
lin, has been translated, and will be published as soon as the funds
will allow of the expenditure. Stereotype copies of the original wood-
cuts have been obtained from the author.

It will be especially interesting to the English reader, because it
gives more particularly the researches which have been made in Ger-
many, and which are consequently not readily accessible to the inhab-
itants of this country and Great Britain.

12. Catalogue of North American reptiles in the museum of the
Smithsonian Institution. Part 1.—Serpents—By 8. F. Baird & C. Gi-
rard, pp. 188.—This work is intended to exhibit the nature and extent
of the collection of North American reptiles in the museum of the
Smithsonian Institution. According to the statement of Professor
Baird, it contains full and original descriptions from authentic speci-
mens of 119 species of serpents, of which sixty have been first de-
scribed by the authors, and from specimens in the Smithsonian col-
lection. All the well ascertained species of North American serpents
are included in this catalogue, which thus serves as a complete manual
on the subject. The great work by Dr. Holbrook on the reptiles of
North America, published in 1842, enumerates 49 species, as being all
that were known to him ; a number less than half of those in the posses-
sion of the Smithsonian Institution.

The phenomena of magnetism, which a few years ago were only rec-
ognised as existing in iron, and in a slight degree in a few other metals,
are now known to belong to all matter; and with those of electricity,
with which they are intimately connected, either in the relation of effect
and cause, or the concomitant effects of a more general principle, are
probably displayed in every part of the material universe. Recent
researches render it probable that the sun and moon exert a magnetic
influence upon our earth. Were the study of this mysterious principle
immediately connected with none of the physical wants of man, or with
the arts of life, it would in itself be an object of high interest ; but
when we reflect how dependent upon it is the art of navigation, and
how extensively it is employed in this country in tracing the divisions
and boundaries of land, we are, from utilitarian considerations, induced
to give it the most minute and laborious investigation. igi

‘It is now known that the magnetic needle is never at rest; that it is
the subject of various changes, some depending upon the hour of the
9 |

18 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

day, others upon the season of the year, others again upon longer
periods of time.

It also varies in its direction at different places. Between the At-
lantic and Pacific coast, or, for example, between Massachusetts bay
and the mouth of the Columbia river, there is a variation of upwards
of twenty-four degrees ; but this variation is not constant even at-the
same place, but changes from year to year. With these changes it is
necessary that the navigator should be familiar. It therefore becomes
a matter of national importance that observations of these phenomena
should be made at as many places, and those as widely separated from
each other, as possible.

The Smithsonian Institution has endeavored to advance this branch
of knowledge, by importing at different times, and at considerable ex-
pense, four entire sets of apparatus, besides separate instruments, for
determining the direction and intensity of the magnetic force.

These. instruments have been lent to observers, and in some cases
sold to the government for the use of exploring parties, and have done,
or are now doing, good service, in adding to the stock of facts which,
by the process of induction, are to yield a knowledge of general laws.

It will be recollected that an appropriation was made at the last ses-
sion of the Regents for supplying magnetic instruments to the Grinnell
Expedition. 'These were procured from London, were given in charge
to Dr. Kane, and, we trust, are at this tme revealing to that intrepid
explorer the fitful and mysterious changes of the magnetic force.

During the past year, a magnetic observatory has been erected within
the grounds of the Smithsonian Institution. I[t principally consists, to
insure an equable temperature, of an under-ground room, enclosed
within two walls, between which a current of air is allowed to pass in
order to prevent dampness. This observatory has been supplied with
a set of apparatus for determining the continued variations in direction
and intensity of terrestrial magnetism. By a very ingenious applica-
tion of the photographic process, the invention of Mr. Brooks, of Eng-
land, the instruments are made to record, on a sheet of sensitive paper
moved by clock-work, their own motions.

Kirst, to determine the variation of direction of the horizontal magnet :
a steel bar, strongly magnetized, is suspended by several fibres of un-
twisted silk, so as to have perfect freedom of motion in the horizontal
plane, and from a gas light, kept perpetually burning, a single ray of
light is thrown upon a concave mirror permanently attached to the
magnetic bar, and consequently partaking of its movements. This ray
of light is reflected and brought to a focus at the surface of a revolving
cylinder, moved by clock-work, on which the photographic paper is
placed. When the magnet is at rest, the pencil of light is stationary,
and consegnently traces, on the moving paper, a sinple straight line ;
but when the magnet is disturbed by terrestrial perturbations, its oscil-
lations are recorded by the motion of the pencil of light in a curved or
zigzag line.

To register the intensity of strength of the magnetic force, another
bar magnet is suspended by two parallel silk threads about an inch
apart, descending from two hooks fastened 1o the under side of a plate

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 19

attached to the ceiling or some other support. The plate is then made
to revolve through an are of a circle until, by the force of torsion, the
bar is deflected trom a north and south to an east and west direction.

It is thus kept in a state of equilibrium between the force of torsion of
the threads, tending to turn its north end round still further to the south,

and the magnetism of the earth, on the other hand, tending to bring it
back to its monk and south dilecuow: If in this position the magnet-
ism of the earth becomes stronger, it will prevail, and the north end
of the needle will turn towards the north; if the magnetism of the earth
diminishes in intensity, the force of torsion will prevail, and the same
end will move towards the south. These motions, as in the case of the
other magnet, are recorded by a beam of light on the paper surface of
the revolving cylinder.

But besides the change of direction of the horizontal needle, a magnet
so supported as to be free to take < any position, in this latitude will ar-
range itself with its north end dipping down towards the horizon. The
Eeaunt of this dip, or variation, varies also in different places, and at
different times; and to record these changes a bar is supported, in the
direction of the magnetic north and south, on two knifé edges like the
beam of a balance. Any change which takes place in the position of
a magnet thus arranged, is recorded by a mirror attached to the pro-
lon sation of the axis on which the bar turns.

It is proposed to keep these instruments constantly in operation, for
the purpose of comparing results with other observations of a similar
character in different parts of the world ; and also for the purpose of
furnishing a standard to which the observations made at various points
by the Coast Survey, and the different scientific explorations which are
now in progress in the western portions of the United States, may be
referred, and with which they may be compared.

This establishment ought to be supported by government; but, as no
provision has been made for it, and as the wants are pressing, in order
to render more valuable the observations making in other countries as
well as our own, the Smithsonian Institution, in connexion with the
Coast Survey, has undertaken to commence it. In accordance, how-
ever, with the policy which has thus far governed the acts of the Insti-
tation, this observatory will be turned over to other hands as soon as
other means are found for its support.

The other sets of magnetic instruments mentioned, which have been
imported by the Institution, are intended to furnish portable magnetic
observatories, in which the dip and the intensity are recorded by the
pen from direct and personal observations.

Besides the facts which will be collected by the Coast Survey along
our extended seaboard, those which the various exploring expeditions
are turnishing, and those obtained by the instruments belonging to the
Smithsonian Institution, a large number of records of observations exist
as to the position of the magnetic needle in different parts of the United
States in past times. A collection of these, and a comparison of them
With more recent observations, would serve to throw light on the

embeds which have taken place in the course of years.

_ There is, also, on record in the land office, an extended series at

20 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

observations which, though not made with great precision, will still be
of value in delineating the general direction of the magnetic lines in
different parts of the United States. Steps have been taken to collect
all the existing materials relative to this subject, with the view of sub-
mitting them in due time to reduction and careful investigation.

Correspondence.—There is one part of the Smithsonian operations that
attracts no public attention, though it is producing, it is believed, im-
portant results in the way of diffusing knowledge, and is attended, per-
haps, with more labor than any other part. I allude to the scientific
correspondence of the Institution. Scarcely a day passes in which
cbmmunications are not received from persons in different parts of the
country, containing accounts of discoveries, which are referred to the
Institution, or asking questions relative to some branch of knowledge.
The rule was early adopted to give respectful attention to every letter
received, and this has been faithfully adhered to from the beginning up
to the present time. 5

These communications relate to a great variety of subjects. Any
topic which Strongly excites the attention of the public at a given time,
such as the announcement in the papers of a wonderful discovery, or
an important invention which promises to introduce extensive changes
in the useful arts, is sure to bring upon the Institution an increase ot
labor in the way of correspondence. The ordinary inquiries addressed
to the Secretary relate to the principles of mechanics, electricity, mag-
netism, meteorology, names of specimens of plants, minerals, insects,
and, in short, to all objects or phenomena of a remarkable or unusual
character. /

Requests are frequently made for lists of apparatus, for information
as to the best books for the study of special subjects, hints for the
organization ot local societies, &c. Applications are also made for in-
formation by persons abroad relative to particular subjects respecting
this country. When an immediate reply cannot be given to a question,
the subject is referred, by letter, to some one of the Smithsonian co-
laborers, to whose line of duty it pertains, and the answer is transmit-
ted to the inquirer, either under the name of the person who gives the
information or under that of the Institution, according to the circum-
stances of the case.

There is no country on the face of the earth in which knowledge is
so generally diffused as in the United States; none in which there is
more activity of mind or freedom of thought and discussion, and in
which there is less regard to what should be considered as settled and
well-established principles. Jt will not, therefore, be surprising that the
Institution should be called upon to answer a great number of commu-
nications intended to subvert the present system of science, and to estab-
lish new and visionary conceptions in its stead, and that numerous
jetters should be received pertaining to such subjects as the quadrature
of the circle, the trisection of the angle, the invention of selfmoving
machines, the creation of power, the overthrow of the Newtonian sys- °
tem of gravitation, and the invention of new systems of the universe.

Many of these communications are of such a character that, at first
sight, it might seem best to treat them with silent neglect; but the rule

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. oF

has been adopted to state candidly and respectfully the objections to
such propositions, and to endeavor to convince their authors that their
ground is untenable.

Though this course is in many cases attended with no beneficial
results, still it is the only one which can be adopted with any hope of
even partial good. In answering those who persist in declaring that
the present received laws of mechanical action are erroneous, and that
they have discovered new and more correct generalizations, they are
requested to prove the truth of their assertions by predicting new and
important phenomena, the existence of which may be immediately
tested either by experiment or observation. It is not enough that the
new system explains facts which we know, for this would be merely
exhibiting old knowledge under a new form, but it should point out in
the way of deduction new facts which have hitherto escaped the eye
of the observer or the scrutiny of the experimenter.

It is to be regretted that so many minds of power and originality in
our country should, from defective scientific training, be suffered to
diverge so widely from the narrow path which alone leads to real ad-
vance in positive knowledge. Providence, however, seems in some
measure io vindicate the equality of its distributions, by assigning to
such a double measure of hope and self-esteem, which serves them
instead of success and reputation.

The faithful discharge of the duty of the correspondence of the insti-
tution imposes a serious labor on the secretary and his assistants.
Beside the correspondence above mentioned, there is added to their
duties that which relates to the reception and publication of the
_ memoirs ; to the lectures; the letters sent forth by the institution respect-
ing particular branches of research; the answers to the almost innu-
merable inquiries as to the character of the institution, and applications
for its publications; all the business matters which relate to the print-
ing, engraving, binding, transportation, payment of accounts; and all
the foreign correspondence relating to the exchanges of publications.

All the letters received are bound in volumes, and a copy of every
answer is carefully preserved, the whole thus forming a permanent
record of all the transactions of the institution, as well as a history of
the topics of scientific interest which have particularly occupied the
public mind during any given period. The exposition of this labor,
which has been increasing from year to year, will be a sufficient answer
to the question which is sometimes asked as to what the officers of the
institution find to do.

Meteorvlogy.—The general system of meteorology described in the
last and previous reports has been continued, and though some changes
have taken place among the observers, yet the number and efficiency
of the corps have been kept up. New instruments have been gradually
introduced, and constant improvement has taken place with the expe-
rience of each year in the precision and accuracy of the observations.
Since the beginning of the system, a large amount of valuable matter
relative to the meteorology of the United States has been collected ;
and the institution has now commenced to reduce these observations,
and to deduce from them the general iaws which govern the climate of

92 ' EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

this country. It is believed that such results will be obtained as wiil
justify the amount of expenditure of the Smithsonian fund which has
been devoted to this purpose.

The reductions which had been made up to the close of the last ses-
sion of the Regents were presented with the annual report to Congress,
and were ordered to be printed. It has been found, however, that the
tables cannot be presented in an octavo form, and that a special reso-
lution of the Senate will be required to print them in a quarto volume.

An interesting part of the meteorological observations 1s now in pro-
cess of reduction at ‘Greenwich, free of expense to the institution, by
Captain Lefroy, late superintendent of the Toronto Observatory. He
has undertaken this labor from a love of science, and has received
some assistance in the way of clerk hire (as he informs me) from the
fund placed in charge of the Royal Society by the Bnitish government
for the promotion of science. ‘The reduction will include not only all
the observations collected by the Smithsonian Institution, but also those
which can be obtained from every part of the earth during five years,
beginning with 1848.

Among the questions proposed to be answered by Captain Lefroy in
discussing the observations, are the following:

1. Does the aurora ever occur in low latitudes when it is wanting in
higher ones?

2. Is it developed in continuous zones, or are there wide gaps in these
zones ; if the latter, have they any connexion with other atmospheric
pbenomena ?

3. What are the ordinary diurnal laws of its development ?

4. Can the facts be reconciled with any theory giving it a material
objective existence, or is it an optical phenomenon?

5. Can the facts be reconciled with the zodiacal theory ?

6. What are its geographical limits; and what causes their singular
variation from day to day?

7. Are lines of equal frequency on the globe, or equal intensity, cir-
cles at all?

Definite answers to these questions would clear the ground for the
establishment of a rational theory as to the cause of this phenomenon,
the want of which, after all that has been said and written upon it, is
an opprobrium to the science of the present century.

The results of Captain Lefroy’s deductions will be presented in the
form of a memoir to the Smithsonian Institution.

Propositions have been made during the past year to apply to gov-
ernment tor aid in extending the meteorological system, or to transfer it
from the Smithsonian Institution to the National Observatory, the De-
partment of the Interior, or to an independent establishment supported.
by a direct appropriation from Congress.

In answer to these propositions the Secretary, in behalf of the Re-
gents, has stated that it was not in accordance with the policy of the
institution to ask the aid of Congress for the purpose of carrying on any
of its operations; but that it is consistent with its policy to relinquish
any line of research which can be carried on equally well by other
means. If, therefore, any of the plans proposed can be accom-
plished, the institution will cheerfully relinquish this field, and devote

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. « 23

its labors to other objects. The Institution has, however, already ex-
pended a large amount of money in collecting meteorological data, and
it is due to the memory of the founder that full credit shall be given to
his name for all the results which may be produced by the expendi-
ture of the income of his bequest. This is one of the conditions on
which the trust was accepted, and in case of any transfer of this kind
it should be borne in mind. Imay also remark, in the same connexion,
that while full credit should be given to the officers and assistants for
the faithfulness and efficiency with which they discharge their duties,
they should not be allowed to publish, under their own names, results
which have been collected and elaborated at the expense and under the
direction of the Institution. ‘The establishment of definite rules on this
point, though a delicate matter, is one which requires attention.
According to the estimate of Mr. Blodget, who is still employed in
reducing and discussing the observations, the whole number of mete-
orological observers now on the books as regular contributors, or as en-
titled to exchange for valuable series of observations sent, or for reports
regularly made in previous years is (520) five hundred and twenty.
The number added during the year 1853 to the list of previous ob-
servers, and who have returned observations for some portions of the
year, is (119) one hundred and nineteen. ‘The number of manuscript
series of observations in detail, or in full summaries of means and ex-
tremes of the observed conditions for each month of the whole period
observed, received during the year, is (75) seventy-five, covering an
ageregate period of temperature observation of eight hundred and fifty
years. About half these series also include observations of amount of
rain. Of printed and published series a large number have been sent.

Exchanges—The system of exchanges mentioned in the last and
preceding Reports has been continued during the past year with una-
bated vigor and corresponding useful results. The records for 1853, as
will be seen by a reference to Prof. Baird’s report, show a large in-
crease, both in transmission and receipts, over 1852. ‘This part of the
system of Smithsonian operations has everywhere received tlc com-
mendation of those who have given it their attention or have partici-
pated in its benefits. The Institutiog is now the principal agent of
scientific and literary communication between the old world and the
new. Its system of exchange is established on a reliable basis, namely :
that of the publications of the Institution itself, So long as the present
plan of operations is continued, the Institution will annually distribute
its contributions, and will continue to receive in return the publications
of all the literary and scientific societies of the world. The importance
of such a system, with reference to the scientific character of our coun- —
try, could scarcely be appreciated by those who are not familiar with
the results which flow from an easy and certain intercommunication of
this kind. Many of the most important contributions to science made
in America have been. unheard of in Europe, or have been so. little
known, or received so little attention, that they have been republished
as new discoveries, or claimed as the product of European research.
By means of the Smithsonian system of exchange, the American author
is enabled io place officially, as it were, a copy of his work in the

Q4 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

hands ot all those who are engaged in the same line of research, and
to insure due credit to himself from the countenance and support of
the Institution. —

The packages transmitted during the past year amounted, in the ag-
gregate, to 1,604. They weighed 12,220 pounds, and occupied nearly
400 cubic feet of space.

The receipts of works from abroad, in exchange for those sent out
by the Institution, are much greater in value, as well as in number,
than those of last year. ‘The whole number of articles received for the
library of the Institution during 1853, is 2,556. For other institutions,
1,052 packages have been received. The number of separate works
which these contain is unknown.

The Museum.—Additions during the past year have been made to the
museum from all branches of natural history and ethnology. They
are principally derived from various portions of our own country, par-
ticularly from the region between the Mississippi river and the Pacific
ocean.

The Institution has taken the temporary charge of most of the col-
lections of the various exploring expeditions which have been sent out
during the past year. For a detailed account of the additions, I beg
leave to refer to the accompanying report of Prof. Baird.

In accordance with the spirit which should pervade all parts of the
Institution, much good may be done in the way of promoting natural
history by distributing duplicate specimens among the cabinets of the
country and recommenuing the establishment, by associations of teach-
ers and others, of local collections, and by giving directions for con-
ducting museums of this kind. The Institution, during the past year,
has done good service in this way, and will continue and extend this
means of diffusing knowledge.

Researches—Though little has been done immediately by the Institu-
tion, since the date of the last report, in the way of original research,
yet it has rendered important aid to physical geography and natural his-
tory, by the facilities which it has afforded the several exploring parties
which have been fitted out during the past year, for railway and boun-
dary surveys, in the regions west of the Mississippi. ‘The instruments
have been compared, implements constructed, and practical imstruction
given in the art of observation and the means of preserving specimens.

The secretary has devoted considerable time, as a member of com-
missions appointed by government, to scientific investigations. ‘These
duties, as well as those above mentioned, are performed entirely with-
out remuneration; and the Institution is thus, in various ways, repaying,
to a considerable extent, whatever expenditure the government has
made on account of the Smithsonian bequest.

The Library.—The library during the past year has received an ad-
dition of 5,433 articles, the most valuable portion of which have been
derived from the Smithsonian exchanges. ‘The whole number of books,
etc., now in the library is 25,856.

At its last session, Congress appropriated $3,000 to begin the pre-

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. * 25

paration 0: a catalogue of its library on the Smithsonian plan proposed
by Professor Jewett. This work has been successfully prosecuted
since July last; and according to Professor Jewett’s report, upwards .
of 6,000 volumes have been catalogued. This plan, the honor of the
invention of which the Convention of Librarians has awarded to Profes-
sor Jewett, and which has been received with approbation by those
well qualified to judge of its merits, is now in a fair way to be reduced
to practice. The objects to be gained by adopting it are—

1. To avoid the necessity of preparing, composing, and correcting
anew the titles once printed, when the library has received accessions ;
or the alternative of printing the titles of these accessions in supple-
ments, which are very inconvenient appendages.

2. To prevent the repetition of the work of preparation of titles,
composition, and correction of press, for copies of the same book in
different libraries. The title once prepared and stereotyped remains at
the Smithsonian Institution, to be used by any library having the same
book.

3. Tosecure uniformity in the construction of catalogues, thus greatly
facilitating the researches of the student.

For other facts and details, see Professor Jewett’s report herewith
submitted.

Lectures.—Lectures have been given as usual by a number of dis-
tinguished gentlemen on the following subjects:

A course of eight lectures by Dr. Robert Baird on ‘Modern Eu-
rope.”

- One lecture by Hon. Henry Barnard on ‘*‘ The School.”

One lecture by Professor Stephen Alexander, of the College of New
Jersey, on ‘“ Climate.”

One lecture by Job R. Tyson, esq., of Philadelphia, ‘ Patrick
Henry.”

One lecture by Rev. C. C. Pise, ‘Charles Carrol, of Carrol-
tone
__ One lecture by Dr. E. K. Kane, U. 8. .N., ‘On the New Expedition
“in search of Sir John Franklin.”

A course of five lectures by Professor A. Guyot on ‘‘ The Harmo-
nies of Nature and History.”

A course of seven lectures by Dr. J. B. C. Smith, of Boston, on
‘« Modern Egypt and its Institutions.”

One lecture by George Sumner, esq., on ‘‘ France.”

Lectures were also delivered during the season, in the Smithsonian
lecture room, to the Washington Young Men’s Christian Association,
Metropolitan Mechanics’ Institute, and the Teacher’s Association.

We have concluded to adopt the plan of a continued course on a
single subject extending through the entire session; and for this pur-
pose Professor J. Lawrence Smith, of the University of Virginia, has
been engaged to give a full course on chemistry during the present —
winter.

Meeiing of the Establishment—The Secretary was directed by the
President of the United States to call a meeting of the members and

26 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

honorary members of the ‘‘ Smithsonian Institution,” or, in other words,
of the body which is generally known by the name of the “ Establish-
ment.’”? I may mention that this body consists of the President of the
United States, the Vice President, the Chief Justice, the Mayor of
Washington, the several officers of the cabinet, (excepting the Secretary
of the Interior, this department having been created since the passage
of the act establishing the Institution,) the Commissioner of Patents, and
such other persons as they may elect honorary members. This body met
in the Smithsonian building on the 3d of May, 1853, and at a subse-
quent meeting adopted a set of by-laws, and elected Professor Parker
Cleaveland, of Bowdoin College, Maine, an honorary member.

In accordance with the third section of the act of incorporation, a
full account of the proceedings of the Establishment will be given in
connexion with the report of the proceedings of the Board of Regents.

Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH HENRY,

Secretary Smithsoman Institution.

JANUARY, 1854.

’

THE ‘SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 27

REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY, IN CHARGE OF
Picts cs THE LIBRARY.

DECEMBER 31, 1853.

Str: The following table exhibits the additions to the library during
the year 1853, distinguishing the receipts by purchase, by donation
and exchange, and by copyright:

rs 4 “

aa : 3

ge Sp | i ‘5

SOURCES. t 2 3 a Se = | Totals.

ae ae = aa Na say Ms 5

g EB = s Bas

Sa ere a | Se Srey |S
By purchase..-.---..-.-- Ree ee ee ee SSA iG arade Income 1,813
By donation and exchange.| 1,244 | 1,121 |.----- Ss) Jecosoe|[ocosoelsseces 2, 453
By copyright:....-.....-- 505 181 14 S440 eee eer 11 1, 167
2,008 | 2,856 14 9G) AS Br tac te aie 11 5, 433

The whole number of books, pamphlets, maps, engravings, and
other articles at present belonging to the library, is shown by the
following table:

Ba a

Lt oie ie
SOURCES. xs = 5p = | Totals.

i] a mR 3 : 3 d= ef

eq io a 2 om > cB)

g SE Vere eS IE Nites tile

| es BER IY imei niet St GIy ealeg Sianhes
By purchase.-....-...--- 4, 432)| 251111, 385 Aer Mena ral f 8,280
By donation and exchange.| 3,901 | 5,164) 58 |1,813 |...-.. 30 | 41] 11,007
By copyright..........--- 2, 809 420 38 59 |2, 274 9 97 5, 706
Dy NGepostts=/-)- 25. - voc o. SHE ee eA ST SEPSIS) pect sm ACG mia aL Alias 873
. 12,015 | 8,095 /1,431 |1,874.|2,274 | 39) 138 | 25,866

The purchases during the year have been few and unimportant.

The receipts by exchange and donation have been numerous and
valuable. A particular account of them is given by Professor Baird in
his report upon the exchanges. It is not thought necessary, therefore,
to dwell upon them here, further than to state that many of the works
thus received are of great value from their intrinsic merit, and from the

28 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

difficulty of procuring them through the ordinary channels of the book
trade.

It is much to be regretted that no measures have yet been taken for
the better regulation of the copyright deposit. I have repeatedly called
attention to the subject, and in my last two reports have expressed, at
considerable length, views which I hoped might tead to a revision of
the law. The interest of this Institution, of publishers, and of the lit-
erary public, require further legislation on this subject, and substantially
such, it is believed, as was recommended in the reports alluded to.

Much inconvenience has been experienced from the delay in finishing
the central building. The books stand in double rows on most of the
shelves in the room where they are at present placed. Some of them
have been injured, too, by exposure to dampness. It is impossible
with the means provided to warm the room, and all who have been
engaged in the library have suffered severely from colds contracted
while working in it. It has been found necessary to remove many
pamphlets and papers to the basement, where they are subject to injury,
and where it is difficult to consult them. The labors of the library are
doubled by the want of proper accommodations. On these accounts,
it is much to be desired that the main library should be finished at as
early a day as possible, in order that the books may be removed to a
permanent, safe, and convenient lodgment.

Applications have been made to me during the year for the opening
of the library in the evening, and some remarks on the subject have
appeared in the newspapers. It was impossible to comply with these
suggestions without employing an additional attendant. The present
attendant is required to be on duty from daylight in the morning till
five o’clock in the afternoon. It would be unjust to require services of
him in the evening. Besides, no arrangements have been made for
lighting the reading-room, nor can they well be made till the building
is finished. It has seemed necessary, therefore, to postpone for the
present the further consideration of the subject; which I do with the
hope that it may hereafter be found practicable to extend the time for
consulting the library, it desired by any considerable number of persons.

Another topic connected with the library to which I wish to direct
the attehtion of the Board of Regents, is the framing of a set of by-
laws and regulations for the management of the library and the use of
the books. I would also suggest the appointment of a standing com-
mittee upon the library. Such a committee becomes the more neces-
sary as the library becomes of more importance, both from its extent and
the character of its books, and as the time is near at hand for the comple-
tion of the building, and the permanent arrangement of the collection.

The reading-room has continued to be a place of great resort for
citizens and strangers. The list of periodicals is extensive, and com-
prises many of the best scientific and literary journals of this country
and of Europe.

It is proper for me here to call attention to the desirableness of com-
pleting the series of periodicals and of transactions and journals of
learned societies. But very few of our sets are complete. Inquiries
are daily made for back numbers which are wanting. As it is prob-
able that we have received all, or nearly all, of the earlier publications

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 29

of societies which they are able to supply, it seems advisable to furnish
our agents in Europe with lists of the volumes which we possess, and
authorize them to purchase, as opportunities may occur, the volumes
that are wanting.

The ‘Notices of Public Libraries,’ prepared with considerable
labor, and published three years ago by the Smithsonian Institution, is
still almost daily called for, though about 6,900 copies, printed by
‘Congress and by the Institution, have been distributed. Very few
copies remain on hand. Since the book was published, a large amount
of additional matter has been received. There is a great demand for
information of this kind, and it seems desirable to issue a new and
enlarged edition of the Notices. It has been impossible for me, during
the past year, to gain time for this work from the daily duties of the
hbrary, and the unremitted labor which the superitendence of ihe
catalogue system has imposed upon me.

The National Convention of Librarians and Bibliographers, which
met in New York in September last, deserves to be particularly noticed
in this report, on account of the frequent reference there made to the
position and operations of the Smithsonian library, as well as on account
of its importance to all libraries, and to the general interests of litera-
ture in this country. It was composed of more than eighty delegates,
representing forty-seven libraries in all parts of the country, from Maine
to California.

It is gratifying to know that the services of the Smithsonian Institu-
tion, in the department of bibliography, were fully recognised by this
convention in the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted:

“Resolved, That the thanks of this convention be presented to the
Board of Regents and officers of the Smithsonian Institution for their
steady and effective efforts for the increase and diffusion of knowledge
among men; and particularly for the measures which they have adopted
for the encouragement and promotion of the public libraries of our
country; and we have great pleasure in looking to that Institution as
the central establishment of the United States for the furtherance of all
such objects.”

The convention also passed the following resolutions relative to the
great central library of reference and research which it has been the
intention of Congress to establish at the Smithsonian Institution:

‘Resolved, That the establishment of a great central tibrary for
reference and research, while it is dernanded by the condition of the
United States as to general civilization and intellectual advancement,
is especially interestmg to this convention from the bearing it would
have upon libraries throughout the country.

“Resolved, That we deem such an establishment as being eminently
worthy of support from the national treasury; and that in no way
can the government better promote the progress of learning through
the whole country, than by placing a central national library under the
administration of the Smithsonian Institution.”

Among the topics which received particular attention at this conven-
tion was the preparation of a convenient manual as a guide to the
organization of library societies, the collection of libraries, and their
proper management. A committee was appointed to digest the plan

30 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

of such a work. So impressed were the members of the convention
with its importance, that “the busmess committee were requested to
consider the expediency of memorializing Congress to procure the
preparation of such a manual through the: agency of the Smithsonian
Institution.”

Every week, and almost every day, applications are made at this
Institution, by letter or by visitors, for information which a book of this
kind would contain. The answers have to be many times repeated.
I have consequently had the intention of preparing such a manaal.
The collections for the purpose are mostly made. ‘The volume of sta-
tistics and descriptions of libraries was an important antecedent. The
development of the catalogue system must also precede any systematic
and well considered work of the kind. The period has now come for
the fulfilment of this design, and I hope to be enabled and to be
authorized to devote such time as may be necessary to its execution.

The library interest has become in this country one of rare magni-
tude and importance. Nothing can be done by the government, by
this Institution, or by individuals here, which tends to promote the
establishment or the efficiency of libraries, without being noticed and
gratefully appreciated by all the intelligent and educated men of all
parties and names, In every city and almost every village and hamlet
throughout the land. Every city has its library, so has. almost every
village, and so have a large number of our common schools. Familiar
as this fact is to many of us, it presents a new phase of society, and
one indicative of mighty influences. ‘The library is the necessary com-
plement of the school. ‘To teach children to read, and then give them
nothing to supply the desire awakened, is mockery. It is reading
rather than school-training which has produced the general intelligence
of the American people. These libraries must be of various graces—
the school and social library of popular English books of history, biog-
raphy, and general literature for reading; the larger collections in cities
for more general study and reference and the oreat central library for
learned investigations. These should all be linked and bound together
in one voluntary yet harmonious system. Such is the general wish
most emphatically expressed—a wish which the Smithsonian Institu-
tion may do much to cherish and to realize.

It now remains for me to speak of the progress which has been made
during the year upon the catalogue system.

A new and greatly enlarged and improved edition of the report, con-
taining an account of the system, rules for the preparation of catalogues,
and (as examples under the rules) the catalogue of the bibliographical
works in the Smithsonian library, has been prepared and stereotyped.
An edition of a thousand copies, as far as to the examples, has been
printed. The printers have since been employed upon the catalogue
of the Library of Congress, and consequently the work upon the
report has been suspended. It would require but a few weeks and an
inconsiderable additional expenditure of money to complete this work.
The calls for it are frequent, and I feel very desirous of being able to
answer them at an early day. The book will probably contain about
three hundred pages.

At the last session of the Board of Regents, a resolution was passed,

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 31

requesting the Secretary of the Institution to call the attention of the
joint Library Committee of Congress to the Smithsonian plan of cata-
loguing, and to the advantages—economical and literary—which would
accrue to the Library of Congress and to other libraries, by their adop-
tion of this plan. ‘The committee examined the subject, and recom-
mended to Congress an appropriation of three thousand dollars for com-
mencing a catalogue. The work was begun in July last, and has pro-
ceeded most prosperously till the present time. Upwards of six
thousand volumes have already been catalogued, and about one-third
of the appropriation remains unexpended. ‘The consideration of the
maenitucde of the enterprise thus commenced, has led to great caution
in adopting the rules establishing precedents. A great part of my time
has necessarily been given to the work. Less will probably be required
for the future.

I have so frequently and at so much length explained the details and
the advantages of the system, that it is not necessary for me to dwell
upon them at present, except very briefly.

The title of every work and of each distinct edition of every work
is stereotyped upon a separate plate. The author’s name also stands
on a plate by itself. Each plate shows at a glance the heading to
which it belongs. It is obvious that these plates may be placed to-
gether in alphabetical or other order, as may be desired. They are
mounted on blocks for printing, like other stereotype plates.

The great ends to be gained, and which will thus be secured, are:

1. To avoid the necessity of preparing, composing, and correcting

anew the titles once printed, when the library has received accessions,
or the alternative of printing the titles of these accessions in .supple-
ments, which are very inconvenient appendages.

2. ‘Yo prevent the repetition of the workof preparation of titles, com-
position and correction of press, for copies of the same book in different
libraries. The title, once prepared and stereotyped, remains at the
Smithsonian Institution, to be used by any library having the same
book.

3. To secure uniformity in the construction of catalogues, thus great-
ly facilitating the researches of the student.

It is obvious that the cost of the first catalogue will be greater than
if it were not stereotyped. The work of preparation will also be more
expensive; but the additional cost of the first edition will be more than
saved in the first re-printing of the whole catalogue. It will be further
understood that the sum paid by the first library is not only for its own
benefit, but for that of every other library hereafter adopting the plan,
so far as its books are the same. Congress is, therefore, now confer-
ring a great boon upon other libraries, while at the same time it is
taking the course the most economical for. the procuring of its own cata-
logue.

It will be remembered that we had two classes of difficulties to
meet, the one literary and the other mechanical. ‘The theory of the
system had first to be perfected in all its details. The practical appli-
cation had then to be made. ‘The time and money which have been
expended in Europe in discussions connected with the subject of the
best methods of cataloguing, indicate the difficulty of the theory. Prac-

32 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

tical stereotypers pronounced the scheme impracticable. A new mode
of stereotyping, with a new material, had to be introduced, perfected,
and applied for the purpose. There is no art so difficult of improve-
ment as that of typography. These statements will mdicate the me-
chanical difficulties which have been overcome.

It is gratifying to be able to state that the new process of stereotyp-
ing which we have adopted for this purpose is likely to be introduced
into use on a large scale. The benefits which the Institution will thus
have conferred upon the most perfect and most important of the arts,
apart from the connexion of these improvements with the catalogue
system, will not be the least among its achievements, as the efforts by
which this end has been attained have not been the least of its labors.

Impressed as I was with the importance of the subject, and confident
as I telt of its entire practicability in every particular, ] was desirous
that it should be fully discussed by librarians and practical biblio-
graphers, as well as by printers, stereotypers, and experts in the typo-
graphical art. The convention to which I have alluded afforded a rare
opportunity for this examination of our plans, and a fair and intelligent
estimate of their value. J introduced the subject and invited discus-
sion. It was manifest that those who were present had come together
having formed various opinions as to the practicability of the scheme,
though with but one sentiment as to its desirableness. The matter was
discussed a whole day with freedom, and with the manifest desire to
arrive at ajust conclusion. I take great pleasure in quoting the fol-
lowing resolutions, which were unanimously adopted, as embodying the
results of the long, careful, and interested examination:

“* Resolved, That we have consideredattentively the plan for construct-
ing catalogues of libraries, and a general catalogue of the publi libra-
ries of the United States, by means of separate stereotype titles, origi-
nated and prepared by Professor C. C. Jewett, and developed by him
while librarian of the Smithsonian Institution. That we regard it as an
object of high importance to the interests of our public libraries, and
to the promotion of learning, and worthy to share in the funds of the
Institution and the zealous exertions of its officers ; the more so as it is
an enterprise which cannot be successfully prosecuted, except under
the guidance, protection, and pecuniary support of this central estab-
lishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.

“« Resolved, That we have learned with pleasure that Congress, on
the recommendation of the library committee, made an appropriation for
the practical testing of the plan in its application to the Library of Con-
gress, and that the work is now in successtul progress.

“« Resolved, That, as practical librarians and bibliographers, we take
pride and satisfaction in the fact that a measure of so great literary
utility has received the prompt and efficient support of our national
legislature; and we would express the earnest hope that this support
may be extended to it liberally, till its first great result in the complete
stereotyped catalogue of the Library of Congress shall be attained.”

We may reasonably congratulate ourselves upon the complete suc-
cess of these plans up to the present point. They still need the foster-
ing care of this Institution. As soon as the catalogue of the Library of

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 33

Congress shall be completed, other institutions, and even individuals,
are ready to avail themselves of the scheme for procuring their cata-
logues. Its general adoption—the crowning point of all our efforts—
seems, therefore, as sure as the completion of the first work.

ft is manifest that appropriations will every year be necessary from
the Smithsonian fund for the procuring of type, apparatus, and fixtures,
as well as for filling any intervals that may occur in the continuity of
the work. But it seems now quite certain that the system will ere
long grow up into a large and self-supporting establishment, regulated
by The combined libraries of the country.

Respectfully submitted.
C. C. JEWETT.
To JoseruH Henry, LL.D.,
Secretary of the Cha lee Institution.

34 EIGHTH ANNUAL: REPORT OF ~

REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY IN CHARGE OF PUBLI-
CATIONS, EXCHANGES, AND NATURAL HISTORY.

Sir: I herewith present to you the report of operations for the year
1853, in the departments assigned to my superintendence.

1. PUBLICATIONS.

During the year 1853, a much larger amount of matter has been
printed and published by the Smithsonian Institution than in any year
since the commencement of its operations. ‘Two volumes of the quarto
series have been completed, of which one has been distributed and
the other is nearly ready. The following list contains the titles of the
papers in these volumes.

List of Memoirs in Vol. V, Smithsonian Contributions.

1. Introduction ; pp. 16.

2. A Flora and Fauna within living animals. By Joseph Leidy, M. D.;
pp: 68, and ten plates.

3. Memoir on the Extinct Species of American Ox. By Joseph Leidy,
M. D.; pp. 20, and five plates.

4, Anatomy ot the Nervous System of Rana Pipiens. By Jeffries Wy-
man, M. D.; pp. 52, and two plates.

5. Nereis Boreali-Americana, or Contributions to the History of the
Marine Algz of North America. By William Henry Harvey,
M. D., M. R. I. A; Part Il, Rhodospermez : pp. 262, and twenty-
four plates.

6. Plantee Wrightianze Texano-Neo-Mexicane ; Part II, An Account of
a collection of Plants, made by Charles Wright, A. M., in West-
ern Texas, New Mexico, and Sonora, in the years 1851 and 1852.
By Asa Gray, M. D.; pp. 120, and four plates.

Vol. VI, Smithsonian Contributions.

1. Introduction ; pp. 16.

2. Plante Frémontianz, or Description of Plants collected in Califor-
nia by Col. J. C. Frémont. By John Torrey, F. L.S.; pp. 24,
and ten plates.

3. Observations on the Bats Maritima of Linnzeus. By John Torrey,
¥. L. 8.; pp. 8, and one plate.

4, On the Darlingtonia Californica, a new Pitcher Plant from Northern
California. By John Torrey, F. L.8.; pp. 8, and one plate.

5. Synopsis of the Marine Invertebrata of Grand Manan, or the Region
about the Bay of Fundy. By William Stimpson; pp. 68, and
three plates.

6. On the Winds of the Northern Hemisphere. By James H. Coffin,
Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, in Lafayette
College ; pp. 200, and thirteen plates.

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 35

7. The Ancient Fauna of Nebraska, or a Description of Remains of
Extinct Mammalia and Chelonia, from ihe Mauvaises Terres of
Nebraska. By Joseph Leidy, M. D., Professor of Anatomy in the
University of Pennsylvania; pp. 126, and twenty-five plates.

8. Occultations for 1853.

Moliime Voconrais pages Voy 22.) Fle er 538—plates 45
Pio ldine Vi contains pages: oso. oo Pao eee 476—plates 53
Or an aggregate of quarto publications........-.-.- 1,014 98

Of these volumes, volume V has been distributed. Volume VI has
not yet been bound up, but will be delivered and distributed early in
1854.

In addition to the above, several memoirs for the seventh volume are
in hand, and the engravings nearly complete; among these are :

Chappellsmath, on the Tornado of Indiana.

Leidy, on the Extinct Sloths of North America.

Baviey, on New Microscopic Forms.

The octavo publications have also been of considerable extent, and
are as follows:

Seventh Annual Report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian
Institution, for 1852; pp. 96.

Report of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, for 1852 ;

sere.

Pe tose of North American Reptiles in the Museum of the Smith-
sonian Institution. Partl—Serpents. ByS. F. Baird and C. Girard,

. 188.
eee of the described Coleoptera of the United States. By
Frederick Ernst Melsheimer, M. D. Revised by 8. S. Haldeman and
J. L. Le Conte, pp. 190.

In addition to these a large number of circulars, relating to various
subjects, has been printed.

9, DistRIBUTION OF PUBLICATIONS AND EXCHANGES.
(a.) Foreign Distributions and Exchanges.

The records of foreign distributions and exchanges for the year 1853
show a large increase, both in transmissions and receipts, over 1852,
thus exhibiting a steady enlargement of the sphere and extent of ope-
ratiops, gratifying to all who are interested in the speedy diffusion of
knowledge throughout the world. As in past years, the Smithsonian
Institution has been a most important medium of communication be--
tween the American scientific societies and. their European correspon-
dents.

The names of the institutions making use of the facilities afforded by
the Smithsonian Institution, as well as the complete statistics of the
whole business, will be found detailed in the accompanying tables.

The packages, amounting in the aggregate to 1,604, bearing 567
addresses, weighing 12,220 pounds, and occupying nearly 400 cubic
feet of capacity, all left the Institution in May, and for a large numbey

36 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

of these packages acknowledgments have already been received. The
names of institutions receiving the Smithsonian Contributions to Know-
ledge, 25S in number, will be found in the table. Nearly 400, how-
ever, have received publications of some kind from the Institution ; the
total number of addresses, including those parcels sent by others, being
567, as already stated.

A.—TABLE EXHIBITING THE STAFISTICS OF PRINTED MATTER SENT
ABROAD IN 1852, By rHE Smrrusonran INSTITUTION.

1. Distributed by Dr. J. G. Fliigel, Leipsic.

aolg Se a eee

a Fon a. aus BS law) . S
Fa Wes S ie fee | ee a |e Bi
Ge a= 50 = v qx i) oO = oO
Sis es seen | ese ORS Sell ts Ss
COUNTRIES. nz |2o o'9 S | a= gs | Qe
Slee ~ S| Be | 22 Caetel des SS
wo as a) op 3 Ea = = & ~ ©

Sie aS) iS an 3S Fs iS) is oS =) m

So Ve Z, ayaa Be Sea
Sweden..-.-.-.- 7 ehleaesoe Vz 20 Oe Ge eee ees eee Bes Meera ||-es ca
Norway.-'--'-2 +. - 4 eae ee 7 12 Tg eet Pe st ide eRe ene
neelawdes a2 2S IL isis Si aeeslie Res 2 PS eee aes aie 3 AB Be ec ner
Denmark... -... - 7 Wile 14 23 eee ete Jad 2) pale
aRMSEIAM eee Soe 15 Gjossyss 32 42 CSA ae sei Reps ers eres |e aoe
Holland seo 5 e5: 12 Seal eee 23 34 Aa Se ie seaman ieee sistas, Biter
Germany..-.----| 85 Bs} E5856 155 | 184 GB ile Nye sete Pn ese ae
Beloimm ys sy 9 DalRosice 18 34 S aie se ee eee ee eck GS Ss
Switzerland. .. -- 13 SMR 19 49 Gj: Se ae Been SS ise itr
Total...-.-.| 153] 90| 243] 287} 396] 103| 786 |6,250/200| 25) 190

2. Distribuied by Hector Bossange, Paris.

4 ro ' ret ° '
=e. on 5S ® i “2 P= ep
om a gq. R a rs x =
AO |S sp | * eS eS a | 2

op Sy el fa om On =} {=} ua
GS = mee qo qu 5 ‘S) =e
Cis o> coe v4 oo a a So
i = ial Oo my
COUNTRIES. m 3 a) o —rS) iS) cc) 4 - Sa
oa oo 3S ns In) S) mt ~ es
wa 7a HS, vA s-. 1S 43
ress gm 6 ae 2S eo ; nl cs) a a se
ee et a rah te re es eee he Ns eo |e |o | 22
S'S mee we] 5 CS} 3) ne ‘Oo ) bat 42
S is i) i= 3 es} le) S | 2S o
<q at) al A Ay A ia Oo | 4
WAN Ces ce one a ADD BN eee 80 | 102 QO RE ANG Taal ie Bla SS
1 AR ee RO os le AB VG | onal ete tea cor ee
Botaleei.s 32 91 39 | 130/| 123 | 158 gies44 | 325 12,250) 72) 9 110
he
= 4

Oc OO

INSTITUTION.

THE SMITHSONIAN

a . o 8 . (<>} 10
a ‘saseyovd sud Hea oe sosnyoud sau we lecs soseyond suis & = = ys is
S -edm0990"8 8.103397 Heer pe aS -vdutoo0e ~~ s.109}9°T peer -eduiod08 = 8.109907
8 , Lore net
~~ 1 ‘ .

R Heat Stee eres poe eins eee Lie ar~r | wo
*BOXOT rest a soxog ot sox0g oat =
~ Slo => a
8 Pe etese “4p rile "yy -qno ut Ayorde Gee ee lerd

bs “ay -qno ut Ajrordeg Pigteest Ue -ljgon yy -qno ur Ayvdey 11 | 6 y-qnd ut Aye 3) R 3

eas Tat eel SS Ss S
rhilg Te sees [3
> ‘spmod urqysiagy | of i tt | ‘spunod ur qysyy | ot 1 |S “apunod, OY TUBIOAN 4 eae ae
= ee OngstEeD Rr ine =
S 5 eee s=etel =. =
SS ote ao =) hoon inp) 19 S =
© Oh arc ' . we > So.

“8p TPIOL | ieee | = [R90], aeae | 2 [2901 | oS x =
S ee ea in G30
o : “ u 5 3 otra | —

ss ‘s.19]10 10y ia US 3 5 “s191[10 LOY Qi] R > SIaHIO 10} S36 =

3 peso[pua soseyoed ‘ Ss pesopoue saseyord 6 S PpaIsopPPtd sSosvyoed
= = S : Z ;

= Be fr omon |
= x “190 UL SS XS “18 = "S100 TO. me | on = S19O WLOTF Q2ot 1s
iS Ss peso[ouo soneyoeg aa aS pesopaae SOHBYOV ea) pesopue soseyoed

ae) Ser ed —————
5.5 S BS < | TOMO | 20

w es ‘saBeyoud jed OSES ale = ‘saseypud ted pete ECS 3 ‘sopeyoud ped Barns |

= -puld jo taqunyy eB ia ‘2 -pund jo rquny S ound jo saquinyy

= © S
Ss Frases 2 ieate| en mean |r
= a eee or son pu = <0 15 69 | co

Re [290], eee esl Q 24 ee iS [F301 Qa Ne)

8 ' ‘ ‘ o i

o 1 ° . ° <i ° a

3 ‘ ; SQN |
S “Sarpooord ur Tape ae ES ‘Surpeoe.d ur gu | eu ‘Smpeoaad ut SSD D
= , € 2

ry, P9softs sessoippVy : pesopue sossaippy : poso[pue sassoippYy
3
= ar) j ; ed 10 |
S ‘sosvyord yedio ey see eS ‘soSeyord jedi me be ‘saSuyord edi ma Se | 2

= ulid jo sessolppy = “uid jo sassoippy uid jo sossoippy

sS t} ‘ U 4 ' s ’ ’ ‘ s ' ‘ ' :
= bo ees Se Chee:
S a reat) : 5 a 18 f ee :

“3 = ae at i De ct vi Eee hoes
S i 0 Aa eae fx oer: eS ata
& eS qis 3 E =e Ss is eee: &

g 8 Page e B ome 2 nash e
= cs) Bakes m 3) = 3 Rng

Hw mo 2 ‘
os oan s a uo ~
a) Mk <I Sa AMMO

38 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

B.—TAaBLE EXHIBITING THE NUMBER OF PIECES RECEIVED FROM
THE DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES FOR DIS-
TRIBUTION ABROAD.
%

Obtamed by the Smithsonian Institution from various sources,

hut exclusive ofits own: publications..).. 5 eee ee “DAL
Boston Society of Natural History, Boston...-........--.- 54
American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Boston...---.-.- 112
PuAIerICAN: FOUL OL SCIENCES. Se ee a CANN EN, a as 35
American Oriental Society, New Haven.......-..--..---- 33
Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia......---.----- 186
American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia.........-.-- re
Piss. Coast Survey nce ou le ee oi es ee 131
MALE TNL OCONEE ure = SEN ee Rae 100
Topographical Bureau... .--- Cero eueee eats fas bs ik Se 30
Machianbuneate ce cee ee ON CC iP oer ao eR 168
Dieht- Mouse Boat) och. 00 oie See oe ue cit ee staan 5
Seckctamon tie Navy. ts see ee oes epee ge ee ee 29
Be SINOSS MEMO VATE sou SOU A UN cy UI Sees AC a 170
Miscellaneous institutions and individuals........-..------ 319

— 1,444

Motalereceived es ia Soe SEN ie San 3,854

Most of the above consisted of single volumes ; a number, however,
were packages with several enclosures, which would probably bring
the number of volumes to 4,000.

APPENDIX C.

List of Foreign Institutions in correspondence with the Smithsoman Institution.
SWEDEN.

Goteborg —Kongl. Vetenskaps och Vitterhets Samhillet.
* Lund.—Kongl. Universitetet.
Observatory.
* Stockholm.—Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps Akademien.
Kongl. Landbruks-Akademien.
*Kongl. Vitterhets Historie och Antiquitets Akademien.
*Riksbiblioteket.
Svenska Akademien.
* Upsala.—Kongliga Vetenskaps Societeten.
*Kongl. Universitet.

Those marked * have received the fifth volume of ‘‘ Contributions.’”’ The others have
received separate memoirs and other publications.

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 39
NORWAY.

* Bergen.—Bergen’s Museum.
*Christianta.—Det Kongelige Norske Universitet.
Observatory.
Physiographiske Forening.
Dronthem.—Det Kongel. Norske Videnskabernes Selskab.

ICELAND.
*Reykjank.—tslands Stiftisbokasafn.
DENMARK.

* Copenkagen.—Kongelige Nordiske Oldskrift Selskab.
*Det Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskab.
*Kongelige Bibliothek.
Ké6nigliches danische Seecharten Archiv.
Observatory.
Skandinaviske Naturforskeres Forsamling.

RUSSIA.

Dorpat.—Gelehrte Estnische Gesellschaft zu Dorpat.
*Observatoire Impérial.
* Helsing fors.—Societas Scientiarum Fennica.
*Kasan.—University Library.
*Mittawv.—Kurlaindische Gesellschaft ftir Literatur und Kunst.
* Moscow.—Société Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou.
Pulkowa.—Observatoire Impérial.
*S¢. Petersburg —Académie Impériale des Sciences.
Depot of Naval Charts of Russia.
Geodetic Survey of Russia.
*Imperial Public Library.
*Kais. Russ. Mineralogische Gesellschatt.
*L’Etat Major du Corps des Ingénieurs des Mines de
. Russie.
*Observatoire Physique Central de Russie.
*Société Impériale d’ Archéologie.

HOLLAND.

* Amsterdam.—Académie Royale des Sciences 4 Amsterdam.
Genootschap Natura Artis Magistra.
Zoological Garden.
*Groningen.—Academia Groningana.
* Haarlem.—Hollandsche Maatschappy der Weienschappen.
*Hague.—Bibliothéque Royale.
Leyden.—Botanical Society of the Netherlands.
Musée d’Histoire Naturelle.
*University Library.

40 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

* Middelburg —Zeeuwsche Genootschap der Wetenschappen. |

* Rotier dam. —Bataafsch Genootschap der proefondervindelyke Wijs-
begeerte te Rotterdam.

* Utreicht —Provinciaal Utrechtsch Genootschap van Kunsten en We-
tenschappen.

Zwolle—{Overyssel.)—Overysselsche Vereeniging tot Ontwikkeling
van Provinciale Helvaart.

GERMANY.

* Altenburg.—Naturforschende Gesellschaft.
Altona.—Geodetic Survey of Holstein.
Observatory.
Berlin.—Anstalt des topographischen Bureaus im general Stabe.
Deutsche Geologische Gesellschaft.
*Geographische Gesellschaft.
Gesellschaft fir Erdkunde.
*Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde.
Gewerbe Institut.
Ingenieur Schule.
*Konigliche Bibliothek.
Konigliches Landes Giconomie Collegium.
*Konigliches Museum.
*Kéniglich, Preussische Akademie der Wissenschaften Zu
Beatin.
Observatory.
Wiegman’s Archiv ftir Naturgeschichte.
* Blankenberg. =n guewtisaemachaliche: Verein des Harzes.
* Bonn. SN aiaiuhicioacher Verein des preussischen Rheinlandes und
Westphalens.
Observatory.
*University Library.
* Bremen.—Stadt-Biblicthek.
* Breslau.—Kaiserliche Leopoldinisch-Carolinisehe Nicadeniis der Na-
turforscher.
* Dantzig —Naturtorschende Gesellschaft.
Darmstadt.—Grossherzogliche Bibliothek.
Deidesheim.—Pollichia Meare eeeeene chen Verein der bayerischen
Pfalz.
* Dresden.—King of Saxony. .
*Konigliche Bibhothek.
K. Sammlung fiir Kunst u. Waiseenschattony
ee if - —Gesellschaft Neb ge Freunde Westphalens.

Eepurt BU demic G emeinniitziger Wissenschaften.

* Erlangen.—Konigliche Universitit.

% Frankjurt am Main. —Senckenbergische Naturforschende Gesellsc haft.
* Freiberg.—Kniglich-Sichsische Bergakademie.

* Freiburg. —University Library.

* Gicssen.—University Library.

Goérluz—Naturforschende Gesellschaft.

bie

P

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 41

Gottingen.—Konigliche Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften.

Gotungen.—*Konigliche Universitit.

Gotha.—Royal Library. ©

Gritz.—University Library.

Greifswald.—K. P. Staats u. Landwirthschaftl Akademie Eldena.

*University Library.

HAalle.—Deutsche Morgenlindische Gescildchak:
Naturforschende Gesellschaft.
*Naturwissenschaftlicher Verein in Halle.
Thiiringisch-sichsischer Verein.

*University Library.

Hamburg.—Commerz Bibliothek.

Museum.
*Naturwissenschaftlicher Verein.
Observatory.

*Stadt- Bibliothek.

* Hanncver.—Isinigliche Bibliothek.

* Heidelberg.—Grossnerzoglich-Badische Universitat.

*Inasbriick. —U niversity Library. e°

*Ferdinandeum.

*Jena.—Grossherz%gl. herzogl. sachs. Gesammt- Universitit.

* Karlsruhe.-—Grossher zogliche Hof bibliothek.

* Kiel. Academia Glee Gane Albertina.

* Konigsberg.—Observatory.

University Library.
_ Kremsmiinster.—Observatory.
Leipsic.—Dr. J. G. Fliigel.
Furstlich-Jablonowski’sche Gesellschaft.
*Koéniglich-Sichsische Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften.
*Stadt. Bibliothek.
University Library.
Mannheim.—Mannheimer Verein fiir Naturkunde.
*Marburg.—Gesellschaft zur Beforderung der gesammten Naturwis-
senschatten.
*University Library.

* Meissen.—Isis.

Merseburg.—Central Direction ftir die Proving Sachsen.

* Munich. ——Kinigl ich Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften.
*Konigliche Hof und Staats-Bibliothek.
Observ vatory.
Polytechnic School.

Neu Wicd.—Maximilian Prinz von Wied.

* Niirnberg.—Naturhistorische Gesellschaft.

Olmiitz.—University Library.

* Pesth.— Ungarische Gelehrte Gesellschaft.

*University Library.
*Prag.—Das Bihmische Museum.
K. K. patriotisch oekonomische Gesellschaft.
*K. K. Universitat.
*Kéniglich-Béhmische Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften.
Regensburg.—K. Baierische Botanische Gesellschaft. _

42 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

* Rostock.—University Library.
*Stettn.—Entomologischer Verein.
* Stuttgart.—KoGnigliche éffentliche Bibliothek.

Verein fiir Vaterlindische Naturkunde.
Tharand.—Knigliche Akademie fiir Forst u. Landwirthe.
* Tiibingen—K bnigliche Universitat.

* Vienna.—Kaiserliche Akademie der Wissenschaften.
*K. K. Geologische Reichsanstalt.
*K. K. Hofbibliothek.
K. K. Hof-u. Staatsdruckerei.
K. K. Naturalien Kabinet.
*K. K. Orientalische Akademie.
Observatory.
*University Library.
Zoologisch-botanischer Verein.
* Wiirzburg.—P hysikalisch-medicinische Gesellschaft.
*University Library.
Wiirttemberg.— Der Verein fiir Vaterlindische Naturkunde in Wiirt-
temberg.

SWITZERLAND.
*

* Basel.—Die Gesellschaft fiir Vaterlandische Alterthtimer in Basel.
College of Basel.
*Naturforschende Gesellschaft.
Bern.—College of Bern.
*Allgemeine Schweizerische Gesellschaft fiir die gesammten
Naturwissenschaften.
*Naturforschende Gesellschaft.
* Gcencve.—Bibliotheque de la ville de Geneve.
Observatoire de Genéve.
*Société de Physique et d’Histoire Naturelle de Genéve.
Lausanne-—Société Vaudoise des Sciences Naturelles.
* Neuchatel. Société des Sciences Naturelles.
Ziirich.—College of Ziirich.
*Gesellschaft tiir atesandish Alterthtimer in Zurich.
*Naturforschende Gesellschaft in Zurich.

BELGIUM.
.
Antwerp.—Académie d’ Archéologie.
Bruges.—Société des Sciences Naturelles.
* Bruzelles.—Académie Royale des Sciences, des Lettres et des Beaux
Arts.
Bibliotheque Royale de Belgique.
*Observatoire Royal.
*City Library.
*Gand.—Université de Gand.
* Liege.—Société Royale des Sciences de Liége.
* Loyvain.—Université Catholique.
*Mons.’ Société des Sciences, des Arts et des Lettres, du Hainaut.

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 43
FRANCE.

_ Angers.—Société d’Agriculture, Sciences et Arts.
Angouléme.—Société d’Agriculture, Arts et Commerce.
Arras.—Société d’ Arras.
Baycux.—Société d’ Agriculture, Sciences, Arts et Belles-Lettres
Besangon.—Académie des Sciences, Belles-Lettres et Arts.
* Bordeaux.—Académie Nationale des Sciences, Belles-Lettres et Arts.
*Société Linnéenne de Bordeaux.

Brest—Académie Navale.
*Caen.—Académie des Sciences, Arts et Belles-Lettres.

Société des Antiquaries de Normandie.

Société Linnéenne de Normandie.
*Charente-—Soc. d’ Agriculture, Arts, et Commerce du Dép. de la Cha-

rente.
Cherbourg.—Société Académique de Cherbourg.
Société des Sciences Naturelles de Cherbourg.
Clermont-Ferrand.—Académie des Sciences, Bolles-Leitres et Arts de
Clermont-Ferrand.
Dijon——Académie des Sciences, Arts et Belles-Lettres de Dijon.
Evreux.—Société Libre d’ Agriculture, Sciences, Arts et Belles-Lettres.
Le Mans.—Société d’ Agriculture, Science et Arts.
Lille.—Société Nationale des Sciences, de Agriculture et des Arts.
*Lyon.—Société Nationale de l Agriculture, d’Histoire Naturelle et des
Arts Utiles de Lyon.

*Académie des Sciences, Belles-Lettres et Arts de Lyon.
*Société Linnéenne de Lyon.
Marseilles —Académie des Sciences, Lettres et Arts.
Mende.—Société d’ Agriculture, Commerce, Sciences et Arts.
* Metz.—Académie Nationale de Metz.

Société d’Histoire Naturelle.
* Montpellver.—Société Archéologique de Montpellier.

Académie des Sciences et Lettres a Montpellier.

* Nimes.—Académie du Gard.
* Orleans.—Société des Sciences, Belles-Lettres et Arts d’Orleans.
* Paris.—Bibliothéque de la Ville de Paris.

*Bibliothéque du Jardin des Plantes.

*Bibliothéque Impériale.

Bureau des Longitudes.

*Dépot des Cartes et Plans.

*Ecole Nationale des Mines.

*Institut de France.

*Institut Historique de France.

*Ministere de la Guerre.

*Ministére de la Marine.

*Ministére de I’Instruction publique et des Cultes.

Observatoire.

*Sociéte des Antiquaires.

*Société Asiatique.

*Société de Géographie.

Société de l’Ecole des Chartes.

44 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF -

Paris —Société Entomologique.
*Société Ethnologique.
Société Frangaise de Statistique Universelle.
*Société Géologique de France.
Société Impériale d’ Horticulture de Paris.
Société Météorologique de France.
Société Nationale des Antiquaries de France.
Société Nationale et Centrale d’ Agriculture.
Société Philomatique.

Reims.—Académie de Reims.

* Rouen.—Académie des Sciences, Belles-Lettres et Arts de Rouen.

Saint- Quenten.— Société des Sciences, Arts, Belles-Lettres, et Agricul-

ture.

* Strasbour, g.—Société des Sciences, Agriculture et Arts, du Bas Rhin.

*Académie des Sciences Naturelles.
Toulon.—Académie Navale.

* Toulouse—Académie des Sciences, Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres de

Toulouse.

Tours.x—Société d’Agriculture, des Sciences, d’Arts, et des Belles-

Lettres.
Trevoux.—Société. d’ Agriculture, Sciences et Arts.
Troyes.—Societé d’Agriculture, Sciences, Arts et Belles-Lettres.

ITALY.

* Bologna.—Accademia delle Scienze dell’ Istituto di Bologna.
Brescia —Ateneo di Brescia.
Catania.—Accademia Gioenia di Scienze Naturali.
Chamberry.—Société Royale Académique de Savoie.
Florence.—Accademia del Cimento.

*Biblioteca Magliabecchiana.

Imperiale e Reale Museo di Fisica e Storia naturale
Firenze.

Observatory.

Genoa.—Accademia delle Scienze, Lettere, ed Arti.
Accademia Medico-chirurgica di Genova.

* Lucca.—Reale Accademia Lucchese di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti.
* Vilan.—Biblioteca Brera.

di

*Imperiale Regio Istituto Lombardo di Scienze, Lettere ed

Arti.
*Museo Civico.
Modena.—Observatory.
Societa Italiana delle Scienze.
Naples.— Accademia degli Aspiranti Naturalisti.
Observatory.
*Reale Accademia delle Scienze, e Belle Lettere.
* Palermo.—Accademia Palermitana di Scienze e Lettere.
Observatory.

* Padua.—Imperiale Regia Accademia di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti di

Padova.
Pisa.—Accademia Valdarnese del Poggio.

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 45

* Pisa.—University Library.

*Ravenna.—Societa Ravennate.

*Rume.—Accademia Romana di Archeologia.
*Accademia Pontifica dei Nuovi Lincei.
*Biblioteca Vaticana.

British Academy of Fine Arts.
Correspondenza Scientifica in Roma.
Osservatorio Astronomico del Collegio Romano.

Stena.—Accademia delle Scienze.

* Turin.—Accademia Reale delle Scienze.

* Veyice.—Biblioteca Marciana.

J. R. Istuto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti.
Naval School.
*Verona.—Accademia d’Agricoltura, Commercio ed Arti di Verona.

PORTUGAL.

* Lisbon.—Academia Real dos Sciencias.

SPAIN.

* Madrid.—Real Academia Espanola.
*Real Academia de Ciencias de Madrid.

*Real Academia de la Historia.
*Biblioteca Real.

GREAT BRITAIN AND JRELAND.

Bath.— Bath and West of England Agricultural Society.
Belfast.—Belfast Institution.

*Library of Queen’s College.

*Natural History and Philosophical Society.
Berwick-on- Tweed.—Berwickshire Naturalists’ Club.
*Cambridge.—Cambridge Philosophical Society.

*Cambridge Observatory.
*University Library.
*Cork.—Library of Queen’s College.
Royal Cork Institution.
Dublin.—Botanical Society.

Dublin University Philosophical Society.

Geological Society of Dublin.

*Library of Trinity College.

*Royal Dublin Society.

Royal Irish Academy.
Edinburgh.—Botanical Society.

*Library of Faculty of Advocates.

Royal Institution for Encouragement of Fine Arts ir
Scotland.

*Royal Observatory.

Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh.

*Royal Scottish Society of Arts.

46 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

* Edinburgh.—Royal Society.

*Society of Antiquaries of Scotland

*University Library.

*Wernerian Society of Natural History.
*Galway.—Library of Queen’s College.
Glasgow.—Andersonian Institute. ©

*University Library.
* Greenwich. Royal observatory.
* Leeds—Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society.
*Liverpool—F ree Public Library, Museum, and Gallery of Art, a the
Town of Liverpool.
Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire.
Observatory.
Royal Institution.
London.—Aborigines Protection Society.
Annals and Magazine of Natural History.
*Archzological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland.
*Athenzeum Club.
*Board of Admiralty.
*British Archeological Association.
*British Association for the advancement of Science.
*British Museum.
*Chemical Society of London.
Department of Practical Art.
Entomological Leereae
*Ethnologic al Society of London. _
*Geological Society of London.
*Horticultural Society of London.
Institute of Actuaries.
*Institution of Civil Engineers.
*Library of Corporation of City of London.
*Library of Committee of Privy Council for Trade.
*Library of Eaton College.
*Library of the Hon. the East India Company.
*Library of the House of Commons.
*Linneean Society.
*London Institution (Finsbury.)
*London Library.
Meteorological Society.
*Microscopical Society.
*Museum of Practical Geology.
*Philological Society.
*Queen’s Library.
*Royal Agricultural Society of England.
*Royal Asiatic Society.
Royal Astronomical Society. ¢
*Royal College of Surgeons of England.
*Royal Geographical Society of London.
*Royal Institution of Great Britain.
Royal Society of Literature.
*Royal Society of London.

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 47

London.—*Society of Antiquaries of London. ,
*Society of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce.
*Statistical Society of London.
Syro-Egyptian Society.
*Zoological Society of London.
* Manchester.—Manchester Free Library and Museum.
*Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester.
Maynooth.—College Library.
Newcastle-upon- Tyne.—Natural History Society of Northumberland,

Durham, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Oxford.—Ashmolean Society.

*Bodleian Library.
*Radcliffe Observatory.
Penzance.—Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society.
*Royal Geological Society of Cornwall.
Salford.—Salford Borough Royal Museum and Library.

— * St. Andrews.—University Library.

* Woolwich.—Military Academy.

GREECE.
* Athens University Library.

TURKEY.

Constantinople—Société Orientale de Constantinople.
*Library of the Sultan.

AFRICA.

*Grand Cairo.—The Egyptian Society.
* Libervia.—Government Library.
Mauritius.—Société d’Histoire Naturelle de l’Isle Maurice.

ASIA.

* Allahabad.—Mission College.
* Batavia.—Bataviaasche Genootschap van Konsten en Wetenschappen,
* Bombay.—Royal Asiatic Society.

*Geographical Society.
*Calcutta.—Asiatic Society.

Agricultural and Horticultural Society of India.
*Ceylon.—Asiatic Sociaty.
Batticotta Seminary.

*Hong Kong.—Asiatic Society of China.
* Madras —Literary Society.
* Manilla.—Royal Ecénomical Society of the Phillipine Islands.

VAN DIEMEN’S LAND.

Launceton.—Launceton Library.
Hobarton.—Royal Society of Van Diemen’s Land.
;

48 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

AMERICA.

* Bogota.—Sociedad Economica de Amigos del Pais.
* Brazil.— Rro Janeiro.—Imperial- Brazilian Historical Society.
Royal Geological Society.
Sociedad auxiliadora de Industria Nacional.
* Caracas.—Sociedad Economica de Amigos del Pais.
* Chili. —Santiago.— Biblioteca Nacional.
Observatory of Santiago.
*University Library.
Demerara.—Queen’s College.
*Guatemala.—Sociedad Economica de Amigos del Pais.
*Habana.—Real Sociedad Economica.
Mexico.—Mexico.—E] Minerea.
E11 Museo Nacional.
é Navy and War Tribunal. -
*Sociedad Mexicana de Geografia y Estadistica.
Pueblo.—Colegio Palafoxano y de Pantaleon.
Vera Cruz.—Public Institute.

The receipts of works from abroad, in exchange for those sent out by
the Smithsonian Institution, are much greater than those of last year.
Many of these were of very great value, comprising a large number of
“more or less complete series of transactions and periodicals. For an
enumeration of these, I would refer to the Report of the Assistant Sec-
retary in charge of the Library.

D.—TABLE EXHIBITING THE NUMBER OF PIECES RECEIVED IN EX-
CHANGE FROM ABROAD, IN 1803.

Volumes. ¥ oliovand (quarto sso Pe Oee es ere 511
CANORA See ane eee 929
— 1,440
Parts of volumes and Pamphlets. —Quarto.....-...-.--- 303
Octavos 2 Sie wees: 688
——— 991
Maps:and Wapraving glories. Boe. odie tte. = Shee eae at ee 125
Total 22 LE 7 ne In AL as MI os The pak 2,556

E.—TaBLE EXHIBITING THE NUMBER OF PACKAGES RECEIVED FOR
OTHER AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS, &c., IN 1853.

Brow Colleges. o:aic' = «n,-. «jn = = «i's: pea ete te 6
Boston.—American Academy.....-.--..- Seen Biel auabaicnbeai 26
Natural History. Society... - ....aeeesqeeemeemese i 6
Bowditch, Lar Dray ie a men ecmyninione eens ee ee ee 7
Cambred £e——ODSCLVALONY n,m: 21u =m. (n/n inintahntes a aepegelatay Alas 2 ioe Lalit 11
Bowenc, Garden...'..s,..qepiehereaiy sah pea tei Aes 7

Baryard College... « -cmaeemaceeeteletye alta aes Seis 13
Astronomical Journal. 5 apiece qmiarelale a eet itis 9
Amherst.—Amherst College........ aged = tee ‘ap epiekeaahcth bel ease tek 8

*

”

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 49

Worcester. Antiquarian Sociepy, tia. 2 ti. 2 ese ee eek 1

New Haven.—Journal of Scienee i 2 4s fap Selec oe ek 14

: Amencan. Oriental Soeiety: -.). <i. fh. Suh... en. 7

Albany.—New. York State,Library ... 2.2 25.2---------2--2. 6

New York.—Lyceum of Natural History .........-..-.--- Lie 13

Ethnological Society .........- pee slag i. ae 3

Geogrmplical Society wie hh aca kre Awe el CI fk 4
Philadelphia.—American Philosophical Society .......--.---- 3

Academiyiof, Natural Sciences se ua. ie 2h 2 ee 25

Frankl, Ingtitpepseutie ain kden nS w/c t SUS 2

Geological Survey of Pennsylvania...-...---.. 4

Washington —National Observatory .---..2..--2+22+---2+-- 28

@oast: Sumyey.i ge Gi: sity... Mya ee SI San 22

National in state 2) 6 tia cei let a ae PM i 6

Surceconmbrenerale. tudes at. ely 7 se ee 1

Aer Canimeco ciation: jars \as oo skis ga ae we 2

Commies MnO Tan yas oe iecirs ik oe alae aa 8

Astronomical Expedition to Chii..........--- 4

United States Patent. Office, vos fs 5h eae oe 3

PisceMMepaniMent 4 atee Satis uy Ne Ce 2

Genrectoun.—-Obsenyatony 2a Ars ee ee 5 is ke 10

Miscellaneous, including libraries of States, minor institutions, &c. 755

6. Domestic ExcHANGES.

The copies of Volume V of Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge
intended for American institutions, were all sent off in May at the same
time with those for foreign bodies. As heretofore, they were distrib-
uted through the following agents, who have made no charge for their
service: Messrs. J. P. Jewett & Co., Boston; George P. Putman &
Co., New York; Lippincott, Grambo & Co., Philadelphia; John Rus-
sell, Charleston ; B. M. Norman. New Orleans; Dr. Geo. Engelmann,
St. Louis; H. W. Derby, Cincinnati ; and Jewett, Proctor & Worthing-
ton, Cleveland. Acknowledgments for nearly all have been already
received.

NATURAL HISTORY.
INCREASE OF THE MUSEUM.

The additions to the museum during the year 1853 have been very’
extensive, covering the entire field of natural history and ethnology.
Many of these consist of species altogether new to science ; while others,,
though previously described, belong to forms of great rarity. The con-.
tributions to our knowledge of the geographical distribution of species.
have been of the most important character, the localities occurrmg as
they do over te entire area of this country. A very large proportion

20 -EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

of these localities are in the region between the Mississippi and the
Pacific, many of them never bears represented i in natural history cabi-
nets. This condition of things has been,in great measure, due to the
labors of the various government parties organized for the survey of
the boundary line between the United States and Mexico, and of the
several routes for a Pacific railroad. Without a single exception, all
these parties have been fitted out at the Smithsonian Institution with
all necessary instruments and apparatus for natural history research,
much of it contrived with special reference to the exigencies of the par-
ticular serviceinvolved. Full instructions were also supplied, by which
persons without previous practice were enabled to master all the gen-
eral principles required for making observations and collections of every
kind.

In addition to the above official explorations, many of a more private
character, and of greater or less extent, have been made by different
persons, and tr ansmitted to the Institution. The general result is to be
seen in the large number of jars, kegs, boxes, and shelves filled with
specimens of all kinds. From this it will be seen that the army has
contributed a very large proportion of the whole receipts, affording a
gratifying proof of the interest felt in the deposit at the metropolis of
complete collections of the natural history of Noth America.

on @ to the liberality of the officers of the various expeditions, and
of the bureaus under whose charge they were fitted out, every facility
was afforded in authorizing the necessary force and funds to meet the
wants of science as connected with these explorations. In this way
the entire cost was defrayed by government; so that the institution has
been called upon only to make the necessary expenditures for govern-
ment, and to give a general supervision to the whole.

Nor have the materials collected by the government parties been
allowed to lie idle; on the contrary, they tage been put, immediately
on their arrival, ae the hands of competent naturalists and skiltul
artists, for the elucidation and illustration necessary to fit them for ap-
pearing as a portion of the reports which the various parties have been
called on to make.

I shallnow proceed briefly to mention Hee general character,of the
additions to the museum during the year, referring for par ticular infor-
mation to the alphabetical list of donors subjomed. It 1s impossible at
the present time to give an accurate enumeration of all the species
received, especially as so many are entirely new. Every specimen,
however, is labelled, as soon as it arrives, with the name of the donor
and locality; and in the descriptive catalogues, now in course of
preparation, the complete account of the whole will be presented in a
systematic form. The general history. of the explorations, too, will be
found to embrace more detail than can here be given.

Mammals.—During the past year many species of North American
mammals have been received, embracing quite a notable proportion
of the smaller forms from N orth America, ‘especially the squirrels, sper-
mophiles, and weasels. The Louisiana species have been received
from Mr. Fairie; those of Wisconsin, from Dr. Hoy; of the Rocky
mountain range, from the expedition of Governor Stevens ; of the lower

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 51

Rio Grande, from Major Emory. Dr. O. W. Gibbs presented a musk
deer from Java, and Mr. Steenburg has contributed many of the spe-
cies from Greenland and Sieindinavia.' The collections of Captain Van
Vliet and Lieutenant Couch include many species from Mexico and
Texas. Some valuable specimens from Minnesota were received from
Mr. Cavileer and Dr. Head.

Birds.—The additions to this department have been very great,
amounting to over 400 species and more than 1,000 specimens. Of
these, 250 species are from the Rio Grande country, North Mexico, the
Rocky mountains, and west of the Rocky mountains. Here, as well
as among rian there have occurred some new species. Of re-
markable perfection of preparation was a collection of fifty species of
California birds, presented by Dr. Hermann; and the North Mexican
series of Lieutenant Couch have been of extraordinary magnitude and
importance. Captain Van Vliet, Mr. J. H. Clark, ane Mr. Arthur
Schott, under Major, Emory, and Dr. Crawford, have gathered many
valuable specimens in Texas. Species from Michigan have been re-
ceived from the Rev. Charles Fox ; of Wisconsin, from Dr. Hoy and
Mr. Barry; of Ohio, from Dr. Kirtland and Charles Pease ; of Louis-
iana, from Mr. James Fairie.

Reptiles and Fishes.—As heretofore, owing to the particular attention
invited to this department, the additions to the alcoholic collections
have been most marked, especially of reptiles and fishes. Every por-
tion of the country has bean laid under contribution, and the additions
to our knowledge of the distribution of species, as well as of their zoo-
logical character, have been of the greatest value. There is scarcely
a State or Territory in the Union which has not sent a representation.
The most marked results have been the addition to the fauna of the
United States of the dipsadians among serpents, and the characini,
ants, the fresh-water labroids among fishes. Nearly two thousand glass
jars have been filled with the specimens received, after being assorted,
of which two hundred were of serpents alone. ‘T'he principal contribu-
tors have been Major Emory, Governor Stevens, Lieutenant Whipple,
Dr. Hammond, Dr. Jeffrey, Professor Winchell, Drs. G. C. and B. F.
Shumard,. Dr. Hoy, Rev. A. C. mad Dr. Pa Mrs. Daniel, Major
Rich, Captain Van Vliet, James Fairie, S. F. Baird, Major Hagner,
Major Sibley, Rev. Charles Fox, Dr. Head, J. D. Sergeant, Mr. Ken-
nicott, Mr. Dean, Captain Atwood, Leo Lesquereaux, J. H. Richard,
Professor Agassiz, Captain Farragut, D. B. Boden, &c.

De neatelinatas: —Many valuable collections of invertebrata have been
added during the year, the most. important being a series from Grand
Manan, canal Mr. William Stimpson, and illustrating his paper published
in the Bei lanian Contributions to Knowledge. Othess trom the coast

28,

of Massachusetts were sent by Captain Atwood, and from Florida and
the Gulf of Mexico, by Dr. Hammond, Dr. Jefirey, and Major Emory.
Some interesting contributions have consisted of specimens of Gordzus
from the bodies of crickets and grasshoppers, contributed hy Mr. San-
ford and Mr. Eveleth.

__ Plants.—An extensive collection of plants of Alabama was received
from Prof. A. Winchell, to whom the Institution is indebted for valu-
able specimens in all departments of natural history. Dr. Ravenel has

52 EIGHTH ANNES REPORT OF

pr esented a suite of the Carolina fungi. Lieut. Whipple and Governor
Stevens have sent in important collections from their fields of labor.

Minerals and Fossils —In connexion with the survey of Goy. Stevens,
Dr. Evans revisited the Mauvaises Terres last summer, and collected
a large number of specimens of the fossil vertebrata of that region.
These have been put into the hands. of Dr. Leidy, who has detected
the presence of some additional new species. Professor Winchell has
sent quite a full series of the cretaceous and tertiary fossils of Alabama,
and Major Emory the same from Texas. Many minerals have been
received from Dr. Pendleton, of Georgia, and some Austrian stalactites
from Mr. Dodge.

Ethnology.—Skulls of many tribes of Indians—as Lipans, Comanches,
Apaches, Flat Heads—have been received from various sources; as
also remains of works of art. An interesting contribution to this de-
partment is found in a specimen of the sculpture of the human foot
in limestone by the early inhabitants of the country, and erroneously
supposed to be an impression made while the stone was in a plastic
state.

PRESENT CONDITION OF THE MUSEUM.

The collections belonging to or deposited with the Smithsonian In-
stitution are at present scattered over the building in its various rooms.
Much inconvenience is felt from the impracticability of arranging the
specimens properly for examination and study. Everything 1 is ‘kept
packed away in the smallest compass, and of course not easily referred
to when needed for investigation. The alcoholic collections, however,
have generally been accessible when required for use. When the new
museum room is finished, which will be in the course of a few months,
ample space will be afforded for the accommodation of all the specimens,
although a considerable time must necessarily elapse before the cases
can be put up and the collections properly arranged. |

At the present time the Institution may be said to possess one of the
best general collections of specimens of North American natural his-
tory in the country, although in particular branches it may be greatly
exceeded by several, both public and private. It is pre- eminently

ich in the mammals, with their skulls and skeletons; and still more in
the reptiles. As an illustration of this, it may be stated that the spe-
‘cies of North American serpents alone amount to 130, of which 70
were never described before being received by the Institution. The
enumeration by Dr. Holbrook of North American serpents, in 1842,
consisted of 49. The other departments of reptiles have experienced
nearly proportional increase. ‘The collection of birds is second only
to that of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences ; of fishes, only
equalled by the private cabinet of Professor Agassiz while in the
various departments of invertebrata and of plants it holds much more
than average rank. In fossil remains the collection is very rich, espe-
cially of the comparatively recent vertebrata of the various caverns
throughout the country.

And, in connexion with this extent and importance of the Smithso-
nian museum, it may be well to call attention to the fact that it has

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 58

been the work of but three years to raise this collection from nothing

to the front rank among American cabinets, exceeding all perhaps in
the number of new species first brought to light within its limits. Nor
has effort been confined merely to the acquisition of specimens, but to
their concentration in mass, so as to supply all working naturalists with
the materials of research. As already stated, applications for such
assistance are constantly being received, and always met with all pos-
sible promptness; so that scarcely any natural history monograph or
memoir of any extent has been published in this country within a year
or two which has not been indebted in this way to the Institution. From
the care, too, taken to keep separate all the localities, however near
together, of any species, the collection affords information in reference
to the geographical distribution of species of the very highest value.

WORK DONE IN NATURAL HISTORY. *

The labor of unpacking and assorting collections as received, and
labelling and recording the different specimens, has of course been
very great, requiring much more time than the limited portion left
after discharging the other duties assigned to me. In this, however, I
have been‘assisted very greatly by Mr. Charles Girard, who has given
much time and attention to this department, without any compensation
for his services. By his help [have been enabled to keep up with
the details of labor necessary to give these collections their proper
scientific value.

Much has been done during the year towards distributing duplicate
specimens of the Smithsonian collection among the other cabinets ot the
country. In no way can the Institution be of more use in elevating the
standard of natural science than in distributing carefully-labelled suites
of specimens to points where, from lack of libraries or other causes,
the means of accurate identification are wanting. For remote regions of
‘country this mode of assistance is of especial benefit ; and arrangements
have already been entered into, in several cases, to receive miscellaneous
collections, and to return them properly labelled, with the addition of
such other species as can conveniently be spared. Parties already
in such connexion with the Smithsonian Institution, or about entering
upon it, are found in New York, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Jowa, [lli-
nois, Missouri, New Orleans, and North and South Carolina.

A collection of duplicates of North American serpents and Astaci
has been presented to the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences,
including types of many new species published by the Institution. To
the New York State Cabinet of Natural History was also sent a large
collection of reptiles and fishes of New York, embracmg many species
not previously received there.

' The cataloguing of the collections of the Institution progresses as
‘rapidly as my other duties will allow. One way in which a museum
BE be very useful to those unable to visit it personally, is by publish-
ing catalogues of the specimens contained therein. If these exhibit
orig inal descriptions of the species, and especially if the list be made
cats lete by enumerating also the species not contained in the collection,
they become of great value to investigators, and may readily serve as

54 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

manuals of science, attaining therankof monographs. ‘This hasbeen done
in the Catalogue of North American Serpents inthe Museum ofthe Smith-
nian Tustitution, published in January, 1853, which, in a compact vol-
ume of one hundred and eighty-eight pages, contains full and original
descriptions of one hundred and nineteen species—all belonging to the
Institution, with the exception of five ; and some of these, with many ad-
ditional ones, have been received since that time. Similar catalogues of
the other reptiles are in an advanced stage of proses se, and will be
ready for publication early in 1854.

In addition to the preparation of these catalogues, much has been
done in the classification and description of the collections sent in by
the various exploring expeditions. Considerable progress has been
made towards the preparation of the several reports of the natural his-
tory of the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey, the survey of
the North Pacific railroad route by Gov. Stevens, that of the Central
route by Lieut. Whipple, that of the United States Astronomical Expe-
dition to Chili by Lieut. Gillis, and several others. The preparation of
many hundred sheets of drawings of new species for these reports has
been carefully superintended. The reports prepared upon the natural
history of the explorations by Capt. Sitgreaves and Capt. Marcy, have
already been published by Congress. Some of these I now lay before

ou.

i A large amount of valtable information relating to the descriptions,
and the ieee and manners of species, has been” received during the
year—iuch of it bearing directly upon important questions in science
and rural economy. A very extensive correspondence has been re-
quired for the purpose of stimulating investigations and calling attention
to the solution of particular problems. It is much to be regretted that
the Institution has no medium of its own through which the information
thus received can be promptly presented to the world. A monthly
bulletin, of considerable size, could readily be filled with communica-
tions of this kind, as well as with brief notices and descriptions of col-
lections received.

REGISTERS OF PERIODICAL PHENOMENA.

The blank registers of periodical phenomena issued in the winter of
1852-’3, have been returned filled, and in connexion with those for the
previous year, still in manuscript, form a body of information of the
highest value. These will be carefully reduced, and published at an
early period. A new edition having become necessary, a revision of
the old lists of plants was carefully made by Drs. Torrey and Gray,
and the revised form will be distributed in a few weeks. Instructions
for making collections of microscopical organisms and infusoria have

been Aided

ASSISTANCE IN THE MUSEUM.

As the time has already arrived when more attention and labor
should be given to the collections of the museum to make them fulfil
all the purposes of instruction of which they are capable, it is very

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 55

desirable that the museum force should be increased. I have already
adyerted to the labor necessarily expended during the past year in merely
unpacking and arranging the collections of new matter received. While
the old specimens need a certain amount of care, new ones are being
constantly added. I would, therefore, recommend that Mr. Girard be
regularly employed by the Institution, at such salary as you may think
suitable; and one other person in addition, to attend to the purely me-
chanical work required in the way of unpacking, washing bottles, tying
on labels, cleaning:specimens, &c. Such service as this could be ob-
tained for about twenly-five dollars per month; and the help of both
persons would be also available in other departments where it is im-
peratively required. This is especially the case im respect to the pub-
lications, exchanges, and transportation, where, as in the museum ope-
rations, I have no regular assistance whatever.

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF DONORS TO THE MUSEUM OF THE SMITHSONIAN
INSTITUTION.

Academy of Natural Sciences.—Skins of North American birds.
Prof. C. B. Adams.—Shells, &c., from Bermuda and St. Thomas.
Prof. L. Agassiz.— Etheostoma from Alabama and Missouri.
Capt. Atwood.—Fishes, crustacea, and radiata, from Provincetown,
Mass..."
Prof. A. D. Bache-—Surterbrand from Iceland.
Prof. S. F. Baird.—Twelve kegs, &c., of fishes, from Wisconsin,
Michigan, Ohio, New York, and Canada.
Dr. J. B. Barratt.—Reptiles and fishes from South Carolina.
Dry. J. M. Bigelow.—Seeds from Texas and New Mexico.
Capt. Daniel Boden Specimens of lake trout and perch trom Otsego
lake, New York.
J. S. Bowman.—Reptiles and fishes from the vicinity of Fort Kear-
ney.
_ Major J. H. Carleton, U. S. A.—Specimen of theliphonus from Santa
Fé. FLD
Charles Cavileer—Mammals, &c., from Minnesota.
Robert Clarke-—Skulls of mammals and reptiles, in alcohol, from
Essex county, N. J..
Prof. George H. Cook.—Living specimens of Emys muhlenbergu from
New York. i
Dr. G. E. Cooper, U. 8. A.—Skulls of Comanche and Lipan In-
dians.
Dr. J. G. Cooper.—lteptiles from California; skin of Gymnotus elec-
tricus.
_ Lt. D. N. Couch, U. S. A.—Very extensive collections of the verte-
brata, with numerous insects and specimens of antiquities from north-
ern Mexico.
G. S. Cutting.—Storeria dekayw and Chlorosoma vernalis, from Mid-
-dleboro’, Mass. | :
Mrs. M. E. Daniel—Reptiles from Anderson, 8. C.
_ E. A. Dayton.—Skulls of beaver and fishes, (Mustela canadensis ;)
reptiles and fishes from the St. Lawrence river.
— G. W. Dean.—Reptiles from Galveston, ‘Texas.

06 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF -

Delaware County Institute, Pa.—Keg of fishes and reptiles; three hun-
dred and eleven species of plants from Delaware county, Pa

J. M. Dodge.—Ntalactites from the cave of Adelsburg, Austria.

Rev. D. W. Eakins —Limestone slab, with sculpture ae human feet,
from Verdigris river, Creek Nation.

Dr. Georse Engeimann.—Reptiles and fishes from St. Louis.

Samuel A. Eveleth—Gordius taken from a cricket.

Jas. Fairie-—Shells of Chelonura temmincku trom Louisiana; Indian
implements, reptiles, &c.

Capt. D. Farragut, U. S. N.—Fishes fr@n Chesapeake bay.

Dr. E. cue — Unio hopetonensis from Atlamaha river.

Rev. Charles Fox.—lLiving specimens of dnlone: fishes; reptiles,
and mammals, from Michigan.

Dr. Julius Froebel. peean from New Mexico.

Dr. Wolcott Gibbs —Musk deer of Java, in the flesh.

B. R. Gifford.—Clays and concretions from Gay Head Bluffs, Mar-
tha’s Vineyard.

Major Hagner, U. 8S. A.—Stiredon lichenordes from Fort Defiance,
Navajo country.

C. F. Hammond.—Phosphate of lime from Crown Point, N. y.

Dr. J. F. Hammond.—Skin of Crotalus adamanieus, ah fishes and
reptiles, in alcohol, from Pensacola.

Dr. W. Hammond.—Skeletons and skulls from Fort Kearney.

Dr. J. F. Head. me es, fishes, and skulls of vertebrata, from Fort
Ripley.

Dr. A. L. Hermann. ae of fifty species of birds from California.

Dr. P. R. Hoy.—Fishes, reptiles, birds, and mammals, from Wis-
consin.

Dr. R. W. Jeffrey.—Fishes and reptiles from Pensacola.

S. K. Jennings, jr—Shed skin of Masticophis flavigularis, 'Texas.

Robert W. Kennicott—Fishes and reptiles trom Cook county, Uli-
nois.

JA. Lapham. —Shells from Wisconsin.

Leo Lesquercauz.—Reptiles and fishes from, Ohio.

Rey. Charles Mann.—Salamanders from Gloucester, Virginia.

Dr. Morrow.—Gold ore from Dorn’s mine, Abbeville, South Caro-
lina.

Richard Nettle.—Fishes from the lower St. Lawrence.

Dr. E. C. Pendleton.—Minerals and shells from Georgia.

Hi. W. Ravenel.—Specimens of Carolina fungi.

W. H. Ravenel.—Sceloporus undulatus, South Carolina.

Major Wm. Rich.—keptiles, fishes, &c., trom the city of Mexico.

J. H. Richard.—¥ ishes from Pennsylvania.

E. 8S. Robinson.—Skin of Crotalus adamanteus.

Mr. Sabimne.—Reptiles from California; skin of Gymnotus electricus.

S. N. Sanford.— Gordius taken from the body of a cricket.

Sir Robert Schomburgh.—Tertiary shells and ancient pottery from
St. Domingo.

J. D. Sergeant.—Reptiles from Rock Island, Illinois.

Major E. 8. Sibley, U. S. A——Reptiles and insects from Fort Union,
New Mexico.

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. oF

Capt. Shiras, U. S. A.—Specimen of mygale, Texas.

Dr. B. F. Shumard—Specimens of amblyopsis, astacus, and insects
and reptiles, from the Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, and vicinity; fishes
from Louisville, Kentucky; reptiles from Mississippi.

Dr. G. C. Shumard. —Reptiles and fishes from the Arkansas river.

- Geo. Smith.—Living specimens of Emys muhlenbergiz, from Delaware
county, Pennsylvania.

Commodore Joseph Smith.—Specimens of woods used iu ship-building ;
illustrations of growth and ravages of teredo. Prepared by Mr. Jarvis,
inspector of Portsmouth yard.

J. M. Stanly.—Dress and war-club of Blackfoot chief:

Judge Augustus Steele—Fishes, crustacea, and shells, from Atseena,
Florida.

Schach Steenberg.—Skins and skeletons of mammals, fish, and inver-
tebrates, in alcohol; Greenland.

Win. Stimpson.—Miscellaneous invertebrata from New England.

Capt. S. Van Vitet, U. 8S. A.—Skeleton of peccary; skins of birds;
alcoholic specimens of reptiles, fishes, and crustacea, from the lower
Rio Grande.

Col. B. L. C. Wailes—Living tortoises, fossils, fishes, and reptiles,
in alcohol, &c., from Mississippi.

Rev. Dr. Wheeler —Lignite from Brandon, Vermont; Osceola elap-
soidea from Florida.

Prof. Alexander Winchell—Fossils, plants, reptiles, birds, &c., from
Eutaw, Alabama; plants, fossils, and fishes, from Selma, Alabama.

Dr. S. Wylie Crawford, U. 8. A.—Skin of Cyrtonyx massena from
Texas.

Ben! wee Oe ta

58

EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

List of meteorological observers reporting to the Smithsonian Institution at
the beginning of 1854, compiled by Lorin Blodget.

State.

Nova Scotia

Canada

ee eee eee Coes se eee=

New Hampshire

Vermont.

if

Massachusetts

Rhode Island

Connecticut

~

New York*

weeeeeee corse

| Prof. Edward A. H. Allen-.

Name. Residence.
Henry, Poole =< <2. 382 Albion Mines, Pictou.
Dr. Charles Smallwood.--.. St. Martin’s, near Montreal.
Rev. Samuel H. Merrill.---| Oldtown, Penobscot county.
JUD ankle to-- cee Steuben, Washington county.
James G. Garland...-.---- Biddeford, York county.
Johnyd.Bell os... sees Carmel, Penobscot county.
Samuel A. Eveleth.-...-.-- Windham, Cumberland county.
Joshua Bartlett....-...--.- South Thomaston, Lincoln county.
George W. Burrows..--.--- Fryeburg, Oxford county.
William D. Dana........-- Perry, Washington county.
George B. Sawyer.......-- Salmon Falls, Stafford county.
Robert C. Mack...-.....-. Londonderry, Rockingham county
Dr. William Prescott...--- Concord, Merrimack county.
‘Hon: St-N. Bell. 2.5. je8s2 Manchester, Hillsborough county.
Rev. L. W. Leonard..----- Exeter, Rockingham county.
Albert A. Young........-
Prof! ra arene ae Hanover, Grafton county:

John K. Colby..........

5D Jase St. Johnsbury, Caledonia county.

Charles A. J. Marsh-..---- Craftsbury, Orleans county.
DeeBuckland. essen es Brandon, Rutland county.

D. Underwood........--.-- Castleton, Rutland county.
Prof. Zadok Thompson. --.-- Burlington, Crittenden county.
William Bacon..----.----- Richmond, Berkshire county.
Prof. E. G. Snell..--....-- Amherst, Hampshire county.

Dr. Edward A. Smith
Dr. H. C. Perkins

Worcester, Worcester county.
Newburyport, Essex county.

Hon, John Brooks. .-..-... Princeton, Worcester county.
Dr. John George Metcalf. ..| Mendon, Worcester county. —
Lucius C. Allen........-.. Springfield, Hampden county.
Samuel Rodman...-..-.--. New Bedford, Bristol county.
Amasa Holcomb...-----.-- Southwick, Hampden county.
Beelye Gitordee seni see cee Barnstable, Barnstable county.
enry Rice: efeer in fe ee = North Attleboro’, Bristol county.
Hon. William Mitchell. .-.. Nantucket.

Henry C. Sheldon......-.. North Scituate, Providence.
Prof. A. Caswell.--....---- Providence. —

| Rev. Tryon Edwards, D. D..| New London, New London county.

DanielMAunt ye oak soe ee Pomfret, Windham county.
James Hankin cielo onal. se 1- Saybrook, Middlesex county.
Dr. Ovid Plumb..----....- Salisbury, Litchfield county.

Troy, Rensselaer county.

Thomas B. Arden.-..--.-.-.- Beverly, Putnam county.

Charles A. Avery....-...-. Senaca Falls, Seneca county. e
Prof. O. W. Morris...-.. .- Institution for Deafand Dumb,N.Y,
C. Thurston Chase....-...- Chatham, Columbia county.

BAS Dayton... .cot seen: Madrid, St. Lawrence county.

E. W. Johnson........-.--| Canton, St. Lawrence county.
DrsP On Willianisyee aes Gouverneur, St. Lawrence county.

* New York Academy system in separate list.

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.

Sh)

LIST—Continued.

' State.

) re DY OF ene cee eee ela

New, Jersey.i23.-./5--. --+5

Pennsylvania ...-...---

use

Maryland ee eee . a

Boy

Wiksuiaee seats - Sai cee

North Carolina.22s.. .22%

South Carolina........---

e
Georgia

Blorida

Name.

ed (eel UC rei ea
ANY Byram sis el 2 kee
C.S, Woodward. -).....- =:
Walker D. Yale..-.--..-...
John Bowman tee. . eee
John: Lefferts2-* 22. --...-
Elias O. Salisbury.--------
Laurens A. Langdon...----
Dr. Stillman Spooner..-.--
Mes Munger. sale seek
Johny) Jenkins..222 632228

Robert L. Cooke.......-.-
Prof. Adolph Frost.--.----
W.A. Whitehead..--...-..

Dr. A. C: Blodget. .--#---
WaOrBlodgetvc-2 2525.
Samuel Brown...--'..-. ----
John Comlly, 2 2252 325522. °
Joseph Edwards.........--
Dr. R. P. Stevens...--.----
Francis Schriener..-.--..--.

Fenelon Darlington..-.----
Ebenezer Hance..-.-..---
Dre). Eleiselysess tee. 3
Rey. D. J. Kyler
Jee Wowrler ese. 2S
Rev. J. Grier Ralston...---
Prof. J. A. Kirkpatrick ....
Dre Raul Swithie seme os

Prof. William Barr....-.

‘Miss H. M. Barr.....-.-

Prof. L. H. Steiner-....--.
Henry HE. Hanshaw.... ..-.

John W. Marvin.....--.---
Prof. George R. Rosseter. --
Dr. Thomas Patton..---.-.-
Benjamin Hallowell..--.. --
Prof. N. B. Webster....---
David Turner....--..-----
Lieut. R. F. Astrop
William §. Kern....--...---

Residence.

Oswego, Oswego county.

Sag Harbor, Suffolk county.
Beaver Brook, Sullivan county.
Houseville, Lewis county.
Baldwinsville, Onondaga county.
Lodi, Seneca county.

Buffalo, Erie county

Falconer, Chautauque county.
Wampsville, Oneida county.
Albion, Orleans county.

North Salem, Westchester county.

Bloomfield, Essex county.
Burlington, Burlington county.
Newark, Essex county.

Youngsville, Warren county.
Sugar Grove, Warren county.
Bedford, Bedford county.
Byberry, Philadelphia county.
Lima, Delaware county.
Ceres, McKean county.

Moss Grove, Crawford county.
Pittsburg, Alleghany county.
Gettysburg, Adams county.
Pocopson, Chester county.
Morrisville, Bucks county.
Harrisburg, Dauphin county.
Waynesboro’, Franklin county.
Hollidaysburg, Blair county.

Norristown, Montgomery county.
Philadelphia, Philadelphia county.
Haverford, Philadelphia county.

Sykesville, Carroll county.

Baltimore, Baltimore county.
Frederick, Frederick county.

Winchester, Frederick county.
Buffalo, Putnam county.
Lewisburg, Greenbrier county.
Alexandria, Alexandria county.
Portsmouth, Norfolk county.
Richmond, Henrico county.
Crichton’s store, Brunswick county.
Huntersville, Pocahontas county.

Rev. Frederick Fitzgerald..| Jackson, Northampton county.

Prof. James Phillips..-.---.
Thornton Carpenter.....-..

Dr. John F. Posey...---.--
eit Gibson: oc aaceess
Prof. John Darby.----- ----
Dr. E. M. Pendleton...--.-.

Dr. A. S. Baldwin......---
Judge Aug. Steele-..-....-

Chapel Hill, Orange county.
Camden, Kershaw county.

Savannah, Chatham county.
Whitmarsh Island, Chatham co.
Culloden, Monroe county.
Sparta, Hancock county.

Jacksonville, Dyval county.
Cedar Keys, Levy county.

60

EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

LIST—Continued

State.

Florida

Alabama

Mississippi..... .--.. ----

THOWISIAN AC See a ee eis eee

Michiganess.2. 2525-25-22

Indiana

Tilinois

Missouri

Name.

youn, Newton. 222. - j2es---
John Pearson, master navy-
Sit i ee sesi oe sua SS es

8. J. Cumming
Profgel: Mutwiers= sss. -52%
Prom Mi fuomey=--- 2222-1
Benjamin F. Holley....---.

Rey. E. Robinson... ..-....-
Dr. E. H. Barton

Dr. S. K. Jennings...-. .---
Prof. J. C. Ervendberg...--

Commandant navy-yard..-.-
Prof. A. P. Stewart
| W. M. Stewart

Prof. George Cooke...---- 4

Rev. J. Miller
Os Beatty: 22 as eae wees
Lawrence Young

At HM Bixby aeons cis.
Bye Eiwsethuners cece eee

Prof. R. 8. Bosworth
L. Gronewez
Rev. J. McD. Matthews-.-.
George L. Crookham... ---.
JG? Ear olstonis: oo22 se.
Prof. S. N. Sanford
Prof. J. W. Andrews.:.---.
AY. MB Onto sca ss case Je
Bis SPOOUGM. Se. c= S= = oie, = aal
Prof. J. H. Fairchild....-.-.

Dr. Thomas Whelpy..-----
EeWwoodrutt 2 2 222) oes
Dr. M. K. Taylor
| Dr. W.. M. Campbell...---.
James J. Strong
Rey. George Duffield, D. D.-

Prof. Joseph Tingley..----.
WeaWe AUSHIN: 22%, inc a's
| Dr. V. Kerse
| John Chappellsmith.....--.

ewww ew ewww ee

Dri. Bs, Mead. 22 arate
Joel Hall
Dr. John James
| Dri. O- Harris, «sg bewaiat >
Prof. William Coffin.....-.

Dr. John Swain.....--.--- |

Residence.

Knox Hill, Walton county.
Pensacola, Escambia county.

Monroeville, Monroe county.
Havana, Greene county.
Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa county.
Wetokaville, Talladega county.

Garlandsyille, Jasper county.
New Orleans, Orleans county.

Austin, Travis county.
New Weld, Comal county.

Memphis, Shelby county.

Lebanon, Wilson county.

Glenwood, near Clarksville, Mont-
gomery county.

Knoxville, Knox county.

Ballardsville, Oldham county.

Millersburg, Bourbon county.

Danville, Boyle county.

Springville, near Louisville, Jeffer-
son county.

Pleasant Valley, Nicholas county.

Maysville, Mason county.

College Hill, Hamilton county.
Germantown, Montgomery county.
Hillsborough, Highland county.
Jackson C. H., Jackson county.
Zanesville, Muskingum county.
Granville, Licking county.
Marietta, Washington county.

t. Vernon, Knox county.
Keen, Coshocton county.
Oberlin, Loraine county.

Brest, Monroe county.

Ann Arbor, Washtenaw county.
Brooklyn, Jackson county.
Battle Creek, Calhoun county.
St. James, Beaver Island.
Detroit, Wayne county.

Greencastle, Putnam county.
Richmond, Wayne county.
Milton, Wayne county.

New Harmony, Posey county.

Augusta, Hancock county.
Athens, Menard county.
Upper Alton, Madison county.
Ottawa, La Salle county.
Batavia, Kane county.

St. Louis, St. Louis county.

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.

61

LIST—Continued.
State. Name.» Residence.
1 OSCE Eee eae OVE Pa hiear tine sb se Hannibal, Marion county.
MO ese oe ee ai Droid. Haale te wave ee 2 Keokuk, Lee county.
Dr. Benjamin F. Odell. .--- Poulteney, Delaware county.
Drv Cs Bidwellsesscss. - Quasquetov, Buchanan county.
Dead) tec aeeks = hans 3 St. Mary’s, Mills county.
PGask davile- me sees se Museatine, Muscatine county.
DrvAga Horns: 2 ears. Dubuque, Dubuque county.
WRSCOHSIN Sates. e. Dr. JUSPickard sys. 252. Plattsville, Grant county.
Profys. PR. Lathrop-+:.2:-: Beloit, Rock county.
PEW led ree. ea Janesville, Rock county.
Thomas Gay, esq-.----.---- Bellefontaine, Marquette county.
Prof. S. H. Carpenter..---- Madison, Dane county.
Edward S. Spencer..-....- Summitt, Waukesha county.
Minnesota..-.5.s022.5.6. Rev. Elisha W. Car ver.---. Red Lake, Pembina county.
Rev. S. RoRiges. (75 2e -2: Lac qui Parle, Dahkota county.
Rev. D. B..Spencer_--. --.- St. Joseph’s, Pembina county.
New York Unwersity system.
*
‘ Name. Station.
Prot €? Dewey, DWH. 5... on .- 22 222 So Rochester, Monroe county.
hares AcMyerys. ome oe et Seneca Falls, Seneca county.
Dre Me ago comer. mation co cincy wet a clees Utica, Oneida county.
E. A. cheer DROS OK AERO ei a ik nes ASE Jamestown, Chautauque county.
RyereerGullespiee 22. gn ee eee Mexico, Oswego county.
Charles, Jewelazeltine 3-2. 2 te ee Cherry Valley, Otsego county.
Tra F “TE sy gS i cg aes ada Himira, Chemung county.
Emenee eC reer or Booneville, Oneida county.
Jee (Oe TRG S Gee gsOReO - cise: Sh Pe ae EA Se Hamilton College, Oneida county.
Wig) (Gulest=.0 > 5. Cpe 2 oss eemiece tins ote = Se Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence county.
Dent HWenkins-seeeweciecte=--2--------- North Salem, Westchester county.
John Kruger...-.-- Hc ER Do do do.
BotO Wokigtriv kc ec Institution for Deaf and Dumb, N. York city.
OV PeONSOD. in — Lio. o a\niajes/aice akne vic ae’ <= Canton, St. Lawrence counvy.
NYP Ce Menyon 2 aes aps ere tae oe 2 Alfred, Alleghany county.
Dy EM Maynewivctee cc te septscsece seen Seo Lowville, Lewis county.
NWikioot Adams tien jones cscs ee cestoa cee. Do do do.
Wve Momanena Seite e cmc a en ome eee es Glen’s Falls, Warren county.
Watrenvle Adams uscd. cae dso. ie ele ot Do do do.
ATANE EAC HINAW/ s2v= ne ahecap = sincieiers Some © ae Meredith, Delaware county.
18a WWE 1B) ANGI Be Ee poe aerinee So Seccrseer Geneva, Ontario county.
Pete wn MC Rel se nmes wccicine abcess allele ier Hudson, Columbia county.
POTENT OLDIE Stes 30 [aio i ie Homer, Cortland county.
John 8. D. Taylor.......... PASE CH GHABBOS Plattsburg, Clinton county.
BOARD! VViclG AAR says Cals eicicinla(s m\e\o0</~ oi \e(4 =) Liberty, Sullivan county.
Frederick L. Hanford....--..----.-----.-- Do do do.
Wie WHMCS 8 eee Liao ate boa wen <p East Hampton, Suftolk county.
Rey. Thomas M. Strong, D. D.-...--------- Flatbush, Kings county.
J.O. Stratton... pa te Lan a Oxford, Chenango county.
ligne Gnyson.. cee ee. ee etn -| Pompey, Onondaga county.

PAR IONUCHA Ss 22 a's wtaiceia Ht at wineries ec < oe toon
F B. Downes....--- eeeee cee ceeeceseenee

Adirondack, Essex county.
Ithaca, Tompkins county.

62 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

LIST—Continued.

Name. Station.
Be all cers cae nc OT ee Newburgh, Orange county.
CSW Heywood. 2 Sega Seer = Seco Rochester, Monroe county.
ihyman’ WiConkeyeca— =. \-ccSenoes. een o- Syracuse, Onondaga county.
IDS IE Cie anh wee ae ei as Fredonia, Chautauque county.
Prof. George H. Cook.--..---.------.---:- Albany, Albany county.
JohnaNeeBrinkerholi. se costes le cess" Union Hall, Jamaica, Queen’s county.

Observations transmitted in series or summaries.

State. Name. Residence.

Canadas = 2 eee ess Magnetic and meteorological
observatory ..---- ------ Toronto, Canada.
Indiana Sea sce ee Dr. Thomas Edmondson....| Baltimore.
South Carolina.....-...-- ReveasA. Glennieses = seer a= Waccaman.
Mloridat weaaeeee cece ss - William C. Dennis......... Key West.
UTA OT AREAS Seema Dr. George Engelmann ..-.| St. Louis.
Wowamee ise ek E. H. A. Scheeper.---..--- Pella, Marion county.
Calitornia: Jae: 2 22. 52 Dr. J. HeGibbons 2-72 5.2. San Francisco.
Bermuda;: 2... ... 9%.) Surgeon Wellis.-...:¢2.-2- Centre Signal Station, Inland
Island. .
Montredltc,. 22 ser. . .7 ee J. H. Huguet Latour...---- %
Dr. Archibald Hall.... .... :
Central America..--..-.-- MB. Halsted 22... 222. 2--3 Panama.
South America..----..-... Edward A. Hopkins.-.--.-. Ascension, Paraguay.

Observers commencing since January, 1854, up to June 1, 1854.

State. Name. Residence. .
| a0
Massachusetts...-....---.| Dr. James W. Robbins..--. Uxbridge, Worcester county.
Beh: Gifords./ 558 . eae. Wood’s Hole, Barnstable county.
Albert Schlegel. .----. 2... Taunton, Bristol county.
Prof. P. A. Chadbourne.--.| William’s College, Williamstown.
Rhode Island....-...2.--- | Samuel Powel..--.-..2-... Newport, Newport county.
| George Manchester......-. Portsmouth, Newport county.
Connecticut: 20. sci jneos ae S Gold eae eer i ie wee West Cornwall, Litchfield county.
Prof. John pA ohnston. .....- Middletown, Middlesex county.
WewRorkess PFT ee ep rn YMerAlbay: oe. a aeae Angelica, Alleghany county.
John FI, Jenkins....--. 2... White Plains, Westchester.
Warren P. Adams.........| Glen’s Falls, Warren.
Rey. W. D. Wilson....-.-- Geneva, Ontario county.
Dr. Sandford B. Hunt... .- Buffalo, Erie county.
New Jersey..---.---.----| Prof. George H. Cook. ....| New Brunswick, Middlesex county.
Pennsylvania..........--- Doiky. LOWrle:2 Mes aadoee Warrior’s Mark, Huntingdon co.
RL UWieiser ais) aoe eae Andersville, Perry county.

Prof. Thickstun....... 2.0. Meadville, Crawford county.

Maryland.

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 63
~LIST—Continued.
a .
Name. » Residence.
Rey. John P. Carter..---.-. Hagerstown, Washington county.

WY TAT: age es pes tae as Nes is

North Car
South Car

Glinaeceee seis.

Olimar She se eee ae

Georpta meee cre cetete tee.

MISSISSIpPplss-c sss 2. sa,

Louisiana.

Kentucky.

Michigan.

Indiana...

eeececce eeee coce

eee ee ee wees wees

Jed. Hotchiss.....--.-----
WAS Nettletonsst secon cos

J. Bryant Smith, M.D. .---

Thornton Carpenter. .----..
H.W. Ravenel....22-.2221

Wialliam*Schley.--- 3-222.
Prof. Wm. D. Williams....

Rev. J. Avery Shepherd...-
Wm. Henry Waddell-. .- --
Proleli Harpers. scesajt= 2
NORE Green si.o2 secs s

Prof. W. P. Riddell....--..

ASAE. Bisby. 53-2, 0eeion se
Jee. Shanes’ o/s. eee

JohmiIneram: =. 625. see.
D. G. W. Livesay..-...-.--
Ore hostlandeese es ate
Edmund W. West.-.--..---

Dr. 8S. F. Mitchell. ........
Alfred E. Carrier...-....--
Prof. Alexander Winchell...

Ue Snanerss. Sew eee
W. B. Coventing..-. ..-.--

Daniel H. Roberts......-...
E. H. A. Scheeper.....----
G. Z. Livingston....... ----
JAy Wapham. 2226 Sones:
Prof. William Porter. .-----

Rey. Solon W. Mauncey..--
Dr. C. L. Anderson....----

Bridgewater, Rockingham county.
Lynchburg, Campbell county.

Lincolnton, Lincoln county.

Charleston, Charleston county.
Aiken, Barnwell county.

Augusta, Richmond county.
Madison, Morgan county.

Lake Washington, Washington co.
Grenada, Yalabusha county.
Oxford, La Fayette county.
Jackson, Jackson county.

New Orleans, Orleans county.

Lafayette, Christian county.
Lexington, Fayette county.

Savannah, Ashland county.
Gallipolis, Gallia county.

East Rockport, Cuyahoga county,
Huron, Erie county.

East Saginaw, Saginaw county.
Grand Rapids, Kent county.
Aun Arbor, Washtenaw county.
Kendallville, Noble county.

Do do do.
New Garden, Wayne county.
Pella, Marion county.
Hudson, St. Croix county.
Milwaukie, Milwaukie county.
Beloit, Rock county.

Fort Ripley.
St. Anthony’s Falls, Ramsey county.
e

Oregon City.

San Francisco.

64 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

~ REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

The Executive Committee submit to the Board of Regents the fol-

lowing report, relative to the present state of the finances, and’ ne ex-

penditures during the year 1853.

They are happy: to inform the board that, after a strict. examination
of the accounts, they are enabled to present a very satisfactory state-
ment of the present condition of the finances, and the result of the
investigations as to the expenditures during the year.

The whole amount of the Smithsonian bequest, deposited in the
treasury of the United States, (from which an annual income, at 6 per
Gamt..ms derived: ol 30501004) 1st an lee bea eee oe $515,169 00
Amount of unexpended interest, reported

last year as in charge of Messrs. Cor-

OOS: Sey eS AABN ig en Ser SS $208,800 00
From which Hediict amount expended on |
the building during the past year...-- 29,391 98

179,408 02

Of this it is proposed to expend the further
SIUC EY 6 ie ik, SNR IN RR ey hye Sa Ae, a 29,408 02

Which will leave to be added to the prin-

cipal, according to the original propo-

sition of Professor Bache... .- on oat a -... 150,000 00
The whole fund will then bes.....cc--ecesee 665,169 00
«

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY,

To the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution :

GENTLEMEN: It again becomes my duty to present to your honor-
able Board the Annual Report of the present condition of the Smith-
sonian Institution, and of its operations during the year 1854.

In this report I shall follow the course adopted in the previous ones,
namely, to state such facts as may appear to be necessary to a con-
nected history of the Institution, and to offer such suggestions as may
seem important in reference to its future management.

At no period since the commencement of the Institution has it at-
tracted more attention, or given rise to more discussion, than during
the past year; but, thanks to the liberality of Congress, who ordered
the printing of twenty thousand extra copies of the last report, to which
were appended all the preceding reports of the secretary, together with
sundry other documents, ample means have been afforded the reading
public to become acquainted with the will of Smithson, his pursuits in
life, with the law of Congress establishing the Institution, and with all
the acts of the Regents in the discharge of their duty.

‘That the disposition of a bequest of so novel a character, the inten-
tion of which was so briefly though comprehensively expressed, should’
give rise to a diversity of opinion, or that the act of Congress in refer-
ence to it, which received repeated amendments, and was passed, after
a discussion of several years, by a small majority, should be differently
construed, is not surprising.

Inthe language of Mr. Adams: ‘A British subject, of noble birth
and ample fortune, desirmg to bequeath his estate to the purpose of
increasing and diffusing knowledge throughout the whole community of
civilized man, selected for the repository of his trust, with confidence
unqualified, the United States of America. In the commission of every: —
trust there is an implied tribute to the integrity and intelligence of the -
trustee ; there is, also, an implied call for the faithful exercise of those’
properties to the fulfilment of the purposes of the trust. The tribute
and the call acquire additional force and energy when the trust is com-
mitted for performance atter the decease of him by whom it is confided,
and when he no longer exists to witness or constrain the effective fulfil-
ment of his design. ‘The magnitude of the trust, and the extent of con-
fidence bestowed in the committal of it, do but enlarge and aggravate?
the obligation which it carries with it. The weight of duty imposed is
in proportion to the honor conferred by confidence without reserve.””

“The principal purpose of Mr. Smithson was, evidently, the discovery
of new truths, the invention of new means for the enlargement of human
power, and not the mere communication of knowledge already pos-

et

s) NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

sessed. In this point of view the bequest assumes an interest of the
highest order, peculiar to itself, most happily adapted to the character
of our republican institutions, and destined, if administered in the spirit
in which it was bestowed, to command the grateful acclamations of
future ages.”’ No restriction is made as to any kind of knowledge; but
it 1s knowledge, the source of all human wisdom and beneficent. power,
which is to be increased and diffused; ‘‘ knowledge, which as far tran-
scends the postulated lever of Archemides, as the universe transcends
this speck of earth upon its face; knowledge, the attribute of Omnipo-
tence, of which man alone, in the physical and material world, is per-
mitted to participate.” Let not, then, any branch or department of —
human knowledge be excluded from its equitable share of this bene-
faction. Again, no nation, community, or class of men, is designated
as the special recipient of this bounty; and it would be inconsistent
with the self-respect of a great confederated nation to receive, from the
hands of a foreigner, a liberal fund for the increase and diffusion of
knowledge throughout the world of man, and to apply it exclusively to
its own purposes.

The Regents, at their first session, conscious of the importance and
magnitude of the trust confided to them, and of the responsibilities which
devolved upon them, gave to the whole subject attentive and laborious
consideration. ‘They were impressed with the fact that the object of
the law was to carry out the will of Smithson, and if there were any
doubtful points, it was their, duty to construe them with a view to this
object. In conformity with this a plan was adopted, which, while it
faifilled all the requirements of the law, was in strict accordance w ‘ith
a logical interpretation of the will of the donor. This plan, after seven
years’ experience, has been found to realize all the hopes and anticipa-
tions which were entertained in regard to it by its most sanguine advo-
cates; and, though it was adopted provisionally, to be changed or
modified as circumstances might indicate, yet no essential alteration
has been considered necessary by those best acquainted with its ope-
rations. It is true that it is not, perhaps, in all respects, the simplest
plan which could have been designed for:carrying out the will of the
testator; and had the Regents been entirely unrestricted, they would
Bes a have devoted a less portion of the income to local objects ;
but, under all the conditions of the problem, it is believed that it was
‘the best which could have been adopted to produce the desired result.
‘And it may not be too much to say, that the present condition of the
Tnstitution, as to general reputation and financial prosperity, is much
more. favorable than experience in the management of public trusts
would reasonably have led us to anticipate.

All the requirements of the act of Congress, in the opinion of the Re-
gents, have been faithfully and fully observed. Liberal provision has
been made for the accommodation of a library, a museum, and a gal-
lery of art, with lecture rooms and a laboratory, in the Cancobuctionl of

a building which has cost $300,000. A library has been commenced
ca means devised for.its continual extension, which will soon form the
best special collection of valuable works pertaining to all branches of
positive knowledge to be found in this country. The books which it
now contains, if “eatinlated by the prices paid for those which have

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 3

been purchased, may be valued at not less than $40,000. A museum,
the most complete of any in existence in several branches of the natu-
ral history of the North American continent, has been collected, which
has been valued at $30,000. A valuable and extensive cabinet of ap-
paratus, consisting of instruments of illustration and research, has been
formed, A beginning has also been made of a gallery of art, consisting
of a choice collection of specimens of engravings by the old masters.

Not only have the objects specified by Congress received due atten-
tion, but also by a series of active operations the influence of the Institu-
tion has been extended to almost every part of our own and foreign
countries. The publications, the exchanges, and the researches w gel
have been instituted and prosecuted by the Institution, have indissolu-
bly. connected the aame of Smrruson with the progress of knowledge
in our day.

In accomplishing these objects the funds have not been exhausted,
nor have debts been incurred. On the contrary, by strict adherence
to a well devised system of finance, not only does the fund originally
bequeathed by SmrrHson remain undiminished. in the Treasury of the
United States, but there is now on hand nearly $140,000. of unex-
pended income to be added to the principal.

In other words, the funds and property are now estimated at double
the amount of the original bequest.

The plan of increasing and diffusing knowledge by means of re-
searches and publications i is in strict accordance with the will of Smith-
son. It embraces as a leading feature the design of interesting the
greatest number of individuals in the operations of the Tneeatiens and
of extending its influence as widely as possible. It supplies a want
which has long been felt in this country, and offers a greater induce-
ment. to profound study by rendering the products of original research
more available than any other plan heretofore proposed. Every one who
makes a. discovery in any department of knowledge must of necessity
be somewhat in advance of the reading public, at least in the special

branch to which his discovery pertains; and therefore the number,of

readers, and consequently of purchasers of a work giving an account tof
these discoveries will be comparatively small. ‘I have frequently
congratulated myself,” says one of our collaborators, ‘‘upon living at

a time when an Institution exists in our country which would publish
discoveries and original investigations or positive additions to know- —

ledge, without expense to the author. What would not poor Morton
have done had he been able in this way to publish his researches,
whereas his single work on Crania Americana was given to the world
at the loss of several thousand dollars.”

The Institution does much more than ordinary societies in the way
of stimulating research. It not only gives to the world with the stamp
of its approval the various papers which constitute its contributions to
knowledge, but in a large number of cases it furnishes materials and
pecuniary means for carrying on the investigations. “The aid which it
affords in this way, though small in uti is sufficient to determine
whether an investigation shall be prosecuted to a successful termina-
tion or abandoned almost at its very commencement.

It was at first proposed to offer premiums for original memoirs on

10 : NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

different branches of knowledge; but it has been found by experience
that the inducements held out by the offer of publication free of ex-
pense under the sanction of the Institution, and the assistance which is
occasionally afforded, will produce more material of the first quality
than will exhaust the small portion of the income which can be devoted
to researches and publication.

In first proposing the system of literary exchanges which is now eX-
tended over every part of the civilized world, a promise was made to
all the foreign societies which should send their transactions to the
Smithsonian library that, on the part of the Institution, at least one
quarto volume of original contributions to knowledge would annually
be given in return. “The experience of seven years has rendered it
evident that this promise can be fully redeemed. Indeed, were the
funds sufficient, two large volumes might be published in the same
time.

The seventh volume is nearly completed, and will be readyMor
distribution in the course of a few weeks. It will contain a number of
memoirs, the largest of which are on the subject of American antiqui-
ties. An account of one of these, viz., that on the Effigy Mounds of
Wisconsin, was given in the last report.

A number ofmemoirs have been examined and accepted for publica-
tion since the date of the last report. r

1. A paper has been prepared at the special request of the Institution,
by 8. F. Haven. esq., librarian of the American Antiquarian Society, Wor-
cester, Mas sachusetts, which will form a part of the seventh volume.

Its intention is to give a retrospective view of the progress of kno¥
ledge and opinions relative to the whole subject of American antiquitt
For this" purpose the author has, in the first place, presented a su
mary of the opinions of early writers upon the question of the’ origin
and sources of the native population of this country, and in this con-

~ nexion has noticed some of the more prominent writers of later date

who have sustained one or other of the ancient hypotheses. r sl. J

In the second place he has considered the accounts of the early
Spanish and French adventurers, and the reports of the J esuit mission-
aries, who first became acquainted with the inhabitants im their native
condition, so far as those accounts have a bearing on the origin and,
uses of the earth-works of this country.

Inthe third place he has sought to ascertain the names of the early
“explorers who examined and described any of these ancient ce
and to give the extent of their investigations.

He has next followed the succession of observations and ena
of different periods down to the present time ; and, lastly, he has given
a concise resumé of the facts which have thus far been established.

These are, Ist. The nature and extent of the aboriginal monuments.

in the United States east of the Rocky mountains ;

2d. Their location relatively to one another and to different portions
of the country ;

3d. Their affinities to the works of existing or recently extinct tribes.

The memoir is intended to have a bibliographical character, so far
as this could be effected without interrupting the continuity of the nar-
rative. Jt will be found important, not only in poimting out what has

@

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 11

been done and thought on this interesting subject, but also in indicating
definite points of further research.

The preparation of this article has cost the author no small amount
of labor. The information was principally to be found in publications
which, in their day, had but a limited circulation; and now, even,
when known to exist, are not easily found. It may be interesting to
mention that there have been several periods during which attention
has been particularly directed to the aboriginal remains of this country,
and betweén them intervals of time in which they excited compara-
tively no interest. Before the war of the revolution, investigations had
been commenced, which were of course suspended or ferueied by
that event. After peace was restored and military stations were
established in the interior, and settlements began to be extended beyond
the Ohio, accounts of remarkable works were published in the miscel-

laneous periodicals of the day. The officers of the army were the

principal explorers ; but two of the most active of these, General Par-
sonand General Heart, were removed by death; and as the mounds
became more familiar to the settlers, the interest in them comparatively
declined.’ After the war of 1812, they again became the object of

_ inquiry, which resulted in the publication of Mr. Atwater’s researches

under the auspices of the American Antiquarian Society. Since then,
though occasional articles appeared, no important additions were made
to our knowledge in regard to them until the publication of the first
volume of the Smithsonian Contributions. The reputation acquired by
this work has induced a number of other laborers to enter the field,
which, we trust, will soon be fully explored. Indeed, it is batieved
that samples of nearly every variety of earth-work to be found within
the limits of the territory of the United States, east of the Rocky moun-
tains, have been figured in the publications of the Institution. It is
intended, however, to continue to collect all the information which may
be obtained, and in due time to publish a map of the relative position
of all the works which are found to exist, at least within the limits of
the United States.

The Institution from the first has given particular attention to an-
tiquities, philology, and other branches of the new and interesting
department of knowledge called ethnology, which relates to the natural

history of man in his physical, moral, intellectual, and zsthetical char- »
acteristics. It is a common ground, in the cultivation of which lovers

of literature and science are “equally interested. The works we have
thus far published on these subjects have elicited the highest commend-
ations, and the Smithsonian Contributions are now generally referred to
as containing important materials for their Bigeidation.

2. Some years ago an artist of considerable merit and great accuracy,
Mr. Sawkins, visited the celebrated remains of ancient architecture at
Mitla, in the State of Oajaca, Mexico. Mr. Sawkins made careful
drawings of the ruins by means of a camera lucida, and recorded his

observations upon the spot. Within a few months these drawings and >

memoranda have come into the possession of Mr. Brantz Mayer, of
Baltimore, whose writings upon Mexico and its antiquities have been
very largely circulated in this country during the last six or seven
. 1 . 5 =) .
years. Mr. Mayer considered Mr. Sawkins’s sketches and observations

*%

12 - NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

as of so much value to the aboriginal history of our- continent, and
especially in completing the links of civilization between North and
South America, that he prepareda brief memoir upon Zapotec remains,
which the Institution has considered it advisable to publish with the
drawings. We are happy to believe that this contribution will in some
degree supply a deficiency which has been often acknowledged in
regard to remains on the western slopes of the Mexican Cordillera.

3. Another memoir presented to the Institution is on the Recent secular
visitation of the Aurora Borealis, by Professor Denison Olmsted, of
Yale College. This paper partakes more largely of a hypothetical
character than most of those which haye been accepted for publication.
The facts, however, which it contains are considered so important and
so well deserving of permanent record, that they oatweigh this ob-
jection. !

On the evening of the 27th of August, 1828, after a long absence of
any striking appearances of the aurora borealis, there commenced a
series of exhibitions which increased in frequency and magnificence for
the six following years, arrived at a maximum during the years
1835,—6,—’7, and after that period regularly declined in number and
intensity until November, 1848, when, according to the author, the
series appeared to come to a close. _The occurrence, however, of
three. remarkable exhibitions of the aurora during September, 1851,
and. of another of the first class as late as February, 1852, indicate
that the close was not as abrupt as was at first supposed, but still there
was a diminution in the number of brilliant exhibitions after 1848.
Professor Olmsted, in this memoir, gives the history of the foregoing
series of auroras, which, in-his opinion, are the most remarkable w rick
have ever occurred since the first recorded observations. ‘The author
first refers the several varieties of the aurora to six different. forms; Viz:
1. Auroral light; 2. Arches; 3. Streamers; 4. Coronas; 5. Waves;
6. Auroral clouds; and afterwards distributes these different forms into

four distinct classes. The first is characterized by the presence of

three out of four of the most prominent varieties, viz: arches, stream-
ers, coronas, and waves. ae ee 5. the
The second class is formed of a combination of two or more of the
leading characteristics of the first class.
The third class consists of the presence of only one of the rarer char-
acteristics, either streamers or an arch, or irregular coruscations. |
Class fourth consists of tne most ordinary form of the aurora, as mere
northern twilight or a tew streamers.

_ From the year 1780 to 1827 striking exhibitions of the aurora were
seldom observed, although, probably, a greater or less number ot the
inferior descriptions of those of the third and fourth classes occurred
every year in our own latitude, and a still greater number in the
regions nearer the poles. But aged persons who witnessed the dis-
plays of 1827, 1835, 1836, and 1837, testify that they were similar to
such as occurred in their youth from 1760 to 1781. Strange sights were
described as having been seen in the air during the old French war,
which closed in 1763. From 1781 none of equal intensity had oceur-
red for nearly half a century ; the splendid arch, therefore, and other
striking accompaniments of the aurora of 1827 took us by surprise, and

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 13

were viewed with wonder by nearly all the existing generation.
Immediately after this great aurora, exhibitions of the ” phenomenon
became more frequent. “From 1827 to 1848, 885 appearances of the
aurora are given in the records referred to by the author. Ofthese, 12
were of the et class, 45 of the second, 161] of the third, and 667 of the
fourth.

~ The author places the middle of the period about 1837; and by Eat
tracting from this 65 years, he arrives at the middle of another visita-
tion. The duration of the period he considers to be a little more than
20 years. The middle of the next period of brilliancy, if this assump-
tion be correct, will be about the beginning of the next century. What-
ever may be the truth of this conclusion, the description of a large
number of auroras which he has collected, given either from the records
of others or from his own observations, renders his communication
valuable. He does not adopt the hypothesis of the electrical origin of
this meteor, but considers it connected with the phenomena of the
zodiacal light. The most conclusive proot, however, of the truth of
the” former hypothesis.is found in the fact of the disturbance of the
magnetic needle, when delicately suspended, during the appearance of
the aurora, and the actual transmission of currents “of electricity along
the lines of telegraphs which extend in a north and south direction.
The last fact has been reported separately to us by different individ-
uals belonging to the Smithsonian corps of observers.

Though no complete explanation has been given of all the facts of
the aurora, yet the most plausible hypothesis is that which attributes
the phenomena to electricity generated principally in the torrid zone by
e aporation. By this process the earth is rendered negative, and the
vapor which ascends into the upper atmosphere highly positive. It is
thence transferred towards the poles by the return trade winds, and-
descends to the earth to restore the equilibrium. A current of elec-
tricity is thus constantly passing from the poles to the equator during
the appearance of the aurora; and hence, according to this view, the
disturbance of the needle.

As an appendix to this paper, Peter Force, esq., of this city, has pre-
sented to the Institution an extended series of notices of the aurora
collected from all the publications in which they oceur, from about 1827
to the present y year, arranged inorder of time and of latitude. This will be
a valuable contribution of facts towards a definite determination of the
law and physical cause of these mysterious meteorological phenomena.

It would scarcely be complimentary to the general intelligence of the
public of the United States, if I were again to attempt to vindicate the
importance of investigations like that of the aurora; and it may be a
sufficient answer to those who would question it, to say that they are
such as particularly occupied the attention of Smithson himself, and
that they must, consequently, be included as a part of that knowledge
which it was the intention of his bequest to increase and diffuse among men.

4. The next paper is on the T'angencies of circles and spheres, by
Major B. Alvord, of the United States. army. It consists in the solution
of a series of problems which have at different times exercised the
ingenuity and skill of the geometer. It was referred separately for
examination to Professor ew R. Gibbes, of Charleston, South

a

14 NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

Geese and Professor A. E. Church, of West Point. In the language
of one of the examiners: ‘ The solutions of the problems relating { to
the,eir cles, though not entirely original, are yet brought more dir ectly to
depend upon the fandamental principle of iangency as enunciated by
the author, and are more elegant, than those given in any works with
which I am acquainted. The paper also presents the only clear and
complete explanation of the number of solutions and of the various
positions of the tangent circles (and spheres) in each case that I have
seen. I have not been able to find heretofore any, complete solutions
of all the problems relating to the sphere... Those of the author of the
memoir ue accurate, and easy to be understood by any person familiar
with the elements of solid and deseriptive geometry; and I think their
publication will furnish a valuable addition to geometrical knowledge.’
It is a fact not without interest, that an officer of the army is enabled,
while discharging his duty at a distant post of the frontier of our country,
to concentrate his thoughts, and exercise his talents, on so abstruse a
part of pure mathematics. The paper will Be illustrated by three

“4 engraved plates in quarto.

r _ ©. A dictionary of the Chippewa language es been offered to the
_ Smithsonian Institution for publication by the Rey. S. A. Belcourt, a
_ missionary among the Indians of British America. He has devoted 23

years to the study of this language. He urges its adoption by the fi

stitution on the ground that in all probability this work, which, to use

F ‘his own language, ‘has cost me so many years of labor and ‘nights of

~ thought, and which, in my humble opinion, will be valuable ee

and philanthropy, especially to philology, will forever be lost; and w

would undertake a work of such magnitude after learning the fate

this? pee

_ The language of the Ojibewas, according to ihe. author, is the es,

~ of all the dialects existing from the mouth of the St. Lawrence north
_ and following the 27th parallel to the source of the Missouri. Were
‘ the present funds of the Institution sufficient for the purpose we should

not hesitate to accept this work, and we are not. entirely without’ hope
that some means may be procured independent of the Institution to de-
fray a considerable portion'of the expense of its publication.
7~ CorresponpENcE.—During the past year the Institution has zeceived
a large number of communications asking information on a variety of
| subjects, particularly in regard to the bolton of scientific questions, the
_ names and characters of objects of natural history, and the analysis of
soils, minerals, and other materials which pertain to the industrial re-
sources of the country. Answers have in all cases been given to these
inquiries, either directly by the officers of the Institution, or by reports
from the Smithsonian colaborers. Very frequently certificates are re-
quested as to the value of certain minerals, with a view to bring them
into market ; but in these cases the 1 inquirers are referred to certain re-
hable analytical chemists, who make a business of operations of this
kind. The information procured and given at the expense of the Insti-
tution is such as relates to the general diffusion of knowledge, and not
to that which may immediately - tend to advance the pecuniary interest
of individuals. Requests are often also made to have experiments in-
stituted for testing proposed applications.of science to the arts; and

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 15

provided these can be tried with the apparatus of the Institution, and
the results which may flow from them are to be given to the public
without the restriction of a patent, the request is granted. m
Expiorations, Resparcues, &c.—(1.) About the beginning of the -
year 1853, Lieutenant D. N. Couch, U.S. A., communicated to the Smith-
sonian Institution a proposition to make at his own expense a scientific
exploration in the States of Mexico, adjoining the lower Rio Grande.
After this proposition was duly considered, and the details of the plan
arranged, it was commended by me in a letter to the Secretary of A
War, and a request made that Lieutenant Couch might have leave of , '
absence for the purpose of carrying out his design. The request was
granted, and this young officer soon after embarked on his expedition.
He was furnished with instructions and apparatus by the Institution,
and hissattention was. especially directed to the existence in Mexico of pen
a valuable collection of manuscripts and specimens in natural history, |
of which information had been communicated tous. _He was requested
| te examine and report as to its character. He found the manuscripts
to contain a large amount of historical and geographical information, ~\»
chiefly pertaining to the States of the old republic which lay between ~ \)
the Sabine and. Sierra Madre, and a series of maps and results of to-
pographical and meteorological observations. The collections in natu-
‘val history consisted ot specimens in botany, Zoology, mineralogy, &c.
~ These collections were made by Luis Berlandier, a native of Swit-
zerland, and a member of the Academy of Geneva. He came to
Mexico in 1826, for the purpose of making a scientific examination of }
that country. Soon after his arrival he was appointed one of the
Boundary Commission organized by the then new republic, with the
object of defining the boundaries, extent, resources, &c., &c., of the
northern or frontier States... This position gave him unusual facilities
for observation and investigation relative to the character of the coun- *
try, and. for making collections of its natural history. He, however,
never returned to. his’ native country, but married and settled in
Mexico, and continued his researches until the period of his death in
1851. Lieutenant Couch. purehased the whole collection. from the
widow of the specoased and transmitted it immediately to the Institu-
tion, which bore the expense. of transportation. It contains matter ©
which would be valuable to’ the general government, and which it is ~
hoped will be purchased, anda sufficient sum paid to reimburse the
cost of procuring it. In the appendix will,be found a catalogue of the » »
manuscripts. ; wd San? <
Lieutenant’Couch himself collected a large number of specimens in
natural history, which were presented to the Institution, and have al-
ready been examined and described. Among the specimens of mine-
ralogy is a remarkable meteorite, weighing upwards of 250 pounds,
portions of which have been analyzed by Professor J. Lawrence Smith,
in our laboratory, and by Dr. Genth, in Philadelphia.
The scientific explorations in natural history, made under the aus-
pices of the Smithsonian Institution during 1854, were those of Dr. Hoy,
Mr. Barry, and Professor Baird. That of Dr. Hay was made in west-
ern Missouri and Kansas, and occupied about a month; during which
he gathered together large collections of North American vertebrata,

rea

16 NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

and forwarded them to the Institution. Mr. Barry took northern Wis-
consin for the field of his labors, and spent several months in traversing
Ue State, penetrating into various regions scarcely visited before by the
nite‘man. Several lakes and direane | not on the map, were discov-
dad: and named by him. His most important results consisted in very
full series of fishes from many localities. Professor Baird spent six
weeks on the coast of New Jersey, at Beesley’s Point, collecting speci-
meng, and studying the habits of the marine fishes of the neighborhood.
° Thence he proceeded to several places on Long Island, especially to
Greenport and Riverhead ; and afterwards made Yexplor ations at various
points on and near the Hudson river, as. far north as Sing Sing. © Full
series of fishes and crustacea were procured at all these places, and
@ _sent to me Smithsonian Institution. —
a (2.) . Terrestrial, Magnetism.—The . observatory established, at the
jomt expense of the Coast Survey and the Institution, described in the ~
K* last report, for determining the changes in the different elements of the
magnetic foree, has not yet. been f fully supplied with all themecessary
instruments. This has been occasioned by the illness of tc Maooks, of
England, the inventor, who has not been able to furnish the apparatus
for recording the variations in the dip and intensity. The only part of
the system which has been in partial operation, is’ that of the variation
or declination instrument; and in this, the glass cylinder which ue
ports the sensitive paper, : and which is needed to render the record
more perfect, is wanting. — i ic. “f®
An attempt was made to ‘supply, this deficiency by’ means soft “copper
- cylinder, coated with g gold by the electrotype process. . It: owas, found,
= an - however, that t ms

‘ porosity of the gold allowed the acid to act aus
copper. below, and thus to produce stains upon the paper. Ot is hoped
_« this observatory ) will be fully equipped in the course of the present
‘spring, and that a continued record will hereafter be kept up.

It was mentioned in the last report, that a set of instruments: ty
been furnished the Grinnell expedition under command of Dr. K
»No. intelligence, however, has yet been received ee Li igelition ;
but should our most anxious hopes be realized in ‘reference to ‘this enter-
7 prise, we doubt not a series of results willbe obtained which will well
repay the cost of the instruments. If not, the Institution should receive
me degree of commendation for aiding in an underte ing which re-
flects so much honor on the intelligence and liberality of one of our
citizens, and the gallantry and enterprise of a young officer of our navy.

our complete sets of instruments have been constructed in London
for the Institution ; three of these have. been purchased by the general
oe and have been employed 1 in the different surveying expe-

a

d The fourth has been lent, in succession, to different individu-
als, for the purpose of accumulating magnetic observations in different
parts of the United States.

A simple instrument for fe ae the minute changes in the direc-
tion of the magnetic needle, devised by Mr. J. E. Hilgard of the United
States Coast Survey, is now in the process of construction, under the
direction of this Institution, for the Academy of Natural Sciences
California. The cost of this instrument is defrayed by the liberality
of the President of the Academy, Dr. A. Randall.

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. VF

Observations continued for a certain time at different periods along
the coast of the Pacific, and compared with the photographic records
obtained by the apparatus in this Institution, would afford interesting
results as to the simultaneous perturbations of the magnetic force at
distant places on the same continent.

Under the head of magnetism, it may be mentioned that a complete
set of apparatus has been obtained from Ruhmkorff, of Paris, for ex-
hibiting the facts of the new branch of science called dia-magnetism.
A few years ago, but four metals were known to possess magnetic
properties, namely, iron, nickel, cobalt, and manganese. It 1s now
known that all bodies exhibit analogous phenomena when placed under
the inductive influence of powerful magnets; but they are not all simi-
larly affected. All bodies may, however, be divided into two classes :
one in which polarity is developed at the extremities of a bar of the
substance, as in the case of iron, and hence called simple magnetic
bodies; and the other class, in which the polarity is transverse to
the length of the bar, and the substance is hence called dia-magnetic.
The simple repetition of these experiments in this country is of im-
portance, and the apparatus may serve as a model for imitation to our
ingenious artists.

(3.) On the 26th of last May, the central track of an annular eclipse
passed over the northern part of the United States. The eclipse itself
Was visible over almost the entire area of the North American conti-
nent; and as no obscuration of the sun of equal magnitude would
again occur in this country until 1865, it was important that all the
facilities possible should be afforded for observing its different epochs

and phases, as well as the concurring phenomena. For this purpose,

in conjunction with the superintendent of the Nautical Almanac, a large
map, exhibiting the times of beginning and ending, and the amount of
obscuration and phases of the eclipse for every part of the United
States, Canada, and Mexico, together with tables and explanations,
were prepared and distributed to all the observers in correspondence
with the Smithsonian Institution. A set of minute instructions, pub-
lished under the direction of the American Association for the Advance-
ment of Science, was also presented to the same persons. Unfortu-
nately, the weather proved cloudy over a considerable portion of the
space covered by the central part of the shadow, though a number of
interesting observations were made. ‘The expense of the map and
tables were defrayed jointly by this Institution and by the appropria-
tion for the Nautical Almanac.

The results of the observations, so far as they have been reported,
have been published in the Astronomical Journal, edited by Dr. B. A.
Gould, jr., Cambridge, Massachusetts. They are illustrated by pho-
tographic impressions of the sun, made under the direction of Professor
Bartlett, at West Point, and also by others, made under the direction
of Professor 8. Alexander, of Princeton, New Jersey. The expense of
these was borne by the Institutien, for which full credit has been given.

I may mention in this connexion that Professor Coffin, of Latayette

College, Pennsylvania, has presented to the Smithsonian Collections an-

interesting map, on which are delineated the paths or central tracks of

all the great solar eclipses of the nineteenth century which traverse the’ ~

Mis. Doc. 37 Z

18 NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

United States. These are nine innumber. Seven of them have passed;
the first of the remaining two will occur in October, 1865, and the
other in August, 1869.

There are but two journals exclusively devoted to astronomy now in
existence. The first is published at the expense of the King of Den-
mark, and the second in Cambridge, Massachusetts, by Dr. B. A.
Gould, jr. The latter is intended to give the earliest intelligence of
astronomical discoveries—particularly those made in our own country.
At the last meeting of the British Association, the president commended
this publication, and expressed a wish that it might be continued. I
regret, however, to say that though no branch of science is cultivated
with more ardor and success at the present time in the United States
than astronomy, yet this work, so essential to its continued progress,
is very inadequately sustained. Not only the labor of conducting it has
devolved upon the editor, but also a considerable portion of the ex-
pense of its publication. The Smithsonian Institution has, from the
first, subscribed for a number of copies, to be distributed among its
foreign correspondents, and, rather than suffer so meritorious a work,
which does so much service to the cause of science and credit to our
country, to be discontinued, it might be well to enlarge the subserip-
tion. It is to be hoped that, in due time, donations and bequests will
be made by liberal individuals for the support of scientific enterprises
of this character.

It is gratifying to learn that $10,000 of the Appleton bequest have
been devoted to the publications of the American Academy, and an
equal sum to those of the Historical Society of Massachusetts ; and we
may venture to ask whether there are not, in this country, wealthy in-
dividuals who can properly appreciate the importance of the labors of
Dr. Gould, and establish his journal on a permanent foundation.

(4.) The laboratory of the Instuuteon, during the past year, has been used
by Professor J. Lawrence Smith in the examination of American mine-
rals; and, on behalf of the Treasury Department, in investigations rel-
ative to the different kinds of molasses imported into this country. He
also made a series of analyses of meteorites, among which were four-
teen specimens belonging to the cabinet of James Smithson, the founder
of this Institution.

' An extensive series of experiments have been made during the last
year, and are still in progress at the Institution, under the direction of a
commission appointed by the Secretary of War, consisting of General
Totten, Professor Bache, and myself, for testing the materials employed
in the extension of the capitol. [or the purpose of these investigations,
we have employed the beautiful and ingenious machine invented by
Major Wade, late of the United States army, Which is so contrived as
to give in pounds per square inch of the material, the resistance to
crushing, to twisting, and to longitudinal and transverse fracture. The
raaterials have been selected and prepared under the direction of Cap-
tain Meigs, superintendent of the capitol extension; and the details of
the manipulations and calculations have been entrusted to Mr. William
Shippen.

The commission has taken advantage of this opportunity to extend
the experiments to a number and variety of other building materials

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 19

submitted to them from different parts of the United States ; and they
hope to be allowed to extend their inquiries until they also embrace the
comparative strength of the most important articles used in the arts.
For example, it is of great practical importance to know the relative
and absolute strength of cordage, and the various textile fabrics manu-
factured by different processes from the raw materials produced in dif-
ferent countries. No complete series of experiments has ever been
made upon the strength of the varieties of American timber. Enqui-
ries, however, of this jen involve much labor and considerable expense,
and can only be properly carried on by the aid of the government

(5.) Meteorology.—During the past year valuable additions have con-
tinued to be made to our meteorological collections. Though changes
have taken place in the individuals, the number of the chsernare report-
ing immediately to the Institution is about the same as that given in the
last report. A considerable number of full sets of standard eh ears.
made under our direction by Mr. James Green, of New York city,* have
been procured by observers, and the character of the meteorological
returns has consequently continued gradually to improve in complete-
ness and precision. The records we have collected now form a copious
store of valuable materials for the solution of many interesting problems
relative to the meteorology of this country, which have been resorted
to by several original investigators for data necessary to their researches.
But to render these materials more generally available for the advance-
ment of science, it is desirable to reduce them to tabular forms, and to
publish them in as much detail as our funds will allow. In ae way
the greatest number of persons will have an opportunity of submitting
them to the inductive process, by which general laws are deduced from
particular facts. ‘There is no part of ‘physical science in which so
much is to be done, even in the way of partial generalization, as in
meteorology ; and hence the importance of engaging as many minds as
possible in its investigation. —

It is the policy of the Institution to furnish all the means in its pos-
session to aid scientific research, and not to hoard up its treasures or
confine their use to those who may be immediately connected with the
establishment, or who may be supported by its funds. Co-operation,
and not monopoly, is the motto which indicates the spirit of the Smith-
sonian operations. It is with this view that I have been anxious to have
the materials in our possession reduced to a form for publication ; and,
indeed, it has been a source of much solicitude that we have not been
able before this time to present to the observers the means by which
they could compare the results of their records with those of others in
different districts. Few persons, however, are aware of the labor,
chiefly of-a mechanical character, required to tabulate materials of this
kind, and the cost of printing them in sufficient fullness of detail to ren-
der them generally applicable to scientific or economical purposes.
Besides this, I regret to inform the Board that our attempts in the line
of reduction have thus far not been successful. [employed for this
purpose a person who seemed to possess all the requisite qualifications,
and who engaged in the work with commendable industry and apparent

* No, 422 Broadway, New York.

20 NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

enthusiasm; but, I am sorry to have to say that before the work was
completed, he set up such claims to a personal right of property in it,
and to a control over the manner in which it should be prepared and
published, as were entirely incompatible with the rights of the Institu-
lion, and with a due regard to its reputation. I was, therefore, obliged,
after many attempts to induce an opposite course, to place the work in
other hands. The reductions are now entrusted to Professor Corrin,
of Lafayette College, Pennsylvania, the author of the memoir on the
winds of the North American continent ; and from his established repu-
tation for scrupulous exactness and punctuality, as well as for intellect-
ual and moral qualities, we may confidently expect to have at least
one part of the work ready for the press before the next session of the
Board of Regents.

The materials collected consist of two classes, viz: one which in-
cludes all the records of observations published in books and periodi-
cals, or contained in manuscripts which have been lent us for reduction ;
and the other consists of the current observations, which now em-
brace all the returns we have received for several years past. The reduc-
tion of the first class, on which we have expended much money, was, I
supposed, nearly ready for the press; but, on examination, it has been
found necessary to subject the whole to a careful revision, in order to
correct the errors in it which a critical examination has brought to light.

It may be well to state, for the information of the public, that the
appropriation which was made for the purchase of instruments to dis-
tribute among observers has been exhausted, and that the experiment
Was not as successful as could have been wished. A considerable
number of the instruments were broken, and but comparatively few
returns have been received. It does not, therefore, appear advisable
to renew the appropriation with the portion of our income which can at
present be devoted to meteorology.

Blank forms are furnished liberally to individuals who may desire to re-
cord the changes of the weather, or the progress of periodical phenomena.

In order to prevent difficulties similar to those which have hereto-
fore occurred, it 1s important to state that all communications on the
subject of meteorology—and, indeed, on the general business of the
establishment, should be addressed to the “Secretary of the Institution.”’
He alone is responsible to the Regents; and it is, therefore, necessary
that he should have full knowledge and control of the correspondence.

Excuaners.—The system of international exchange has been con-
ducted with very important results during the last year. ‘The additions
to the library from this source exceed considerably, in number, those
of any previous year; amounting, in the aggregate, to over three thou-
sand volumes and parts of volumes. Many of these consist of expen-
sive works published by governments or institutions in Europe, and
such as are not found in any other library in this country. It will not
be extravagant to estimate the value of these returns at three thousand
dollars; since most of them are the current volumes of the year, and
bear the high price of scientific periodicals.

As mentioned in previous reports, the Smithsonian Institution acts as
the principal medium of communication between the scientific and lite-
rary associations of the old and the new world. During the past year

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. pI

the number of the societies availing themselves of the facilities thus
offered has largely increased, including, among others, nearly all the
State agricultural societies of America, publishing transactions. This
result has been produced by a circular which was issued by the Insti-
tution, early in the spring of last year, to make known more generally
the system of exchange. Copious returns are being constantly received
for the societies; and an intercourse is thus established which cannot
fail to produce important results, both in an intellectual and moral point
of view.

The governments of England and France have for some time admit-
ted the packages of the Institution free of duty and without examina-
tion. A request for a similar favor was made to the Prussian govern-
ment, during the past year, and it has been liberally granted by the
commissioners of the Zollverein. There is, therefore, no port to which
the Smithsonian parcels are shipped where duties are charged on
them—a certified invoice of contents by the secretary being sufficient
_ to pass them through the custom-house free of duty. On the other
hand, all packages addressed to the Institution, arriving at the ports of
the United States, are admitted, without detention, duty free. This
system of exchange is, therefore, the most extensive and efficient which
has ever been established in any country. Its effect on the character
and reputation of our own country can scarcely be too highly estimated ;
while its influence, though silent, is felt in every part of the globe
where literature and science are cultivated.

Lisrary.—A difficulty which occurred between the librarian and
myself has led to his separation from the Institution; and, since the
10th of last July, I have given the library, as far as my multiplied duties
would allow, my personal supervision. With the assistance of Profes-
sor Baird and others, means have been devised for improving its con-
dition and for rendering it more available for consultation. At present
it is not thought advisable to appoint a special bibliographer, but to
endeavor to conduct the business of the library by means of the assist-
ants now employed, and by such temporary help as may be found
necessary. An assistant has been employed to make a catalogue
of all the books received by exchange, and to prepare the volumes and
parts of volumes for binding. The list is now complete and will be
appended to the next report to Congress, for the purpose of pointing
out to our correspondents the deficiencies in the sets of transactions,
and thus affording the opportunity to supply them. What we cannot
procure in this way we shall endeavor to supply by purchase.

I have also directed that the statistics of the library should be kept,
namely, the number of different persons who come to read, and the
number and character of the books they call for. During the last six
months 150 different individuals have read or consulted 742 books in
the library ; of these 400 were works of light literature, belonging to
the copyright deposit. During the same period 2,576 names were
entered in the registry of visitors. The principal value of the library
has been to the officers of the Institution, and to other persons engaged
in research connected with the Smithsonian publications. These, dur-
ing the ‘period above-mentioned, have drawn out of the library 450
volumes, principally of a scientific character.

22 NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

The reading room of the library receives the leading periodicals of
this country Ane Great Britain, together with a number from France,
Germany, &c.; and, therefore, offers desirable facilities for the reading
community of Washington, and for those who visit the seat of govern-
ment, to keep up with the general progress of knowledge; while by
means of the more profound transactions of learned societies the student
is afforded the opportunity of becoming acquainted with the advances
made in special branches of literature and science.

Very erroneous ideas have been entertained as to the amount which
has been expended on the library. It is true the whole sum directly
paid for books has not exceeded $14,139 16; but this does not include
the binding, the transportation, the superintendence, and all the other
expenses connected with an establishment of this kind. Neither does
it exhibit the value of the books procured by exchanging the publica-
tions of the Institution for the current volumes of learned societies, or
the cost in clerk hire and postage of the books received from the copy-
right system. ‘The whole expenditure on the library and operations .
connected with libraries, including a proportional part of the general
expenses since the beginning of the Institution, is $71,429 45. To this
should be added at least $130,000 for the cost of the part of the build-
ing devoted to the library, and we shall then have am expenditure of the
income of the Smithsonian bequest on the library and objects imme-
diately connected with it of about $200,000.

In the original programme of organization, a proposition was intro-
duced by Professor Bache to render the Institution a centre of biblio-
graphical knowledge, to which students in every part of the country
could apply, by loner or otherwise, for information as to what books
existed on a particular subject, and in what libraries they could be
found. For this purpose a large number of works on bibliography have
been obtained, and efforts have been made to procure copies of all the
catalogues of libraries in this country. ‘To facilitate the answers to
enquiries relative to the places where particular books could be found,
it was proposed to secure three copies of each catalogue, one to be
preserved in its original form, and the other two to be cut up, in order
that the titles on each side of a leaf could be pasted on cards, and the
whole arranged in drawers so as to form a general catalogue. Con-
siderable progress was at one time made in this work, and several
thousand cards were prepared by a bookbinder.

It was, however, stopped in order to prosecute the system proposed
by Professor Jewett, namely, that of forming a general catalogue of
libraries by means of stereotyping separate titles. It appears to me,
however, that the first plan ought to be carried out as far as possible,
particularly in regard to collecting catalogues; and these should not be
confined to those of the libraries of the United States, but embrace, as
far as practicable, those of the libraries of Europe. It may happen
that an extract may be required by a student from a book not to be found
in this country, and that this can be effected through the correspondence
of the Institution, provided the location of the work in F Europe is known.

About three years ago a series of experiments were undertaken at
the expense and under the direction of the Institution for i improving and
applying a new method of stereotyping. The right to use the process

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 23

was purchased of the original inventor, but it was not found in a con-
dition to be applied, particularly to stereotyping catalogues, and in
order to improve it an artizan from Boston was employed under the
immediate direction of the librarian. ‘The experiments were success-
ful, and the improved process has been employed by Mr. John C.
Rives in printing the Congressional Globe. Iwas anxious that it should
be generally applied, in order that the art might not depend on the
contingency of the life or will of a single individual. Besides this,
should the process be generally introduced, the use of it for the Institu-
tion could be more cheaply procured by contract than by attempting
to do our own work by a separate establishment in the building. [
have, however, just learned that a patent has been applied for, in the
name of the artizan before mentioned, for the very improvements which
were made at the expense of the Smithsonian fund. ‘This act, though
it may be in accordance with the usages of employees under the gov-
ernment, is not, in my judgment, compatible with the liberal spirit of
the will of Smithson. While due credit and proper remurieration should
be given to any employee for his labors, the results should redound to
the reputation of the Institution and to the general good of the public.
This remark is also especially applicable to the claims set up by an
employee in the meteorological department.

During the past year the process of cataloguing the Congressional
library in accordance with the plan adopted by this Institution has been
carried on under the direction of Professor Jillson, of Brown Univer-
sity. ‘lhe whole number of titles catalogued has been 9,654, and
of volumes 21,805. The stereotyping of the titles has been suspended
for the present, in order to give the workmen who have been engaged
on it an opportunity of applying the new art to the printing of the Con-
gressional Globe. It is hoped that an additional appropriation will be
made during the present session ot Congress sufficient to complete the
whole catalogue. We shall then have the statistics necessary to ascer-
tain the cost of preparation of a catalogue of this kind, and the means
necessary to give definite information, in reference to it, to the principal
libraries of the country.

The edition of Notices of the Public Libraries in the United States,
published by the Institution in 1851, is exhausted; and it will be
necessary during the present year to collect the materials for a new and
enlarged edition. A circular* for this purpose will be issued as soon
as possible, and it is hoped that the work will be prepared in time to
be submitted to Congress with the annual report for 1855. I have
entrusted the duty of collecting the materials for this purpose to Mr.
William J. Rhees, who now occupies the place formerly filled by Dr.
Foreman, the latter having been appointed to the position of examiner
in the Patent Office.

The purchases, though few in number, are of considerable value;
and the additions from the system of exchange, as has before been
stated, have increased in importance. The articles received on ac-
count of the copyright law were more numerous last year than the
year before, but not more valuable. 848 separate pieces of music

*A circular distributed by the Institution is given in the Appendix to this Report.

24 NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

have been received, for each of which two separate manuscript copies
of every word of the title page was required. From this single fact
it is evident that the operation of the present copyright law does not
confer a material benefit upon the Institution, unless it be as a means
of swelling the number of articles annually added to the library, which
would appear to be at present a matter of some popular importance.
It would be well to ask Congress, at least, to relieve the Institution
from the burden imposed upon it by the additional postage to which
We are constantly subjected on this account. *

The additions to the library during the year 1854 are shown by the
following table :

cs)
5 g
ge | & aN Wie
i B53 oe P gp Sy lag otalke

a mea |) SoM gee ae

63 eae Meh dist le caieaey | lO
EAUNCH ASC ley Nereretatleveledeletactorer= 529 Bol loooondbososdbo dodboouadkodson 920
Donation and exchange..... 920} 2,397 Th’) BB Iboodoc Wlbooooc 3,642
Popynrt coy sierelan «lore isteisters 44] 203 16 28 | 848 5 69 1,610
Deposit... ..es..00% SOmdb 50d obdaDadloas00p0dbo0dodoa0K00dpo Scadbooondasocddloocoo0e .
Tgp oshoaoabaoodseos 158903) 25991 17.| 351} 848 6 69 6,172

If we add these to the number given in the report of the librarian
last year, we shall have the following—

Agsregate to 18568.

ie :
! is 3 - 4 Bp 3 Total.

i poe 3 a ae 2 B

9 ie BO eis e | ¢

a ee Ns | eae
Purchase. .csccssccnrsesens 4,961 | 2,902 |1,335 2) oaacdbosoodbaéanc 9,200
Donation and exchange..... 4,821 | 7,561 59 |2,136 |...... 31 41} 14,649
Copynight. ccc cccscccssrsss 3,250 623 54 87 13,122 14 | 166 7,316
Deposit j..\c01. os «6 aatetaielotal« Siiaklereertc SAnBbondd once dioboonadenodecc sos 873
TOGA bernie st roomates 13,905 | 11,086 |1,448 |2,225 |3,122 45 | 207 | 32,038

% Since this was written, Congress has passed an act allowing all copyright publications to
be sent to the Institution free of postage through the mail. A circular sent to all the pub-
lishers in the United States on this subject will be found in the Appendix.

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. * a5

Museum anp Cotiections.—(].) The principal object of the Smith-
sonian collection of specimens is to present a full illustration of the natu-
ral history of North America. The income is not sufficient to collect
and support a miscellaneous museum to illustrate all the branches of
the physical geography of the globe. Such an establishment can only
be sustained by the general government. Were the Institution to em-
brace all the opportunities which are afforded it to collect specimens,
the cost of transportation alone would soon absorb the greater portion
of the sum which can be devoted to this branch of the general plan of
operations. We are, therefore, obliged to limit our exertions, and to
direct them to objects which are more immediately necessary in facili-
tating certain definite lines of research, and to leave to other institu-
tions the collection of such materials as may be required to make up
the complement of specimens necessary to represent the mineral and
organic products of our continent.

During the last. year, the additions to the museum have been more
-humerous and valuable than in any previous period of the same ex-
tent. Much has been done by parties aided more or less by the Insti-
tution, and much by persons in au individual and independent capacity.

The Institution has taken charge of the arrangement and preser-
servation of all the specimens obtained by the various expeditions
of the government; but, as these embrace all objects of natural his-
tory, they would scarcely fall within the plan of a special museum.
The principal aim, therefore, in taking charge of all the specimens
is not to swell the Smithsonian collection, but to preserve them from
destruction, and to render them immediately available to science, with
the hope that Congress will, at some future day, make a liberal appro-
priation to support a national collection, of which these will form the
nucleus.

In order to carry out the general policy of the Institution, a liberal
distribution of the duplicate specimens should be made to societies and
other establishments in this country and abroad. During the past
year something has been done in this line; and when the collections
are properly arranged, and the number of duplicates ascertained, the
system of distribution may be so extended as materially to affect the
progress of natural history in this country and the world. But the
amount of good which may be done in this way must again be limited
by the portion of the income which can be expended for this purpose 3
due regard being had to the claims of all branches of knowledge, of
which this is but one.

The primary object of the establishment being kept constantly in
view, the specimens in all cases will be open to the use of individuals
who may desire to increase knowledge by original research; and the»
* only condition which will be required to be strictly observed is that

full credit be given to the Institution for the facilities which it may
afford. :

No branch of the operations of the Institution can be carried on with-
out the expenditure of a greater amount of labor than might, at first
sight, appear to be necessary. Some idea of that required to attend
to the specimens added to the museum may be obtained from the faet
that over 360 different lots, consisting of barrels, kegs, cans, boxes,

26 NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

&c., besides many single specimens, have been received during the
last year. All these had to be assorted, labelled, and recorded in
books <s, and in most instances duplicate lists sent to as donors. In the
case of smaller animals, large numbers of extra specimens are gener-
ally collected, to serve for anatomical investigation, or for distribution
and exchange.

(2.) Achromatic Microscope. Ini the first report of the Secretary
it was mentioned that an individual, in the interior of the State
of New York, had successfully devoted himself to the study and
construction of the microscope, and was able to produce specimens of
this instrument which would compete with the best of those constructed
in Europe; and that, to do justice to the talents and labor of this person,
Mr. Spencer had been requested to construct a microscope of the first
quality, to be paid for by the Institution, if a commission appointed to
examine it should find it capable of producing certain effects. The artist
made a number of instruments which fully satisfied the conditions re-
quired by the agreement, but which still fell short of the ideal standard
of perfection which existed in his own mind.

He has, however, at length completed a microscope, the perform-
ance of which far exceeds that which was anticipated when the propo-
sition was made; and the Institution has thus not only secured a valua-
ble instrument of research, but has assisted in developing the talents
and making more generally known the skill of a native artist of sur-
passing merit. I may mention that Mr. Spencer has associated with
himself Professor Eaton, of Troy, New York; and they are now able
to supply the increasing demand in this country for this invaluable
means of research which, within the last few years, has opened a new
world to the physiologist and botanist, as well as to the investigator of
inorganic matter.

(3. ) Gallery of Art—The Stanley collection of Indian portraits stll
remains deposited in the west wing of the building. ‘They were re-
moved, however, for a short time for exhibition at the Maryland Insti-
tute, Baltimore, and the State Agricultural Fair at Richmond, Vir-
ginia. ‘They have constantly excited much interest, and it will be a
subject of great regret if means cannot be procured to eae entire
a series of portraits which has been produced at so much labor and
cost, and which is so faithful a representation of the peculiar physiog-
nomy and costume of the different tribes of Indians now found within
the boundaries of the territories of the United States. Mr. Stanley was
engaged as the artist of the Pacific railroad survey under Governor
Stevens, and has thus had an opportunity of adding much to his mate-
rial for enlarging the collection. Since it was first deposited in the
Institution he has also added to it portraits of several individuals be-
longing to the Indian delegations which, within the last two years,
have visited Washington.

(4.) Professor Wilson, of the British Commission, appointed to attend
the Exhibition at the New York Crystal Palace, presented to the Institu-
tion, in behalf of the London Society of Arts, a collection of models,
drawings and instruments, to facilitate instruction in the art of design.
In order to render these immediately useful, they were lent to the School
of Design, which has been established in this city by the Metropolitan

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. At

Mechanics’ Institute, under the charge of Professor Whitaker; and they
are still in possession of this society, and are not only valuable on ac-
count of the immediate use to which they are applied, but also in serv-
ing as patterns for imitation for other schools of a similar character.

The Institution possesses, as has been stated in a previous report, a
valuable collection of engravings by the first masters; but these have,
from the first, been deposited in drawers, and have therefore not been
accessible to the general visitor. It may be well, if the expense is not
too great, to have them placed in groups, under glass, in large frames,
and thus exhibited to all.

Bu:tpine.—The main building of the Smithsonian Institution is at
length completed. During the last six years, the wings, the connecting
ranges, and the apartments in the southern tower, have alone been occu-
pied. ‘The unfinished condition of the edifice has undoubtedly pro-
duced an unfavorable impression on the numerous strangers who visit
the city of Washington. The object, however, of the delay, as has
_ been repeatedly stated in previous reports, was, first, that a more per-
manent building, and one better adapted to the uses of the Institution,
might be provided; and secondly, that funds might be saved from the
accruing interest to furnish an additional income sufficient at least to
defray the annual expense of so large and costly an edifice. Both
these objects have been attained. The interior of the building, instead
of being constructed of wood and plaster, as was originally intended,
has been finished with fire-proof materials; and improvements have
been made in the plan first adopted which render the edifice better
suited to the purposes for which it was intended. ‘The first story con-
sists of one room 200 feet long and 50 feet wide, which can be divided
by a screen into two apartments, one of which may be devoted to the
library and the other to the museum. The second story is divided into
three spaces, the middle one of which is occupied by the great lecture
room, capable of containing 2,000 persons, and constructed on acous-
tic and optical principles. It is believed that this room is the most per-
fect of its kind in this country, and-that it will serve as a model for
apartments ofa similar character. The spaces adjoining the lecture room
east and west form rooms each fifty feet square, which may contain
cases around the walls for apparatus and other collections of objects of
art, and at the same time serve for meetings of societies or for lectures
to smaller audiences on special subjects. On the north side of the lec-
ture room, in the front towers, are rooms intended for the preparation
of the experimental illustrations of lectures, but which may be used as
committee rooms, while the large lecture room serves for the more pub-
lic addresses and exhibitions.

The object kept in view in all the changes which have been made in
the original design of the building is its adaptation to purposes of
general interest, and particularly to the accommodation of conventions
and associations intended to promote knowledge or improve the arts of
life.

. During the past year a number of societies have availed themselve
of the facilities afforded by the Institution, and have held their session
in the Smithsonian building. ‘The first was the United States Agricul-
tural Society, which continued its session for three days, with lectures

28 NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

in the evening. It was attended by delegates from almost every part
of the United States, and has published a journal of its proceedings, in
which due credit is given to the Institution. —

The second was the American Association for the Advancement of
Science, which met the last of April and continued in session until
about the 10th of May. Special preparation was made for this associ-
ation; and although the building was still in an unfinished state, it is
believed the members were well satisfied with their accommodation,
as well as the hospitality and attention they received from the Presi-
dent and officers of the general government.

The third was the Association of Medical Superintendents of Hospi-
tals for the Insane, which continued in session several days. The sub-
jects discussed were not only of much importance relative to the treat-
ment of diseases of the mind, but also of interest to the psychologist.
Some, too, were of a practical character, connected with the general
economy and management of public institutions. ‘The subjects of heat-
ing and ventilating were fully discussed.

The fourth was the meeting of the American Association for the Ad-
vancement of Education, which has just closedits session. ‘The Smith-
sonian Institution is thus assisting to render the city of Washington a
centre of literary and scientific association, which may serve to diver-
sify its character as the political metropolis of the nation.

Lxectures.—lIn conformity with the law of Congress, a series of lec-
tures was given during the winter of 18534, and the experiment was
made of establishing a full course on a single subject, namely, « f chem-
istry- This was given by Dr. J. Lawrence Smith, late of the Univer-
sity of Virginia, and now professor of chemistry in the Louisville Medi-
cal College. The interest in ail the lectures was fully sustained until
the last.

A number of lectures were also given before the Mechanic’s Institute
and the Young Men’s Christian Association in the Smithsonian lecture
room. :

The following is a list of the lectures given, with the names of the
gentlemen by whom they were delivered.

A course of three lectures by Benjamin Hallowell, of Alexandria,
Virginia.

Ist. The general principles of astronomy, with the movements and
consequent phenomena of the bodies of the solar system.

2d lecture. The sun, Neptune, the asteroids, and comets.

3d lecture. Fixed stars, nebula, and stellar systems.

A course of three lectures by Professor C. W. Hackley, of Columbia
College, New York. Subject: History of institutions of learning and
science.

A course of two lectures by W. Gilmore Simms, esq., of Charleston,
South Carolina. Subject: The moral character of Hamlet. Also two
lectures for the Young Men’s Christian Association, on poetry and the
practical.

One lecture by Professor W. J. Whitaker, of Massachusetts. Sub-
ject: Method of teaching the art of design.

A course of three lectures by Park Benjamin, of New York. Sub-

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 29

jects: 1st. Fashion; 2d. Americanisms; 3d. Intellectual and social
amusements.

One lecture by W. G. Dix, of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Subject :
The Andes and Ecuador.

A course of twenty-two lectures by Professor J. Lawrence Smith, of
the University of Virginia.

ist. The importance of the study of chemistry, and its close con-
nexion with the progress of the arts and manufactures of the present
age; also general notice of the nature of bodies, more especially
gaseous bodies.

2d. The elements of the atmosphere: oxygen, nitrogen, and ozone,
or oxygen in its allotropic condition.

dd. The physical properties of the atmosphere: its weight, color,
elasticity, &c.

Ath. ‘The compounds of nitrogen and oxygen.

oth. Sulphur and some of its compounds.

6th. Sulphuric acid and its applications. Phosphorus and phos-
phoric acid.

7th. Chlorine, its applications in the arts and its combination with
oxygen. lodine and its uses, with a notice of its application in the
photographic art.

8th. Some of the compounds of chlorine and iodine, bromine, hydro-
gen, and its application to zronautics.

9th. Compounds of oxygen and hydrogen; the oxyhydrogen blow-
pipe and the Drummond light; water in several of its relations.

10th. Combinations of hydrogen with nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorus,
and chlorine.

ith. Carbon under its various forms of diamond, charcoal, and
mineral coal; the combinations of carbon and oxygen.

12th. The agency of carbonic acid in forming incrustations of car-
bonate of lime; the respiration of plants and animals; the formation of
coal-beds and the composition of coals; carbonic oxide and some of
the compounds of carbon.

13th. Compounds of carbon and hydrogen ; explosions in coal mines ;
Sir Humphrey Davy’s lamp; combustion.

14th. On the phenomena of combustion and ebullition.

15th. On the phenomena of illumination, with an exhibition of every
variety of illumiation, from a candle to the electric lght.

16th. On the pheriomena of illumination, with illustration of every
form of artificial illumination ; an account of the construction and prin-
ciple of the Fresnel light used in light-houses.

17th. On the ebullition and congelation of water, with a short ac-
count of the application of the, vapor of water as a motive power.

18th. The conversion of water into steam ; its application as a mo-
tive power, with some remarks on the explosion of boilers ; an account
of some of the vapors and gases proposed as substitutes for steam as
motive power.

19th. General properties of the metals; potash and soda, with an
account of their applications to the arts of glass and soap making, &c.

20th. On the compounds of lime, alumina, and silica, with their ap-
plications.

30 NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

21st. On some of the properties of gold, silver, mercury, and lead,
with the manner of their occurrence in nature.

22d. On the properties of copper and iron, with the manner of their
occurrence in nature; on meteoric iron and meteorites. é

From the foregoing account of the transactions of the past year, it
must be evident to every intelligent and unprejudiced person that the
Institution has perseveringly continued its course of usefulness, and
that, although some of its operations are not of a character to attract
public attention or elicit popular applause, yet they are eminently pro-
ductive of the benevolent results intended by the bestower of the
bequest. From the report of the Executive Committee, it will be seen
that the funds are still in a good condition; although. on account of un-
foreseen difficulties in the completion of the building, and of the unex-
pected rise in the price of labor and material, a larger draft has been
made upon the extra fund than was intended. This can be made up,
however, if thought necessary, in the course of a few years, by means
of the interest which will accrue from the same fund. —

It is evident that the collections of books and specimens have in-
creased as rapidly as is consistent with the best interests of the Institu-
tion. Every addition to these collections increases the cost of atten-
dance and supervision, and therefore must, with a fixed income, tend
to diminish the power of acquisition; and when’ it is recollected that
the Institution is, theoretically at least, to be perpetual, it will be evi-
dent that we should be more solicitous in regard to the quality of articles
than to their number or quantity. ‘Though these views may not com-
mend themselves to all, I believe they will be found to meet the ap-
proval of a large majority of the intelligent community.

In order to preserve the continuity of the history of the Institution in
the annual reports of the secretary, it is necessary to allude to the
fact that during the past year internal difficulties and changes have
occurred which have given rise to a series of attacks on the policy
and management of the Institution; but however painful occurrences
of this kind may be to those immediately concerned, yet they seem
almost inevitable in the first organization of an establishment where
precedence is wanting, and where experience furnishes no instruction.
They had their origin in the want of a definite recognition of the re-
sponsibilities and consequently of the powers of the secretary.

It is evident there can be no efficient action in an Institution of this
character without entire harmony of views and unity of purpose, and
these can only be secured by one executive head. The Regents have
settled this principle, and thus removed all cause of future difficulty of
a similar character.

JOSEPH HENRY,
Secretary of the Smithsoman Institution.
January, 1855.

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. ok

APPENDIX TO THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

7

REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

Str: I beg leave to present herewith a report for the year 1854 of
operations in such departments of the Smithsonian Institution as have
been particularly entrusted by you to my care.

Respectfully submitted,
SPENCER F. BAIRD,
Assistant Secretary.
To JosepuH Hrwnry, L.L. D.,
Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.

1. PUBLICATIONS.

The sixth volume of Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge,
although for the most part printed in 1853, was not published and dis-
tributed until the present year. ‘The seventh volume, to consist mainly
of Lapham’s Memoir on the Ancient Remains of Wisconsin, is in hand,
though delayed somewhat by the failure of the contractor to supply
paper. ‘The plates, over sixty in number, are nearly all lithographed
and printed, and the numerous wood-cuts engraved. ‘The paper, by
Professor Bailey, on new microscopic organisms, with one steel plate,
has been printed and distributed to microscopists in advance of its
appearance in the full volume.

The octavo publications during the year are as follows:

Eighth annual report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian
Institution, pp. 310.

On the construction of catalogues of libraries, and of a general cata-
logue. Second edition, pp. 96.

Directions for collecting, preserving, and transporting specimens of
natural history, prepared for the use of the Smithsonian Institution.
Second editicn, pp. 28.

List or foreign institutions in correspondence with the Smithsonian
Institution, pp. 20.

List of domestic institutions in correspondence with the Smithsonian
Institution, pp. 16.

a—FOREIGN EXCHANGES.

The following table exhibits the statistics of the sixth transmission
of packages to Europe, made by the Institution in June, 1854.

The circular issued by the Institution early in the spring, offering its
services to the scientific societies of the country, in the transmission of
packages to Europe, was eagerly responded to by a large number.
The rules requiring that all parcels be delivered free of cost in Wash-
ington, that each one be legibly addressed with the name of the donor,
and that a separate invoice be sent by mail, or apart from the pack-
ages, were pretty generally complied with. It is to be regretted, how-

32 - NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

ever, that the last named regulation was not observed in some instances,
thus greatly increasing the labor of the officers in charge, by rendering
it necessary to make a transcript of the titles from the bundles them-
selves.

Such publications as were sent without specific addresses were dis-
tributed as appropriately as the information in possession of the Institu-
tion allowed.

The boxes containing the packages enumerated in the list, left the
Institution towards the end of June, and, having been shipped by packet,
did not reach their European ports until some time in September.
They were immediately unpacked by the agents of the Institution, and
the parcels distributed, with the accompanying circulars, to their
respective addresses. Acknowledgments for many of them have
already been received.

A.—TABLE SHOWING THE AMOUNT OF PRINTED MATTER SENT ABROAD
In 1854 By THE SmiTHsoniaN INSTITUTION.

1. Distributed by Dr. J. G. Fliigel, Levpsic.

BS cel ea meen eteiy pil ee ome .
See Seer yor | ee

o 451 5 .!
S2)/s3| 3/88/5842 )/5e) 3) 2 | 3
COUNTRIES. Ae eh el ae ‘3 2 A. S S
Best | eae hh Se aS 3 Ss 6 Ct a
Bia | Sec) pe eked cet | Sly etal apes eels
ele Ics) ey Uhyy es PE) o erste el] ele tk 5 =
ow lo ° 5 arr | ge ° ~ =
< < Be | A ey a is - a
Sweden... ..cccccecacrcccee 8 19 eeoeeo 15 Al 99 e@oeece eeocosieese
INOLWay/.. «<1 + ose» slelnvic'ee 0/0 3 J000 5 13 Bi lboooodsooccdloooo
Acelardeeyaier soleteroielecvelalsistersls Wlesadodboodod ») W IBaobanbaocbdboocodloo00
Denmark.....ccrececereces 4 Ill oso0Ge 9 33 TBO | erclevileye stokes tetetere
RRS Ro66 saan dab obo od 00000 16 Oi pepewens 29 73 IBeMeadodsaasacioaec
lEloliamel és conccoooomMadoos 9 I Bood sic 19 61 Wes sasdedooccdlooce
(Garmeniyssooocmacogdcsscd|). BF |) WO Iboopod) 14s AON MnO dooddéocdadbsce
Switzerland...... MC OnGaLO 11 Whibo6code 18 42 DI bisoidodoocnodao0s
Bel oivisaystojele|o}nie|cleislolse/:s\elel« 9 WD bona a 11} 45 WW te ssoddnoscodlooxe
ANeles 00 conooDDDGGOd) | Nate) |} TL) BY) | Ba 524 | 214] 990 |4,875 | 22

2. Distributed by Hector Bossange, Paris.

J ne} ee laa} ao .

& OD 2 S oa ® % ue .
Buca | Sy ey) er aS ors 3) : B
Ao as oe ° Sz Sie =f) n H
bo] os 8 Bo Ooo , O38 3 ® A
Gy B a6 “BO Ae w a A, 4 ra aQ

ors TS) me) aap | © ra Ow S) i)
iS ® a an, By to 3) 3 a) a
COUNTRIES. aS) a a S ee a a, ea |

oA) © A Cir n 2 nS i
RD R Ge no o 38 Oe) Se 3 Hy
no n oO fo} os aX on ° ata] i
Oo? o 4 ae aa!) ahs 3 ayy ra
Sess | es nl eS eet a ee es San a
g°|luous | 3 5 Pycelsal Sh ls) me 5B
<j < BH Zi fate Ay sa e aA
Brance...csesescescercvces| G4 AT |, ee. ATA ela eioto| shelevetels|(stelerd
alyeurer sgcanonnec cooLaod | PAs) HN acac PTI siajolela.elele, sis 6\s||>/efere
Portugal ...ccccccccsvecoes I Ab cccabaododoadordioncs
SPain. 2c csccscccsrscccens A Wa oreleo\s\olo/s\olals Helete aia|nislele efe|s,ele) e\nlal|sieleha
Total... o4s cevsscccsess 74| 449 |1,884 6

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 33

3. Distributed through the Royal Society and Henry Stevens, London.

1 ino} inal wos} TS)
Bid Bien 8) (2k) Be Se} x : :
a2 | 2.8 m |S Sa LO Sp g oS
2 | os o Be ose oe = oA ro
Sava.) She q ES | &8@S8a|aaq|] 5 3
Be he Ace | Seeley Pye os, Bey |, Sica ae
COUNTRIES. Ma ome RS ee at vere) oe ag th oes a} oe
tes Ga Ho o 38 NS) SH 4
ie ho i) os De = eo i) 3 2)
os os as ea; ait 38 = “Ep 2
oe Seki ae) ae 3 Ss Se pee ea S
.S) [=| = = O ee Oe ~ Co)
ino) hon oO Pe o 3 ic) = SS)
< < = Zi ole AY isa q
Great Britain and Ireland... 93 98 | 191 | 109 206 | 108 | 423 |2,013 5
|
4. Distributed by other partes.
{
b x : = Cis] my
Be] Bae B a as 2.2 wa wa
Om | aS a S) Ore one Sp wa ®
BO) oir oS BS ida Wee areca ue 3 I 5
Soros Sy ee seer ae | =| Ste
3 ore we So acs 3 a 2 oe
COUNTRIES. Pe Eee ne Sue = a 5. a 5
EP eles o ‘= Ge uo & S| 55 Ga ©
eat bien lg, Nes A Mees ras Ee NO Dae ech
Ha,| BS a o g ou uy 3 zy ish) €
ESSN eo ptet theme nba lst Oech LORENA hes 2 5
— 3
Selle Ea aiseae fas a ae | a,
Rest of old world........-. 18 A ae Sb 19 45 ONAN Pe RS tial ate: Scape Uiales
South America............. Qi eavareadl site(aiese'e 92 DG le tovaverars|cuareteval crotabedate separ
i}
MBO ta DS. sis saver Salers Sesgh ele 27 2 29 4] 71 2} 114 |1,019 5
7
Grand ‘total <.\./03 5 << 375 | 362] 737 | 526] 1,052} 398 1,976 9,791) 38
7 ? >)

The number of foreign institutions to which fulls ‘ries of Smithsonian
publications were sent for 1854 amounted to 263, or five more than the
previous year. The list is necessarily subject to « onsiderable varia-
tion, new names being added, and others taken off for non-compliance
with the regulations of the Institution, or other causes. An acknow-
ledgment of the reception of one package is imperatively required before
another is sent, and in the failure to meet this rule, some first class
institutions are dropped for one or two years, or until the omission is
rectified.

There is no port to which the Smithsonian parcels are shipped where
any duties are charged on them, a certified invoice of contents from the
Institution being sufficient to carry them through the custom-houses
free of duty.

Receipt of books by exchange——The additions to the library of the
Smithsonian Institution, by its exchanges, have been very marked during
the year. Attention was called in the last report to the very great
increase in our foreign exchanges, in. consequence of the extension of
the list of recipients of Smithsonian publications. During 1854, the
works received have been fully equal in value to those of 1853, con-
taining actually a larger number of pieces, and binding up to a greater
number of volumes. The following table exhibits the record of this .
department. The discrepancy between this record and that of the

Mis. Doc. 37

34 NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

library is owing to the fact that the latter included donations from indi-
viduals and other sources in this country, which the former did not, and
that some separate sheets of maps were all bound together before being
placed in the library :

B.—TaBLE EXHIBITING THE NUMBER OF PIECES RECEIVED IN EX-
CHANGE DuRING 1854.

Volumes.—Folio and quarto..-..- eMeeyes SW a eerie Sake 27]
QOCTaNOr SS ON ES eso Ua a 655
—— 926
Parts of Volumes and Pamphlets —¥olio and quarto... -.- 447
OChaV Oe eee tas at 1,021
—— 1,468
Maps-and: Wnbravingsei se Se maki yi ae ee reas 434
"Dotallite she SS SR ee a? ee ee SE ON 2,828

As was to be expected, a large proportion of receipts by exchanges
consisted of the publications of learned societies, many of which, m
addition to their current volumes, have sent theic back series, either in
whole or part. This department of the library is rapidly becoming
more and more complete, and is believed even now to exceed that of
any other library in the country. The catalogue now in preparation of
the publications of societies and periodicals belcnging to the Institution
will furnish a ready means of indicating what are the desiderata of this
nature.

In addition, however, to:returns from societies, the receipts from
public libraries and universities of duplicates from their shelves have
been very numerous, and consisting, as they usually do, of important
scientific works, have proved highly acceptable. Owing to the con-
stant communication kept up with the principal men of science at home
and abroad, and the transmission to them of such publications of the
Smithsonian Institution as related to their specialities. very many valu-
able memoirs and works have been received in return from this source

In the very great number of large donations received during the
year it has been found impossible to give a particular enumeration ot
them without encroaching too much in the space allotted to me. This
is, however, less necessary, as the catalogues now in preparation, and
shortly to be printed, will convey full information on the subject.

The following tables contain a statement of the packages received
from the various sources specificed, for distribution in Europe as well
as those received from Europe for this country :

.

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 35

C.—TABLE OF PACKAGES FROM AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS FOR DIS-
TRIBUTION ABROAD.

Cambrider.—Nautieal. Almanac. wx Jy ig A a 35
Boston.— American Academy of Arts and Sciences..-:.-.... 133
“Boston Society.of Natural Historve) 22282 ell lf e- 42
New Haven.—American Journal of Science..2....--.22-.--- 47
New York.—New York Lyceum of Natural History.......--. 99
American Ethnological Societys. 2.2225... 19
Philadelphia.—Academy of Natural Sciences..... 2.222222. 136
imerican -Philosopiical: ‘Society nis: 2 eae s 116
Philadelphia College of Pharmacy... 222-022. - 9
Washington.—United States Patent Office... .0...2.0..022-- 150
Nahonal Observatory 20:0. See Sos g Re dll
Eight honse Boards sss eo) Ve ie ae 15
New Orleans.—New Orleans Academy of Natural Sciences.... 300
“Columbus, Ohio.—Ohio Board of Agriculture... ......-..2.-- Pal
Detroit, Michigan. Michigan State Agricultural Society... .. 200
Madison, Wisconsin.—Wisconsin State Agricultural Society.... 143:
San Francisco, California.—Geological Survey of California. - . - 60:
Santiago, Chile.—Observatory of Chilis... 22.202 25...22.- 48
From miscellaneous sources, including individuals, &c.. 22... 1,18
MBarpallereCOlVied oy ay CE A SON SATAY SAAC slo 2,816.

D.—TaBLE OF PACKAGES RECEIVED FROM EUROPE FOR DISTRIBUTION
TO VARIOUS SOCIETIES IN AMERICA.

Cavada-—-VaripusSocietiess: 2. a bui ey US nie 3
Boston.—American Academy of Arts and Sciences....-...----. 50
Natordktistony Society. te ait te See ce 26
Bowditch pliibranycc eae ee le ass GN ei 5)
Cormbigdacs-OWSerValony. {0S he Se out ete wa 7
Bopamie Mardin ys Ae sta ake ly hes 7 3

Fraverd, Uniwersity i. fiw Snakes eae a ie 13

AVS LOMOIMCalwOUnnalh ts ae MNS Be Moe oe 12

Almeria Aissociame@myy 14.3) eae es ee ha 13

Worcester -Anugquarian Society. 02. ss Soeur oe obs kd oh I
New Haven—American Journal of Science.........-..-.26.2. 37
Monehican Oriental PSocieny. fh a be oa Sta oe 9)
wibowy.—New York State, Litany oe i. lot ek erties lp ee 4 Us 10
New York.—New York Lyceum of Natural History....-.2..... ul
American Witinolosical Society oie sos epee ey 1
Geographical and Statistical Society...-.....----- 3

4 AMBETICaMAMSt IGS Sk a a. Sate 5)
West Pornt.—United States Military Academy...-..-.------:+ 1
Philadelphia.—A merican Philosophical Society. ......-------+-- 47
Academy of Natural Sciences... (osc. . os ane poe 40

PCM AAMONMTIEO jo iu hae a dl eke uce ln 1

Geological Survey of Pennsylvania.........-... OO

36 NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

Washington.—President of the United States...22..2..-. ee crit)

1

‘State Department. wes ody eae ee ae 3

Gnited' States Patent Office. 2. SH a SL ee 12

Coneress Jurbrary.. {2.0 fi Sees ae cot cia 7

Coast Survey she Ses ee Ss Mee yh 6

National -Observeatonyc ioolel toe ae 30

National dmetituatec 7% 292 Ge Bo ln oe sea 3
Commissioner of Indian Affairs:s: 22S. 2. 221.2 A.

United States Naval Astronomical Expedition, Chili. 15

Georgetown, District of Columlna.—Georgetown College...-...-. 6
Chacazo,, Minois.—Meéchanies’ Institute Ses 2 ae. 2 5. ee 5
Wolleges. in: different: placese asc s soe Se ee I eg 19
Waniows State braves 2 eee ee ec Sane ee 37
_Miscelianeous societies and individuals. 2.220.000.0220... 00. 043
PT Otale ss We ee PRS Ee Nn ae eet bs a ne a ga 987

In concluding this portion of my report, 1 would beg to call your
-attention to the zeal and fidelity with which the agents of the Institu-
tion in London, Leipsic, and Paris, have discharged their duties. ‘The
thanks of the Institution are most especially due to Dr. J. G. Fligel, of .
Leipsic, whose efforts in the great cause of tightening the bonds of union
between the literary and scientific men and institutions of the two worlds
are beyond all praise.

3.-—DomMESTIC EXCHANGES.

The copies of volume 6 of Smithsonian Contributions were distributed
early in the summer, through the agents of the Institution in different
cities of the Union, as follows: Messrs. J. P. Jewett & Co., Boston;
Geo. P. Putnam & Co., New York; Lippincott, Grambo & Co., Phila-
delphia; John Russell, Charleston; B. M. Norman, New Orleans ; Dr.
Geo. Engelmann, St. Louis; H. W. Derby, Cincinnati ; and Jewett,
Proctor & Worthington, Cleveland. The services of these gentlemen,
inyolying considerable expense of time and trouble, have, in every in-
stance, been given without charge.

4,.—MuseumM.
a—Increase of the Museum.

During no period in the history of the Institution have the receipts of
specimens been so numerous, or valuable, as in the year 1854. Con-
tributions have been steadily flowing in from widely remote regions,
many of which had been previously but little known. Expeditions,
both public and private, individuals and societies, have all aided in
gathering together what is now confidently believed to be the most
valuable collection in the world of many divisions of the natural history
of North America. Much has been done by parties aided directly toa
greater or less extent by the Smithsonian Institution, and much by per-
sons acting in an individual and independent capacity. The most im-

aoe A

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. an

portant additions have, however, been received from the various gov-

ernment expeditions mentioned hereafter. Many officers of the army,

as heretofore, have forwarded more or less complete collections, made
in the neighborhood of the posts at which they have been stationed.

The government expeditions by which collections have been made
are as follows:

United States Mexican Boundary Commission, under the scientific direc-
tion of Major Emory, United States army ; General Robert B. Camp-
bell, commissioner. The region illustrated by the collections received
consisted of tne Rio Grande, from Eagle Pass to itsmouth. Under the
present organization ef the commission, with Major Emory acting as
commissioner in addition to his former duties, there is reason to hope
for new results of the most important character.

Survey of route for railroad to the Pacyfic—

A. Northern route, under Governor I. I. Stevens. Region traversed
extending from Fort Benton, on the Missouri, to the Pacific ocean.

_B. Parallel of 38°, under Lieutenant E. G. Beckwith. From the
Arkansas, by way of Fort Massachusetts and Salt Lake, to San
Francisco.

C. Parallel of 35°, under Lieutenant Whipple... From Fort Sith, on
the Arkansas, via Albuquerque,j Zuni, San Francisco mountains,
and the Mohave, to San Francisco.

D. Partial route, under Lieutenant R. 8S. Wiliamson. Extending from
San Francisco to the Mohave, and Tejon Pass to camp Yuma.

E. Parallel of 32°, under Lieutenant J. G. Parke. Extending from
camp Yuma via 'Tueson to El Paso.

F. Parallel of 82°, under Captain J. Pope. From El Paso, across the
head of the Brazos and Colorado, to Preston in Texas.

Exploration of the coast of California, by Lieutenant W. P. Trowbridge,
United States army.

Exploration of the La Plata and its tributaries, by Lieutenant Page,
United States navy.

A more particular account of these several expeditions will be found
in the article on scientific explorations.

From these different expeditions a large number of collections have
been received, embracing material of the first importance and interest.
Full reports are in preparation, and will be presented to Congress for
publication with the other results of the explorations, and with such
amount of illustrations as circumstances may require or authorize.

Among the more private explorations, from which results of the great-
est importance have been received, are those of Dr. P. R. Hoy, in Mis-
souri; Reverend A. C. Barry, in Wisconsin; Gustavus Wurdemann,
in Louisiana; Lieutenant H. G. Wright, at Garden Key, Florida;
Robert Kennicott, northern Illinois; Dr. L. A. Edwards, Fort Towson,
&c.; together with my own, on the Jersey coast. Further accounts of
these will be hereafter given.
In view of the vast multitude of objects received during the year, it
is manifestly impossible to give full details respecting them; and I can
here only refer to this subject in the most general manner, taking up the
collections in the following order:

Mammals.—A. specimen of the so-called Sampson fox, a peculiar va-

38 - NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

riety of the red fox, or Vu/nes fulvus, was received from Dr. Ackley and
Dr. Kirtland, of Clev eland. Various kinds of Sorex, and other small
mammals, from Reverend Chas. Fox, of Grosse Isle, Michigan.* ‘The
foetus of a whale, from the arctic regions, was presented by Lieutenant
Maury. The fresh skin and horns of a fallow deer (Cervus dama), and
elk (Elaphus cunadensis,) by Colonel Tuley, of Clarke county, Virginia,
whose extensive park contains many fine specimens of these species.
A pair of living wild cats (Lynx rufus,) were sent by Dr. Evans through
Dre: D: Ox: The most important additions, however, have Been
received trom Lieutenant Trowbridge, collected on the Pacific coast,
including skins of deer, wolves, foxes, hares, lynxes, &c., with many
small mammals. In this coilection are several new species of hare.

Birds. ery large collection cf the birds of California was received
from Lieutenant Trow bridge, embracing nearly all ofthe larger aquatic
species of the coast, and another frota Mr. Cults. A collection of over
100° skins, from Gustavus Wurdemann, at Calcasieu, Louisiana, in-
cluded several very rare and new species. Dr. Brewer presented some
specimens from Wisconsin, and Mr. William M. Penrose an albmo
blackbird from near Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Reptiles and jishes—As usual, it is in this department that the atieli
tions have been greatest. The species of Wisconsin have been received
from Dr. Hoy and Mr. Barry ; of New Jersey and New York, from
Mr. Brevoort aid myself; of Mississippi, from Colonel Wailes and
Reverend Benjamin Chase; of California, from Dr. Newberry, Mr.
Bowman, and Lieutenant Trowbridge; of Llinois, from Mr. J. D. Ser-
geant, Robert Kennicott, and Mr. Hare: of South Carolina, from Pro-
fessor Holmes, Mrs. Daniel, and Dr. Barker; of North Carolina, from
Mr. Bridger, Mir. MeNair, and Mr. Lineback; of Louisiana, from Mr.
ar Geneiun ot Missouri, from Dr. Hoy, Dr. Engelmann, and Mr.
Lear; of Alabama, trom Mr. Edgeworth; of Minnesota, from. Mr.
higes; of Teanessee, from Professors Owen and Johuson ; of Chi-
huanua, from Mr. Potts; of Gulf of Mexico, from Lieutenant Wright ;
of Surinam, from Dr. Wyman; of Brazil, from Mr. Austin; of Trinidad
and Key West, from Professor W.-H. Thomas; of Africa, from Dr.
Steele ; Tiskether with many others. My limited space will not allow
me to go into details res sreacics these collections beyond ee that
those of Lieutenant Trowbridge are the most important, adding, as they
do, some fiity new species of fishes alone to the North shears fauna.
Collections of reptiles Leys d by Dr. Webb, who procured them in
northern Mexico, New Mexico, and Texas, are likewise very valuable.

Quite a large aumber of living reptiles—snakes, lizards, turtles, &c.,
were received during the year, i owing to the want af means for
their proper preser ation; few survived. Among those, however, at
present in apparent good health, may be aa sennoticd a northern rattle-
snake ( Crotalus durissius) | from Virginia; the black massasauga, ( Crotalo-
phorus massasauga,) sent trom “Ohio by Dr. Kirtland; six speci-
mens ot C. tergemimus, y Bay, or bates rattle, from Illinois, by Robert

4 'T6 this gentleman the Institution has been under very great obligations for numerous
specimens illustrating the zoology of Michigan, accompanied, usually, by copious notes on
the habits and peculiarities of the species. It is with profound regret that I have to record his
death by cholera during the past summer.

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 89

Kennicott ; two young alligators from Professor Forshey, Texas ;
a snapping turtle, ( Chelonura serpentina) from Mississippi, and various
others. Another season will, however, find us better prepared for a
great variety of specics already promised. Few collections of living
animals excite more interest in the spectator than those of reptiles,
while the habits of many species, at present unknown, can only be
ascertained by their study in captivity. None admit of such contings
accommodations, or require so little attendance and tood.

Tnveriebrata:—Marine invertebrata of J ersey, were collected by my-
self, and of Louisiana by Mr.. Wurdemann. A highly interesting and
valuable collection made by Mr. Jarvis, inspector of timber a the
Portsmouth navy yard, and presented by Commodore Smith, chief of
the Bureau of Docks and Yards, illustrates well the growth of the
teredo and barnacle, with the real or pretended artificial methods of
preventing their ravages. From the experiments of Mr. Jarvis, how-
ever, it would seem to be proved conclusively that the white zinc
_ paint, made by the New Jersey Company, as long as the surface
covered by it remains unbroken, forms as effectual a protection to a
ship’s bottom as copper sheathing itself. Nearly all the alcoholic col-
lections received included specimens of astaci and insects from differ-
ent parts of North America.

Fossils —Many valuable collections of fossil remains have been
received. An interesting series from the vicinity of Satow was for-
warded by the Rev. L. Vortisch; Mr. G. Lambert, of Mons, presented
a series of carboniferous fossils of Belgium; specimens from ‘Texas
were sent in by Lieutenant J. G. Benton, United States army, and by
Dr. Julius Froebel; from Panama by Dr. E. L. Berthoud; from
Illinois by Dr. Stevens; from North Carolina by Mr. Bridger. A com-
plete set of minerals and fossils of the remarkable brown-coal beds of
Brandon, Vermont, was received from David Buckland. Sharks
teeth and mastodon bones of Florida, from Captain Casey, United
States army; fossil-wood of California, from Mr. Langton, and in-
fusorial earth of Monterey, from Major Barnard.

Minerals.—A valuable collection of specimens illustrating the mate-
rials of which some of the principal public buildings in Europe are con-
structed, gathered by Mr. Evans, was deposited inhisname by Lieutenant
Gillis, and minerals of New Mexico and Texas were. received from
Lieutenant Colonel J. K. Mansfield, United States army, and Dr.
Froebel; opal of Mexico from Mr. Rogers.. A series illustrating the
sii enonie deposites of Bridgewater, Ver mont, was presented by Mr.
Cunningham.

Plants.—Some very large collections of plants of the Rocky Mount-
ains and the regions west were brought in by the exploring expeditions.
Others were sent from Texas by Dr. Ervendburg, from Minnesota by
Mr. Riggs, from Madagascar by Messrs. Cotheal, &c. A very large
leaf of the Talipot tree was presented by Commodore Aulick.

Antiquities —V arious specimens of Indian remains in North America
have been received during the year from various sources, as also an
ancient Peruvian vase from Talcahuana. “his

why

40 NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF
b—lHWrerk done in the Museum.

The labor of receiving, unpacking, and assorting the specimens
received during the year has been very great, occupying a large share
of my time as well as that of Mr. Girard.

Some idea of the labor involved may be obtained from the fact that
in 1854 there were received 35 kegs and barrels, 26 cans, 175 jars, 94
boxes, and 32 packages, all containing a greater or less number of
specimens, giving an aggregate of over 300 different lots, without
including numerous specimens received. singly. All these had to be
assorted or repacked, labelled by localities, at least, and recorded in
the proper books, and in most cases duplicate lists sent to the donors.
We have, however, succeeded without other than mechanical aid in
accomplishing all that was immediately necessary to be done, leaving
very few arrears for the ensuing year.

Considerable progress has, likewise, been made in the determinations
and descriptions of the collections themselves. A number of reports
upon the vertebrata of the several explorations, both of the Pacific rail-
road survey, and of the United States navy astronomical expedition,
under Lieutenant Gillis, have been either completed by Mr. Girard
and myself or are in an advanced state of progress. The series of
descriptive systematic catalogues of the collections has been extended:
by the preparation of an elaborate account of the North American
toads by Mr. Girard, and of the fregs and tree frogs by myself; these
are entirely finished and ready for press, and will make a volume
nearly as large as the catalogue of North American serpents. Full
descriptions of the families, genera, and species of all inhabiting North
America (including about 20, new ones) are given, and analytic and!
exhaustive methods applied to the species. Such catalogues, forming
as they do so many manuals in North American zoology, extend ihe
benefits of the museum far beyond its walls. The demarill indeed,.
for them is so great, from all parts of the world, that of the catalogue
of serpents two editions of 1,000 copies each have been called tor and
distributed.

A good deal of time has also been taken up in the preparation of
specimens for examination, cleaning skeletons and skulls, dissecting,
&c., while the selection, labelling, packing, and recording of the col-
lections sent from the Institution have created no inconsiderable
amount of labor.

In connxtion with the subject of the work done in the museum, it
may, perhaps, be proper to refer to the article in the appendix con-
taining the result of my observations on the habits and peculiarities of
the fishes of the Jersey coast, as made in the summer, together with
descriptions of the colors from life of such species as are apt to fade in
spirits.

c—The present Condition of the Museum.
The paragraph upon the work done in the Museum covers to some
extent the subject of the present heading. No change has been made
in the places of deposit of the specimens owing to the very recent

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 4]

riod at which the new hall intended to receive the collections was
completed, and this year, it is earnestly hoped, will not pass without
an improvement in this respect. The new hall is quite large enough
to contain all the collections hitherto made, as well as such others
belonging to the government as may be assigned to it. No single room
in the country is, perhaps, equal to it in capacity or adaptation to its
purposes, as, by the proposed arrangement, it is capable of receiving
twice as large a surface of cases as the old Patent Office hall, and
three times that of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.
In this room, then, there will be abundant opportunity to arrange all the
collections which have been made or may be expected for some time to
come in the order best suited to the wants of the student and most inter-
esting to the casual visitor. In the mean time, under the conditions of
the past year, everything has been done to render the collections as
available and accessible as circumstances would allow; all the North
American mammal, amounting to over 500 specimens in skins, have
been arranged systematically in drawers of dust and insects-proof
walnut cases. ‘The birds have been similarly treated, while the
reptiles and fishes (each species from each locality in a separate jar)
have been assorted as systematically as the over crowding of the
present confined space would allow. During the year several thou-
sand jars have been filled with alcholic specimens, which are illy
accommodated on shelves, nearly every square inch of which was
_occupied at the beginning of the year. The shells of mollusca with
the minerals and fossils, have generally been repacked after entry and
stored away for the present, requiring as they do a less vigilant super-
vision. This has, to a certain extent, likewise been done’ with the
plants.

d—Distribution of Collections.

In accordance with the spirit of the Institution, quite a large number
of specimens, in sets varying in magnitude, have been distributed
during the past year to various institutions and individuals desiring
them for purposes of special investigation. Some of these may be
looked upon in the light of returns for similar favors received or
promised, bui they have generally beeu furnished without reference to
an equivalent of any kind. | As the faciliues of the Institution for re-
ceiving and properly arranging its collections increase and the du-
plicates are ascertained, by a proper examination of the specimens,
this system of distribution may be carried to an extent that shall ma-
terially affect the progress of science throughout this country and the
world.

To the mvestigator who has heretofore been obliged to spend the
best years of his life in collecting together the materials of his labor,
gathered amid toils and privations to which, in the end, he may be
forced to succumb, the advantage of finding all he needs ready to his
hand, and in greater extent and variety than he could singly hope to
obtain, are beyond all calculation. For this reason it is that the accu-
mulation of a large amount of duplicate material becomes necessary,

42 NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

in addition to the complete series of specimens to be retained on the
shelves.

Among the more important coilections thus distributed may be men-
tioned one of 145 species of North American birds, in 199 specimens,
to the Swedish Academy of Sciences at Stockholm, in return for a very
valuable collection of skins and skeletons of north European mammalia ;
97 species and 160 specimens of North American birds to Mr. F.
Sturm, of Niirnburg, in return for collection of birds, &c., from central
Europe ; 104 lots ée fishes and invertebrates to Professor Agassiz, of
Cambridee, i in return for numerous donations of duplicates ‘from his
pre-eminenily valuable collection; fishes of Massachusetts to Dr. D.—
H. Storer, of Boston, to assist him in the preparation of his memoir on
the fishes of the State ; numerous birds and ee. both European
and North American, to the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences;
eggs of American birds to Dr. T. M. Brewer, for his work on North
American oology; large numbers of North American-coleoptera to Dr.
Leconte, for his memoirs on this department ef entomology, &c. The
list is capable of considerable extension, but there is enough to show
how the Institution has endeavored to co- operate with all societies and
individuals, engaged in special investigations, requiring materials as
ditional to those already in their possession.

It will, however, be sufficiently evident that the Smithsonian In-
stitution cannot indiscriminately undertake systematic exchange of
specimens with other parties—with individuals” especially. The “force
of the natural history department is not now sufficient for this, and may
never be. ‘To the mere collector, as distinguished from the investigator,
it will not be expedient to distribute specimens to any considerable
extent, as the disposable stock may be reduced so low as to render it
difficult or impossible to do proper justice to the student. . While,
however, the Institution cannot undertake the mere business of exchange
with individuals, unless in exceptional cases, and even with institutions,
it can do and Has done much to facilitate such exchange between other
parties. Scarcely a week passes without the communication of infor-
mation of the readiness or desire of exchange in particular departments
on the part of different individuals or associations. All notifications or
bob ee leas of the kind are systematically recorded in the proper
books and duly referred to when occasion requires.

LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL DONATIONS TO THE MUSEUM OF THE SMITH-
SONIAN INSTITUTION DURING 1854.

Professor Ei. B. Andrews.—Keg of fishes from the Ohio river.

Commodore J. Aulich, U. S. N-—Leaf of Talipot palm (Corypha um-
bracaulifera) from Ceylon.

Joseph B. Austin. Jar of reptiles trom Para.

Spencer f°. Baird.—T wo kegs andone hundred jars of fishes, and inver-
tebrates, with skins of birds, skulls and teeth of sharks and rays; from
Beesley’s Point, Cape May county, New Jersey. One keg of fishes
from Greenport and Riverhead, Long Island. One keg of fapes from
the fresh and brackish waters aboitt Sing-Sing. New York. One keg

4

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 43

of fishes from the Hackensack river and Sparkill, Rockland county,
New York.

Dr. S. W. Barker —Living specimens of Nerodia erythrogaster,
Heterodon mger, Ophibolus getulus, and Elaps fulvus from South Carolina.

| Major J. G. Barnard, U. 8. A.—Infasorial earth from Monterey,
California.

Rev. A. C. Barry.—Keg of fishes from southern Wisconsin; two
kegs of mammals, reptiles, fishes, &c., from northern Wisconsin.

Lreutenant J. G. Benton, U. S. A.—Box of fossils from San Antonio,
Texas.

Dr. E. [. Berthoud.—¥ ossils from the isthmus of Panama. Indian
relics and fishes from Bourbon county, Kentucky.

J. S. Bowman and 8. M. Bowman.—Fishes and reptiles collected on
the route from Salt Lake city to Marysville, California.

C. C. Brevoort—Vresh specimens of Hsox fasciatus from Long Island.
Fresh specimens of trout and hake from New York. Fishes, in alcohol,
from the vicinity of Brooklyn, New York.

T. M. Brewer, M. D.—Skins of birds from Dane county, Wisconsin.

J. L. Bridger.—Stand containing a series of tertiary fossils, with
living serpents, Farancia abacurus, and two birds, Ortyx Virginianus,
from Edgcombe county, North Carolina.

Dawd Buckland.—Box of minerals and fossils from the brown coal
deposit of Brandon, Vermont.

Captain Casey, U.S. A.—Fossil teeth of mastodon and sharks from
Florida.

fer. Berjamin Chase.—Stuffed Sternothaerus from Concordia lake,
Louisiana.

Captain Chatten—Specimens, in alcohol, of Ophidium marginatum
from Beesley’s point, New Jersey.

Charleston College, S. C. —Duplicates ot a collection of Batrachia.

Messrs. Cotheal Co., New York.—Specimens of seeds of silk cotton 5
leaves, fruit, and manufactured cloth from the Rafar palm, Madagas-
car. Model of Madagascar canoe.

John P. Cunningham.—Box of minerals illustrating the auriferous
deposits of Vermont.

R. D. Cutts —Skins of thirty species of birds from San Francisco
county, California.

Mrs. M. E. Daniel.—Can of reptiles and fishes fie ey South
Carolina.

Edward T. Denig.—Reptiles and fishes from Fort Union, Nebraska.

LT. J. Drycr.—Specimens of minerals from the summit of Mount
Hood, Oregon.

J. Eckels, (United States consul, Talcahuana.)—Peruvian vase and
ear of corn, disintered near Talcahuana.

A. E. Edgeworth—Can of reptiles and fishes, with dried plants,
shells, &c., from Marengo county, Alabama.

Dr. L. A. Edwards, U. 8. A —One box of fossils, one bale of plants,
ten jars of reptiles and insects, and various heads and feet of birds,
from Fort Towson, Arkansas.

Dr. George Engelmann.—One barrel fishes, reptiles, and mammals
from St. Louis.

44 NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

L. C. Ervendburg.—Package of seeds of Texas plants.

Dr. J. Evans aaa Dre"P: D. Owen.—Two living wild cats, (Lynx
rufus,) from the Upper Missouri.

Dr. Julius Froebel.—Box of fossils and minerals from Téxas and New
Mexico.

Professor Charles Fox.—Skin of shrew, (Sorex dekayt.)

Lneutenant J. M. Gilliss, U. S. N.—Specimens of building materials
collected in Europe, by W. W. Evans. Deposited.

John Greiner.—Specimens of Phrynosoma, in alcohol, from Santa Fé.
Dr. A. M. Grinnan.—Collection of plants from near Fredericksburg,
Virgima. Can of reptiles and fish from Madison, Virginia.

J. O. Harris.—Fossils, insects, fishes, and reptiles, from Ottawa,
Tllinois.

Dr. Henderson, U. S. N.—Jar of fishes trom Columbia county, Penn-
sylvania.

Mrs. Mary Hereford.—Bones of eaeioaon, from a marl bed in Cal-
vert county, Maryland.

Dr. Hereford.—Living oa of Leptophis estwus, trom Pie
George’s, Maryland.

Dr. P. R. Hoy.—Fishes from southern Wisconsin ; ; kee of fishes,
reptiles, and mammals, from Illinois and Missouri; two kegs of fishes
and reptiles from western Missouri; reptiles from Mansfield county,
Ohio.

Rev. Thomas R. Hunt.—Red shale, with teeth of fishes, from northern
Pennsylvania.

R. W. Kennicott—Two jars ot reptiles, fishes, &c., from northern
Illinois 5 box containing six living Crotalophorus tergeminus, and other
species of serpent, with other reptiles, from northern Illinois.

Dr. W.S. King, U. S. A.—Skins of chaparal cock, ( Geococcyz Memx-
canus,) from San Diego, California.

C. FE. Kirtland. —Keo of fishes from Yellow creek, Ohio.

Professor J. P. Kirtland and Dr. Ackle y.—F resh specimen of Samp-
son fox, (Vulpes fulvus,) from Cleveland, Ohio.

Prof: J. P. Kirtland.—F¥ our living specimens of Crotalophorus massas-
sung.

G. Lambert.—F ossils and rocks from Belgium.

W. F. Langton.—Fossil wood and sulphuret of iron, from the Mimne-
sota mines in “California.

O. H. P. Lear.—Fishes from Marion county, Missouri.

Major John Le Conte-—Jar of reptiles from Liberty county, Georgia ;
skin of Sorex trom Georgia.

J. C. Lineback.—Can OF reptiles and fishes from Salem, North Caro-
lina.

Marshall McDonald.—Living specimen of Scotophis Alleghaniensis,
Alleghany black snake, from Hampshire county, Virginia.

Lieutenant A. McRae, United States nav y-—Scor pions and crustaceans
from Panama.

J.C. McNair.—Kight jars of reptiles and fishes from Summerville,
North Carolina.

R. C. Mack.—Specimens of Zanzibar copal, enclosmg an insect and
a lizard.

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. _ 45

| Rev. Charles Mann and Masters George and William Mann.—Salaman-
der ( Amblystoma opacum) with eggs taken in February, 1854. Can of
fishes and reptiles from Gloucester county, Virginia.

Colonel J. K. Mansfield, United States Army.—Box of minerals and
fossils, collected between Fort Atkinson and Santa Fé, New Mexico.

Hon. George P. Marsh.—Keg of fishes and reptiles with shells, &c.,
from Palestine, Syria, &c. 3

Lneutenant M. F. Maury, Umied States Navy.—Foetus. of right
whale, and portion of the skin of sperm whale of 75 barrels, from the
North Atlantic. ’

Professor O. W. Morris—Young Menopoma just excluded from the
egg, Holston river, Tennessee.

W. E. Moore.—Skin of humming bird, from the Island of Juan Fer-
nandez.

Dr. J. S. Newberry.—Jar of reptiles from Bodega, California (de-
posited.)

Professor R. Owen.—Keg of reptiles and fishes from Tennessee.

Wilham M. Penrose—Skin of albino female of Agelaius phoeniceus,
shot near Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Charles Pillichody.—Two cans of fishes from Mobile, Alabama.

John Potts.—Skins of mammalia and reptiles in alcohol, from New
Mexico. Skins of Lepus artemisia and of several birds, with a can of
~ reptiles and fishes, from Chihuahua.

Alfred L. Riggs—Can of reptiles and fishes, from Lac qui Parle,
Minnesota.

Jeremiah Rogers——Precious opal from Mexico.

Hon. Sion H. Rogers.—Fossil bone from Roanoke, North Carolina.

Sir R. Schomburgh.—Land shells, from Guiana.

J. D. Sergeant.—Specimens of Pityophis and Eutema, trom Ilinois.

Dr. G. G. Shumard.—Five cans of fishes, one can of reptiles and
two. boxes of insects, from Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Captain E. K. Smith, U. S. A.—Fishes and reptiles, from St. Au-
gustine, Florida.

Commodore Smith, U. S. N.—Series of specimens illustrating the ex-
periments of Mr. John Jarvis, inspector of timber, navy yard, Ports-
mouth, Virginia, on the growth and ravages of teredo and barnacle,
and means of protection against them.

Dr. Thomas L. Steele—Four jars of reptiles and fishes, with one
Pteropus, from Cape Palmas, west Africa.

Dr. R. P. Stevens.—Box of fossils and shells, from Illinois.

Professor W. H. B. Thomas.—Jar of reptiles, from 'Trindad, and one
from Key West, Florida. Skin of Scalops breweri.

Tneutenant W. P. Trowbridge, U. S. A.—One keg and can of reptiles
and fishes, with two boxes of skins of birds and mammals, skeletons,
shells, &c., from San Diego, Monterey, and Presidio, California.

Colonel Joseph Tuley—Skins and horns of male fallow deer, Cervus
dama, and elk, Elaphus canadensis, from his park in Clarke county,
Virginia.

Pfarrer L. Vortesch—Collections of minerals, fossils, and antiquities,
from Satow, Germany.

46 NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

Colonel B. L. C. Wailes—Three kegs of fishes, from Mississisippi-

Keg of reptiles and fishes, from Washington, Mississippi.

Dr. T. H. Webb—Reptiles, mammals, insects, &c., from California,
New Mexico, and Texas. (Deposited.)

Lieutenant A. G. Wright, U. S. A.—Keg of fishes, from Fort Jeffer-
son, Garden Key, Florida.

Gustavus Wurdemann.— Fishes, reptiles, and mvertebrates, from
Aransas, Texas, and New Orleans. Box of bird skins, and ten jars
of reptiles, fishes, &c., from Calcasieu, Louisiana. Six jars of -fishes,
&c., from Fort Morgan, Mobile, Alabama. Reptiles, fishes, and in-
vertebrates, Brazos, Texas. Fishes, reptiles, and invertebrates in ~
alcohol, with skins of birds and mammals, from Aransas, Texas.

Dr. J. Wyman.—Can of fishes and reptiles, from Surinam and
Guiana.

THE SMITHSONIAN

INSTITUTION.

List of Meteorological Stations and Observers.

State. Name of observer. Residence. County.
Nova Scotia......... Henry Poole... 20.0... Albion Mines....... Pictou.
AbD eS aSittiainty i803 f Wolfville, Acadia Cojllege.
Canada, le eigen! Dr. Charles Smallwood. .| St. Mantas, near Miontreal.
BUGUIGeieievia iss «Wass s George B. Barrows...... HryeWunpriie «)etstsrsjs/o (= Oxtord
Joshua Bartlett ......... South Thomaston...| Lincoln.
John Je Belle aye ye ee cite wie Canmelec oe sae os ...| Penobscot.
William D. Dana....... Bersrvpnctycioyeeipt els au6/- Washington.
Samuel A. Eveleth...... Windham........ - -| Cumberland.
Rev. 8. H. Merrill...... Bliae hill Says Ahoken Se) sie; Hancock.
DoD APamce nieces a 0 ciel oe « DUSUDeMs ee reeefoterereie, « Washington.
New Hampshire..... Samuel N. Bell..-...... Manchester......... Hillsborough.
Rev: L. W. Leonard....| Exeter ....... Rene cee Rockingham.
R..C. Mack...... doacgt Londonderry ....... Rockingham.
Dr. William Prescott....| Concord............ Merrimack.
George B. Sawyer......) Salmon Falls ....... Stafford.
Henry E. Sawyer....... Great Falls......... Stafford.
Albert A. Young...... k u Graft
Broo ia veuee ee ATION{ETscie\ ode! «chasse ¢ rafton.
Vermont. «.%...¢.5..| D} Buckland. 3... .0. 35 6. Brandone o3 fejsrenutete Rutland.
James K. Colby....... :
TP Fabiani _aeee St. Johnsbury....... Caledonia.
Charles A. J. Marsh...
ape Ao Pa aan Craftsbury.....02... Orleans.
D. Underwood.......... Castleton..... Kos Boe Rutland.
Zadock Thompson...... Burlington...... .-..| Crittenden.
Massachusetts .......) Lucius C. Allin.........| Springfield .........| Hampden.
William Bacon ......... Richmond..........| Berkshire.
John*Brookses set. 3. 2). Princeton...........| Worcester.
Marshal Conant......... Bridgewater ........ Plymouth.
Prof. P. A. Chadbourne. .| Williamstown......| Berkshire.
Emerson Davis.......... Westfield...........| Hampden.
B. R. Gifford.....6..... Wood’s Hole....... Barnstable.
Amasa Holcomb........ Southwick. ...... .-.| Hampden.
George Chandler, M. D..| Worcester.......... Worcester.
Doo oes & a8 is ° ; c Williamstown....... Berkshire.
Hon. Wm. Mitchell. Saiainvg Nantucket.......... Nantucket.
R. D. Mussey........ »..| Rockport. ........ ..| Essex.
Dr.. J. Geo. Metcalf..... Mendon..........2. W orcester.
Dr. H. C. Perkins....... Newburyport....... Essex.
Henry Rice...... snsetisieieye North Attleboro’... .} Bristol.
Samuel Rodman........ New Bedford ....... Bristol.
Dr. James Robbins...... Uxbridge......... ..| Worcester.
Prof. E. S.Snell........ Amherst............| Hampshire.
Dr. E. A. Smith........ Worcester....,.....| Worcester.
Albert. Schlegel......... Taunton... ....... ..| Bristol.
Rhode Island........| Prof. A. Caswell..... ...| Providence ......... Providence.
George Manchester......| Portsmouth......... Newport.
Samuel Powel.....-....| Newport............| Newport.
Henry C. Sheldon....... North Scituate. .....) Providence.
Connecticut .........] Rev. T. Mower ...s,..| New London........| New London.
. T. S. Gold.. +eeeee.| West Cornwall .....| Litchfield.
Dr Bunter sce oe si te 's5| eb omirety. ao. ++»-.| Windham.
Prof. J. Johnston........| Middletown.........| Middlesex.
Dr. Ovid Plumb.........} Salisburys..........| Litchfield.
9 1 James Rankin.,.........| Saybrook..... .»....| Middlesex.
New York..........| E. M. Alba.............| Angelica ...........| Alleghany.
Edward A. H. Allen.....| Troy...............| Rensselaer.
Thomas B. Arden.......| Beverly.....-.....-| Putnam.
Warren P. Adams.......| Glen’s Falls........| Warren.
Charles A. Avery.......| Seneca Falls........| Seneca.
John Bowman ..........| Baldwinsville .......| Onondaga.
S. De Witt Bloodgood...| New York........«.| New York.

48

NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

METEOROLOGICAL LIST—Continued.

State.

Name of observer.

New York—Con....

New Jersey..+++e. 00%)

Pennsylvania........

Delawaréscc,c%'s oje. o 0.0

Maryland .....«s.+-

Virginia.,.ecccsecees

.. Eph. N. Byram .,......
| J: Everett Breed ..... B20

C. Thurston Chase......
E..A. Dayton..... shaman
PS GADDONS, dese oes) ore
WATE Guestecs cisiersecicis ¢
J. Caroll House......:..
J: Els Want: fa3< aieiettoca tel oils
Dr. S. B. Hunt
E. W. Johnson .........
John Lefferts ..... Bree as
L. A, Langdon
Charles A. Lee .........
Capt. W.S. Malcom....
L. F. Munger...........
Prof. D. J. Pratt.......

Dr. JEM WesSmithe 2.755 e.%
Elias O. Salisbury..... Ja
Dr. H. P. Sartwell......

Rey. Thomas H. Strong.
Stillman Spooner... .
C. S. Woodward........
PEO Walliams. sds... «
Walter D. Yale.........
Robert L. Cooke........
Prof. Geo. H. Cook .....
Rev. Ad. Frost .........
eet. Mack.. SAK

Samuel Brown. .sussee-
W.O. Blodget..........
Dr. A. C. Blodget..... ei
John Comly ..........6-
D. S: Deering... 52.2...
Fenelon Darlington .....
Joseph Kdwards.........
Revers! Je Bivlet. te essteats'-

John Heisely
Ebenezer Hance.........
OMe GEOb site visicie te sores
John Hughes
Witleiovisiogs no speub dos
Prof. J. A. Kirkpatrick ..
JPR Wowmle' gets cele ae s,0
Rev. J. Grier Ralston...
Paul Swift.....0.. nao
Francis Schreiner.......
Dr. H. Smyser....,.. aie
Dr. R. P. Stephens. .....
WA ibiekstinsis.. 's,.\.0-

evceceeeoeoe

VAY SIDS: Wein de one cule c stots
|W. W. Wilsoniésecieros se

Prof. W. A. Grind: .

$y (Po Walker e ne. sti.
Prof. William Baer....)
Miss H. M. Baer.

| Rey. John P. Carter.....

Henry £. Hanshaw......
Benj. O. Lowndes.......
Prof. Jas. F. Maguire...

Lieut. R. F. Astrop
Samuel Couch..........

Benj. Hallowell.........

Residence. County.
Sag Harbor......... Suffolk.
Smithville......5... Jefferson.
Clraithaimnerel ce asieherteis Columbia.
Madrid.............| St. Lawrence.
INTE W; NOL KS Miers che lev etarte New York.
Ogdensburg... -| St. Lawrence.
Lowville.... soe... Lewis.
Oswego .). 2/5 -1 0s --| Oswego.
Buffalo..... eereeees| Eric.
@amtomeeissareciete ren eae St. Lawrence.
Ibo HARA Gases oc +e e+| Seneca.
Hale@oneriretwiale sie «exe Chautauque.
Peekskill. ... 2.2200. Westchester.
OSWEZ0 ws. ons ewe -+| Oswego.
Te: Ry Jere caves scene's Genessee.
Fredonia ......e.+0- Chautauque.
Hast Franklin...... -| Delaware.
Buttalo, Lh ee cise sie. Erie.
Penn Yan..........| Yates.
Flatbush ..... s\alelis o/e Kings.
Wampsville.........| Madison.
Beaver Brook. eerapeisys Sullivan.
Gouverneur ........ St. Lawrence.
Houseville.......... Lewis.
Bloomfield....... .-.| Essex.
New Brunswick..... Middlesex.
Burlington.......... Burtington.
New Brunswick.....} Middlesex.
Newark....2...... -| Essex.
Bedford ......... .-.| Bedford.
Sugar Grove...... .-| Warren.
Youngsville. +eeees+| Warren.
Byberry ....-..-..-.| Philadelphia.
Brooklle Josedbadas Jefferson.
ROCOPSODI = ctehayes « =a Chester.
Chromedale......... Delaware.
Waynesboro’.......| Franklin.
Harrisburg ......... Dauphin.
Morrisville.........;| Bucks.
Randolph..... Braet its Crawford.
Pottsyille...........| Schuylkill.
Gettysburg .........| Adams.
Philadelphia........ Philadelphia.
Warrior’s Mark..... Huntington.
Norristown .........| Montgomery.
Haverford..........| Philadelphia.
Moss Grove........| Crawford.
Pittsburgh! stot. 4.3 i Alleghany.
@eresis 4+. ives k -.| McKean.
Meadville ........ ..| Crawford.
Freeport............| Armstrong.
Pittsburgh..........| Alleghany.
Andersville ..'.,......|. Perry:
NIE Wid E KB vaya elee'sye) cholo" New Castle.
Dover...... Air arc .| Kent.
Sykesville..........| Carroll.
Hagerstown ...... ..| Washington.
PT ACLICK ai ost ohsseieraie Frederick.
Blenheim... ... «+. .| Prince George’ S.
.| New Windsor......| Carroll.
Crichton’s Store.....| Brunswick.
Ashland,........++.| Putnam.
Alexandria ........+| Alexandria.

THE SMITHSONIAN

INSTITUTION.

49

METEOROLOGICAL LIST—Continued.

State.

Virginia—Continued .

North Carolina......

South Carolina......

Georgia...ccsssseees

IMAGE, Sseoeoosododd

PAllaranadyeteietstsereletere«

Mississippi .eesceeeee

ILGEISEHEL oho oOCoood

UNE aIE e oocdoeoOoU OT

Tennessee. ...cscecee

Kentucky....see.00:

Olnroatersicieierceie sree <1

Mis. Doc.

Name of observer. Residence. County.
Jed. Hotchkiss..........| Bridgewater ........| Rockingham.
Samuel X. Jackson......| Leesburg......+..--| Loudon.
William S. Kern........} Huntersville........| Pocahontas.
Charles J. Meriwether.—| Montcalm.....-.....| Albemarle.
J.W. Marvin.........-.| Winchester........-.| Frederick.
A. Nettleton..........-.| Lynchburg .........| Campbell.
Thomas Patton .........| Lewisburg..........| Greenbier.
Prof. Geo. R. Rosseter ..| Buffalo.........--.| Putnam.
David Turner...........| Richmond..........| Henrico.
Prof. N. B. Webster ....) Portsmouth........| Norfolk.
Rey. Fred. Fitzgerald ...| Jackson ............| Northampton.
Dan. Morelle...........) Thornbury .........| Northampton.
Prof. Jas. Phillips.......| Chapel Hill.........| Orange.

Dr. J. Bryant Smith.....| Lincolnton .........| Lincoln.
Thornton Carpenter.....| Camden...........| Kershaw.
Alex. Glennie ..........| Waccaman.........| All Saints Parish.
H. W. Ravenel.........| Aiken............-.| Barnwell.
J. A. Young......-..--.| Camden............| Kershaw.
R. T. Gibson........++-| Whitemarsh Island..| Chatham.
William Haines.........| Augusta..... didgos Richmond.
John F. Posey..........| Savannah..........| Chatham.
Dr. EK. M. Pendleton ....| Sparta......-.e+-e.| Hancock.
William Schley........./ Augusta...........| Richmond.
Prof. Wm. D. Williams.| Madison ....... ---.| Morgan.
Dr. A. 8S. Baldwin......| Jacksonville........| Duval.

W. C. Dennis eesexeecoee Key WViesteperavelerctciterers Monroe.
John Newton........... Orange Hill ..... -..| Washington.
John Pearson........--.| Pensacola..........| Escambia.
Aug. Steeles. J. os... ---| Cedar Keys.........| Levy.
George Benagh.........| Tuscaloosa.......-.| Tuscaloosa.
S. J. Cumming ........./ Monroeville ........| Monroe.
Prof. John Darby .......| Auburn......... ---| Macon.
Ben. F. Holley .........)] Wetokaville........| Talladega.
R. T. Meriwether.......| McMath’s P. O. ....| Tuscaloosa.
Tal, Auninwalleies se G6ocooG6e Green Springs......| Green.
Prof. M. Tuomey.....--| Tuscaloosa...... ...| Tuscaloosa.
ANG Ie (En@eine de 6.0 co -ee+-| Jacksom .....-++-+-.| Jackson.
ipo; Ibe ISleNADEE SS oo od ooo) Okarmalne Soo Gcodo cog) Lenehan
Rey. E. S. Robinson ....| Garlandsville .......| Jasper.

Wm. Henry Waddell..
Dra Pepe Bantoniiceyarselele
RroiwivVewes iddelee se
Prof. L. C. Exvendberg ..
RW | Gilenmi er elaieleceeicievs
Dr. S. K. Jennings......
Dr. Robert T. Carver.
George Cooke,
Prof. L. Griswold ne
Jas. Higgins.......
Protea fons: alepseeie\ oes
Prof. Ben. C. Jillson..
Wir Wie Stewartie ses sees
Prot As Ps Srewants i
COM Beatiy «aja sstalavelssie(s ols
BL. Berthoud MAN Terat sieve
Rey. J. Miller,
Het G. 5. Savage .
SAL Sy RSET ee
ve John 7, ee Brae le eles
Asi Disoteloe nace We iam ees
Mrs. Lawrence Young..
Prof. J. W. Andrews. ...
Prof. G. M. Barber......
RS. Bosworthe.. osec es
Ee Ar Bernconiaseuecicter:

37 4

-| Lebanon

-| Millersburg...

| \GmenaGdaiesiecloie celels
New Orleans .......
DaclesOmcaicleleisse
New Wied.....

NISbimucsvete

-| Friendship......
-| Knoxville.....ccoes

Memphis...........
Mrentonvejevey<c SAoao>
AMBebanlonmerersteecreseceie 2
Glenwood........+.
Danial le ecrvevetecite late
Maysville..........

anise waletila ay s(areia s
Feeiee vena ose ¢°
Lexington .........-
-| Springdale ......
UMaine titi Wale belnie stsleus elle
BET eae evaltraieVarels/tiehe
College Hill. ee
Mount Vernon.....-

.| Yalabusha.

Orleans.

.| St. James Parish.
-| Comal.

.| Travis.

.| Travis.

.| Dyer.

Knox.

Shelby.
Gibson.
Wilson.
Montgomery.

-| Wilson.

Boyle.
Mason.

Bourbon.

Bourbon.
Oldham.
Fayette.
Jefferson,
Washington.
Cuyahoga.
Hamilton.
Knox.

50

NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

METEOROLOGICAL LIS'T—Continued.

State.

Ohio—Continued....

Michigan ...........

Indiana jaeccesdare ticle

MU NOIS a eieccisteencleis ot

Wissouris: ices ee cele

Vowaeecistets teste ois eieiels

Wisconsin scccceseee

Name of observer. Residence. County.
Geo. L. Crookham...... Jackson, C. H......| Jackson.
Miss Ardelia Cunningham | Unionville..........| Lake. €
Jacob N. Desellem......! Richmond.......... Jefferson.
Lewis M. Dayton....... INGRPRRS 565 oc05 5065 Licking.
dig lal Mam@lmiely so onde nse Oberlin ......... --.| Loraine.

L. Groneweg........... Germantown .......| Montgomery.
G. Al Biydee oo. -\.. soo) OWA Sos conosco g) Jaluaem,
HS Hollemberckges eile acl) Ae Lh yS PUTO cleyetoletere | Wood.
| Dr. J. G. F. Holston....| Zanesville..........| Muskingum.
iy Wie (BGR oot acoso o08 C@imennmatilt cy sere <r | Hamilton.
Dr. John Ingram........ Savannah.......... Ashland.
| Dr. J. P. Kirtland.......| East Rockport......| Cuyahoga.
NiGES Wie linivieZalyiolevers\eleysic- Gallipolis ierteretleier- Gallia.
John F. Lukens......... Zanesfield...s.. --..| Logan.
J. McD. Mathews..... og! labilis\ora? 6 co s5G5n06 | Highland.
G.S. Ormsby ...... Sood| Collies lalill oGocoons Hamilton.
Prof. S. N. Sanford ..... Granville..... Sas09¢ Licking.
Robert Shields.......... Ialllasaties oG5G00000 Logan.
184 SOOM Go ob Abb co on| INGE so oodnbocsouKd Coshocton.
idabronsrarer \WSHF 6566006060 Eimonaeree eerie | ehintes
William Campbell.......| Battle Creek...... ..| Calhoun.
Alfred E. Currier........| Grand Rapids.......| Kent.
Rev. Geo. Dutitelda.. <7.) Detroiter). en -11- --| Wayne.
Dr. S F. Mitchell.......| East Saginaw.......| Saginaw.
Capt. A. D. Perkins..... Monroe............| Monroe.
H. R. Schetterly........| Grand Traverse..... Michilimackinac.
Ilys TEL, SSURINS Go oa coc --.| Saugatuck..........| Alleghany. ~
J. J. Strang..... 9000000 Slip URINE ag oGud5do Michilimackinac..
IDyey Wil, Wig Alenylorreso Soc ..| Brooklyn..... Sao 006 Jackson.
Miss Octavia C. Walker.| Cooper............. Kalmazoo.
Dr. Thomas Whelpley... Bees eieioiaiatefuietheioya| LOnTOE.
Lorin Woodruff.........) Ann Arbor .......
AUWinchenee ei hee ‘Ann Arbor ....... panier:
W.W. Austin..........| Richmond....... ..-| Wayne.
@! Barnes=)-/)..- J00¢ Madison...... o+....| Jefferson.
PAGE lige bs Ox genetereyefolotelel oleic Wattaryje ite serecetenieyorevele Tippecanoe.
J. Chappelsmith.........]| New Harmony......| Posey.
Wei BaCoventincenysectsels Kendallville........ Noble.
[Dir Wo USERS 65 6660054) Miller co con Ko bod) Wena,
leaker anions tetetater tetany Kendallville........ Noble.
inl, LPGSho 566 5600000000 ILEVEHYSUKD, 5 Oo dob Sor Tippecanoe.
DH Ropers: ic\e)oe1- 2| INE Wa GraATGeMy cle liere ayne.
Prof. Joseph Tingley ....| Greencastle......... Putnam.
Prose Wo Cotas, doco nce eENe Seo oom oso) Mame.
L. G. Edgerly..... so.ceq) Gnanyilllls.coocotooe Putnam.
John Grant.............| Manchester... .| Scott.
WO Get Elaborate crake use Athens... .s/cicareieie sc Menard.
| Dr. J. A. Harris........ Ottawa... cele. s «| ua Salle.
Dr. John James......... Upper Alton........| Madison.
Drts bsmVlerdmsnyeshiar EMOTE, 666 CHOA BOBS Hancock.
| Fred. Behmer........... IMO) IMIS 44 60006
Dr. Engelmann......... St. Louis...... +....| ot. Louis
Op tale, LGA poo cescdans WiraRidoie eters) stoves Marion
Wissiida En Ball iiseyee csi: Keokuk..... nbidodod Lee.
ba: -Bidwellts 2% scscisie Quasqueton...... .--| Buchanan.
j Dies BNEAY InlOR oon ooo na 5 oc IDivise(EO so Bdoncob er Dubuque.
| Daniel McCready ..... ..| Fort Madison.......| Lee.
| Benjamin F. Odell...... Poultmeys. 1). sols ....| Delaware. é
| Rev. Joshua Phelps...... Alexander College...| Dubuque.
Ee Ge sbarvinua. sien go00de Muscatine..........| Muscatine.
HEAL Chee penralserieaimellds el .jeiee = 55850909) Walnttarer
Miss M. E. Baker..... eel CLLESCA.nin o eliseemien|| Hond.du) Dac.
| Thomas Gay.........+6. Belle Fontaine......| Marquette.
WE wAR Mapai. «s/s .sjeserete Milwaukie....... ...| Milwaukie.
[Sirotmese ik. Wuathrop. icy ieee a ee amie mmoreereeterts |EVOC ke

THE SMITHSONIAN

METEOROLOGICAL

INSTITUTION.

51

P= Cominted.

State. Name of observer. Residence.

Wisconsin—Contin’d.| G. F. Livingston...... bal IBltelsorn ooo coecooe
| Dreiser cleard) je cretevere| latte vill es cheteter steel ec
ijseexor ang a Belcit nn nen

|S. H.Carpenter....:.. ress
17. Wi a cliieta TaN ean Madisonbpysisiecace ae
| Edward Ss. Spencer. svelte) SULIT Bere epevenenetestetena
EUS RL SAV Vil La beicielelcyetetedeva lh ATES Gls: shel cerereneveye
| Carl Winkler ......... ete| Miitiiwrarkae: Severe erence
Minnesota.....000. :| (Om ING AlaGleisorn no gaone .| St. Anthony’s Falls .
| Rev. Elisha W. Chae) Aled ialkevieyeleiserstens
| A. O. Kellum.,....... s/o) UD OSEP le cvelele! elate! sic
| Rev. S. W. Mauncey....| Fort Ripley.........
WiSeer Rei AL dT, Riggs..... Lae qui parle .......
| David B. Spencer.. Bo ood| So desealackoconbeoe
Galifornia.c........--| Drs Ae Gibbons. ...)...-| Sam Mrancisco.. <i.
- (Draw Hye Vis Elatichineic svercvete Sacramento.........
| Rev. J. A. Shepherd.....| San Francisco.......
Wiebraslca) Sajevetes sie stele ID BNE ed yess) pehelal avons Bellevieu........ kere
Paraguay ..........| }. A. Hopkins. .......+. ASGeTISIONNS <y.)colo 1c e10\ 4

County.

St. Croix.
Grant.

Rock.

Dane.

Waukesha.
Rock.
Milwaukie.
Ramsey.
Pembina.
Pembina.

Dahkota.
Pembina.

San Francisco.
Sacramento.
San Francisco.

Meteorological observers—New York University system.

Name. Residence. County.
Wi Re Batchelder... < .)5 00 e1e1-) Hredonia) 2). 56 a cvlel«le\e1ee« « .--| Chautauque.
John N. Brinkerhoff........| Union Hall, Jamaica! seecvee| Queen’s.
Prof. Chester Dewey........| Rochester......+.0...++..-.+| Monroe.
John Felt, jr.......-..-...-.| Liberty....... helotercteiotereisiels ore Sullivan.
W. H. Gillespie ...........| Mexico...... ctatelajefalsveVaielecatate Oswego.
Mire Bey Ebeirtte oi sce)nrcialel) cw: otaleyerel| EXIM) aichetsjaclo ckela)ainiviel os elalote -| Chemung.

John Ey. Jenkinsisce sce
Mrs. M. T. Lobdell......
A. W. Morehouse........-.
Prof. O. W. Morris.........
Prof. David Murray ........
Bichyn@ eveed seinie)eleperecteveratel«
Brot Oe eioOtievsisiciersietectoseteiere
TPO Stratton s ve oki
MOS Ve Dayo s clelevelests olalele
Rev. R. D. Van Kleek......
Prof. W. D.*Wilson...:....

eoe

eecese te

White Plains
North Salem .
Spencertown ........

Institute for Deaf and ipauni.

.| Westchester.
.| Westchester.

-| Columbia.
New York city.

HUES Gua SE .| Albany.
FVOrmenzcheletevsiey ei valsisieye cide ee Cortland
Clintons nok crvse SOL Sri --| Oneida.
Oxford .....00..20:.00+++--.| Chenango.
Re latttis bit OV Navel aol chal otofetstoye) soya) 2) Clinton.
Ble UShiWeveyaevelevolaycletevelotere) ete .| King’s.
Genevaisiiiaidiesircerd aes. Ontario.

NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS.

Name.

Adams, Warren P.....
Ny Ue WEE Se gaseeose
Allen, Edw. A. H........-.
Allin, BUSES Cee tenes
‘Anderson, Gy IB Saacostancc
Andrews, Prof. J. W..-cee.
Arden, Thos. B..... shaveeouste
Astrop, Lieut. R. F.......-
Austin, W. W..cc-ceceees
Avery, Chas. A..esesseeoes

acorns Wit ccs o.ejensye=sei-
Baer, Miss H. M.......+00.
Baer, Prof. NMEA itty
Baker, Miss M. E..
Baldwin, Dr. A. S..
Ball, Miss TEEN RO HS
Barber, Prof. G. M.....,...
Barnes, C ..
Barrows, Geo. B..
Bartiett, Joshua...... 0
BaArtoms Ora hr lelersimereatatelsleys
Batchelder, M. R........20-
Inteeiiny, © Soccnondcsanonace
Behmens ey aveicetelerele
Bells Jota opelaareloreliel stele
Bells Samuel MING pyejeieleieterelsnace
Benagh, George..........
Ben tors a sAG Ny csetolenvevenctsierchs
IH) MOC 1, I byoGodanooac6n
Bidwellsabin Ccvvesaeictoeisiats
Biecbyjy AN edllyaetaysle spioersiiolet
Blodget, Dr. A. C......2.0-
Blodoets Wi O)evietelesialeentetot=
Bloodgood, S. De Witt.....
IBOSWiOTLIIy ER. Sierslsleselerteleyeiets
Bowman, John...... BEANE 5
Breed, J. Everett.....0..«
Brinkerhoff, John N........
Brooks, JOHN) cvosieieleienerelerets
Brow, Samuel’ sc cts /lelelstotes
Buckland, D........
Byram, E.N...

Campbell, Wim... s...e0s0
Carpenter, S. H...-cs.secee
Carpenter, Thornton .

-| Angelica ..

-| Sykesville... ...seeeee
-| Ceresca
al dSacksonvalle . 2.2 vce cls elss si

--| Carmel .
| Nanehester Eh
--| Tuscaloosa...

- Smithville.....

Residence.

Gilengsalllssscipimsinieraiactcrate

eee eooeersoe

Marietta .

eeeoecesseeeeeecas

Beueulyaee ipeo lees ie

Wrichton7s' Stones. «lc. eslereieiare
UiChimOMG Pe evatetelscteioholerseletalonehs
Seneca HallSirsjelecpersvolpiesieletelais
RivchimOndeisietselemalsiacteldaetalers
Sykesville... seeccsevceceees

eceene eeesececsseeoes

ENC olstilcatome ctelenialetoleisereterctetareh
ere amiateverelec.c/ oi siaiecialetereinlelciete
Mlaldis@ reyes sie toe aisictiettels vate) strates
Fryeburg... .ccsecccerssces
South Thomaston
New Orleans...
Fredonia ....ce..
Danwalley. ace).
Fort Bigries tetec tenses

coceeee
eccacce
eoesercceee
ececveccese

Mount Vernon, ...esseeeeeee
Maysville... cece cn cusece
Quasqueton...ceecccsecceee
Lafayette...... sdcoboc
Youngsville... 02. seecwnes:
Sugar Grove...
New York...
College Hill... 0... .c0 cena
Baldwinsville .....sesceers-

eoeeoeeoecos eee

Union Hall, Jamaica.....
Princeton..
Bedford...
Brandoneeeayecysbe)el aves
Sag Harbor.

eee

eeeeoeoree esos eee

-| Battle Creek... ...- telaeleiaietele

Madison.. ajace acatarelaieretele
Camden's). vicivsisjsisvaceeieietoareen

eoeeee

Carter, Rev. Jno. P........| Hagerstown. .....seccesss
Carver, LPiadtn WWananoaoog lash JLB ono opnocoodo O00 6
Carver, Dr. Robt. T.....»..-| Friendship.......e:00sce--
Casw ell, IEvaE Ao oanennods ETOVIGCUCE Jesjeloleloleleloielestereterets
Chadbourne, Tew ley UNS Gown | Walliiamistojwani)siee ie cles) sielarelele
Chandler, Dr. George... .| Worcester, .\. . oess0.c0 os crs ee
Chappelsmith, John.......... New emul plelelelovelesterstepas
Chase iC Ayame stony sie) -le'asiao|° Chatham scar) cralestecstevetonteraterete

Coffin, Prof. W. ee a Batavia.

.

Colby, Jas. Kemcccssscceees| Dt. Johnsbury...scessecseees

Comly, John..
Conant, Marshal SO UD HOO
Cooke, George....++5
Cooke, Robert L.

Couch, Samuel.

Wdibdusenion an DanAnoOC

500.08. | Knoxville....... Molatalseiapelsrs
Deeeeeeee| Bloomfield
Cook, Prof, George H. ek s| New Brunswick..
plauleinandelan ASalan dy.
Coventry, W. Bac octdoe ation:

al anid Sey ater) slolalsevereistelelolals-

see ee sees

see ee

Crawford, Prof. W. A...<..«.| NCW AER 2 oss eee ac aneane

State.

New York.
New York.
New York.
Massachusetts.

.| Minnesota.

Ohio.

New York.
Virginia.
Indiana.
New York.

Massachusetts.
Maryland.
Maryland.
Wisconsin.
Florida.

Towa.

Ohio.

Indiana.
Maine.

-| Maine.
..| Louisiana.

New York.
Kentucky.
Missouri.

.-| Maine.
-| New Hampshire.

Alabama.
Ohio.
Kentucky.

.| lowa.

Indiana.
Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania.
New York.

| Ohio.
-| New York.

New York.
New York.
Massachusetts.
Pennsylvania.
Vermont.
New York.

Michigan.
Wisconsin.
South Carolina.

.| Maryland.
.| Minnesota.
.| Tennesse.

Rhode Island.
Massachusetts.
Massachusetts.
Indiana.

New York.
Tllinois.
Vermont.
Pennsylvania.
Massachusetts.

.| Tennessee.
.| New Jersey.

New Jersey.
Virginia.
New York.
Delaware.

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.

53

METEOROLOGICAL LIST—Continued.

Name.

Crookham, George L......-
Cumming, as ee aiFiealelsie'sie
Cunningham, Miss A......-
Currier, Alfred E........00-
Dana, William, Diiecene «)
Darby, Prof. John.........
Darlington, Fenelon........
Davis, iRmersons 2k seen
Dayton, Hy A... 22. ces
Dayton, Lewis M...........
Deering, D.S......... etal
Dennis We Co tcriiebcer. a
Desellem, Jacob N..........
Dewey, Professor Chester...
Duffield, Rev. George.......

LGlaetdiys Lhe (Cpe oocoogboc
Hdwards, Joseph..........-.
Edwards, Rev. T....
Pngelmann, P10 clei « es’ /0/ ales
Ervendburg, Prof. L.C....
Eveleth, Samuel A..........
(Dyylleias TGs IDS Uooaooodode

Hair bakes) ci stelelaleranetelerelts
leneloniols Hed slGaaagaoced cc
alli, Uolticsos dog Soogooooc
Fitzgerald, Rev. F..... RYstejels
Ost RVevii Als siciereleatoemetens

Gidye Me blomaisinelelafeteilere ceietete
Galonss rele <leveeiesaieteate
Gabhonss en Seiemereecionaet
GD SON Ee) Desarclielalelevelc oticterere
GOT, ws Ficisieieveketernomers
Gillespie, W. H...... Sooous
Glennie, Alexander.........
Gilern si T Wisis cee een
(Gael, We Saodocdonsdbocac
Grant VO yo craves iolnrelatewie’sts
Green, Al Re. Rees
Griswold, Prof. L...........
Groneweg, Inn do ddoscoossad
Goes HAW) Boe cieiteie een

Hames; William)... 2225s
Hall. Joelieeiiesse satiety
Hallowell, Benjamin........
Hamilton, Professor .......

-| Auburn .

BH EVOCMESTEH Sirois Sclevetecre «elec 3

--| New Wied........- ARIMA

.| Waynesboro’

‘| Wood’s Hole ........

.| Jackson...

.| Trenton.....

Residence.

Jackson ....
Monroeville.........
Wnionvillersaxcccnes) Hones
Grand -Rapids. 35... 6...» -
emmiyadteletatcies s/c /0elsciels)s ndodoe
Pocopson...... ‘Gagpodaod nce
Westfield...

Newark 2% s.% sss ee

.| Brookville..... BRE HATA A nA

Key West...) soodoLCOOS
Richmond..... ALECIO CSIC SIG

Detroit.

+.| Granvilless sseees dese ces pits

Chromedale......
New London.:....... RELA
St. Louis..

Wandhamae 2/5). 545201 pees

eeaec ee seo eee ooo

State.

-| Ohio.
-| Alabama.
-| Ohio.

Michigan.
Maine.
Alabama.
Pennsylvania.
Massachusetts.
New York.
Ohio.
Pennsylvania.

.| Florida.

Ohio.

-| New York.

Michigan.

Illinois.
Pennsylvania.
Connecticut,

-| Missouri.
.| Texas.
-| Maine.

Pennsylvania.

St. Johnsbury..............-| Vermont.
OQjosmlings 6ac60a00500u000c ---| Ohio.
Liberty....... shenielelsiajesiotelnte!«| (NeW e Wolke

Tack som cicletertatsteleteicceicte
Burlington...

Bellefontaine ....cccccccsscs
San Francisco .
Nee Wa aoe PAOLA TECHS ise
Whitemarsh Island..........
IMOXIC OK eroreteteteslelee ete
Waceaman..... ates MCE ten
VAWASTIM i A oita hols ole Sele ere AAS set
West Cornwall...
Manchester..

eseeneeseee
eceeeteoseeoeseee

Kino viillexd ocielotecetelclevecielere cre
Germantown .:..s.ccscesees
Osdensburg cy yale eee! als doa

.| Augusta. .... 2. Jods oco008C
..| Athens..

Alexandria wists ss Meets Sie

.| North Carolina
-| New Jersey.

Wisconsin.

-| California.

New York.
Georgia.
Massachusetts.

-| New York.

South Carolina.

..| Texas.

Connecticut.
Illinois.
Mississippi.
Tennessee.
Ohio.

New York.

Georgia.
Illinois.
Virginia.

.| Tennessee.

Hance, Ebenezer ...........| Morrisville .............+.«.| Pennsylvania.
Hanshaw, Henry E..... -...| Frederick .sss..... SpsocLbagd Maryland.
Harper, Profi) Mvsuepaeiotes| Oxford! s 0.5 .uckd SanucoonooL Mississippi
laEris,| Dr. Js, Oxtcsrtetnatectsvere || Octtanvals/s\s/eieiajstatatelereisieieele ev. Illinois.
Hart, ira, E,.- 0's <5 aN PSTRAA TTA reps) tile albeit Hol/e estas ...| New York

(a G10) a eee wieleieteleicvelare Oswego ..5 see ScoddooooO ool INIGN Nerds.
Hate, Da, FE. Wiceactelesietels| SACKAMENEO siele/c\o cyetetaleice emir. California:
Heisley, John.......ss.....| Harrisburg .....00.0ss000-+.| Pennsylvania.
Higgins, James....-ss.ee00- Memphis .. aececesocssees| Dennessee.
Flobbs,'@.'T. . 25% soccevwues| Randolph ..0.2.es0.0.s0.-| Pennsylvania.
Holcomb, Amasa....+.++++-| Southwick..................| Massachusetts
Hollenbeck, F dalvlely vole wala (MOREY SDUTO) visi oid eWo cdi) .| Ohio.

Holley, B. F.. ae aan tensted: <a aiate Wietokaville. ahdareNal ah ctlals clea ..| Alabama.
Holmes, D. J ..... 5.2.66.) Williamstown «.... 0... 4-| Massachusetts
Holston, Dr.J..G..Fs).. ss AMES VINE <i chat aiuvichabele relclels 60 Ohio.

Hopkins, E. A..sseecseeses

Ascension .

.| Paraguay.

54

NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

METEOROLOGICAL LIS'T—Continued.

Name. Residence. State.
Horr, Dr. Asa.......-. sore jete| OUD UGUelatemntateiopatettoneieiereterere| a loiiale €
Hotchkiss, Jed............-+| Bridgewater -..... seleyenisfevetetal| WAUboTINa. -
House, J. Carroll......... --| Lowville ....... epedetertotetcieianate MU NIe ian Oli.
Hughes, John....... «oe. Pottsville ..........2.--.-..| Pennsylvania.
Hunt, HD isteterekeleteieie cota afepsverts IRonmitatignagacooodeoacdodc Connecticut.
Hunt, Dr. 8S. B. ce reratelsiehotebotnre al milo s 6600566 pelelolesietekelatel NGws Mou.
Hurtt, IMS \WissiGo copacooduos @inGinnatiis ye) -epeyoicevete ooo oo! Omi.
Hyde, GeeAG iictieteeissereeeiete Nona wnyejaieleveniatetctete Soo cn.) Olena,
Ingram, Dr. John....... Sooo) SHEA 55565 Gauo voodoo 4) Olas
Jackson, Samuel X......... Leesburg... -scesccesereeees| Virginia.
IEKGaIS INL BS G6asGbc0g00000d Gettysburg ...... eVolsfelferelelsieleite Pennsylvania.
James, Dr. John. -0/\0\. (e110 01 Whopper) Alton. eiecore loleyestoverevete Illinois.
Jerins ysl servers Bnd oGdaoa0 White Plains..... Meleleteiecherets New York.
Jennings, IDs ts Yasiacaaas ANWEIING G45 Sado Goode adno ood) Tepes
Jillson, Professor Bo Creer tete Mee DAMON alee eleiasoreheteloeyeineiee Tennessee.
JOHNSOW AE WW ieerere vets stnieterelal| CavItOM a vercvaieveteverolantaeteneiete ...| New York.
Johnston, Brovoeean Tidireversteyarete Middletown ......... «seve | Connecticut.
Kellum, O. A.....2...... -.| St. Joseph’s......0.0.,-+-+-| Minnesota.
IGersaiyy [Dies Vooadodoa0cgo00 MMR 665500006 bpoadood ol. Indiana.:
Kirkpatrick, Prof. J. raed Philadelphia ifefesekeveotetel=helevelets Pennsylvania.
Korklands Dreetecerserisveere East Rockport...... docosoo a) Olan).
Knauer, ap Sie iaqaielstsnoteroveuyavers Kendallville ................| Indiana.

Langdon, L. ee gee ere
Walp amass vA eareielenievoteveieis
Lathrop, Prof. 8. Ta ia

BeariO2 He Pes sgs aibebetieewes
Lee, Charles A.....20:.000.
Lefferts, John...... stopeieeyeiets

Falconer ...... cele ebereeon WNewaMorke
Milwaukie. ........0. «eeee-.| Wisconsin.
Beloiiticinvs coisieelle oi, qicveleneisienetene|) \VVISCOMSIIO.
ID Initelere5 6.05000 codod06 --.| Missouri.

Peekskill. 2.2... Haves Keene | New York.
Iboshts SooGoss soo otobooce ool ING Moule.

Leonard, Rev. L. W..).....| Exeter........ ooo aod 500696 New Hampshire.
Livezay, G. W............| Gallipolis ....... altewaressteagle ---| Ohio.
Wivimostons (Gy Zaeeleleniiice EW Someteletelevec cre ee ...-| Wisconsin.
Lobdell, Mrs. Mary J....... Salem Centre...............| New York.
Tbanaatee, BOnc asi poteteyatel UBT emi elmcreisce revere verereremoretene ..| Maryland.
Ibe@nwaey do Rooobabo0d0000e> Warrior’s Mark............. Pennsylvania.
Tukens, John F.....%.. Soon) Zac saan asodano sco Olmos

|
Wievgic It, Woon Ga86c sc0008 ...| New Brunswick........ .....| New Jersey.
Weve, Tie (Conscons sa caod .--| Londonderry ..............-| New Hampshire
Masuines levote Jp bya): INew: Wandsor, <a \cley<lonie)ecloteiel- Maryland.
Malcom, Captain W.S..... OSWeES Op etele elses eleniateteelee nner New York.
Manchester, George........ Ponismoubieyejetetetetrereeeiele --| Rhode Island.
Marsh, Charles A. J........ Cimyisoui? 695540000000 .---.| Vermont.
iM Gaeytal, Uo \WWoacaoneannoo0e Winchester.....,. DaeKodod4 Virginia.
Mauncey, Rev. S. W.......| Fort Ripley a\aleioleenstonane pao05¢ Minnesota.
Matthews, J. McD......... Fn Sbonomenleletie cee. anaauae | Ohio.
WicCreadiv,) Dic tteryaieleireioiee I HlontyVlaidisomlie theremereterenetete Towa.
McQuigg, J......... SG 00006 Beloitetehstetes|sieestorerateese ....-| Wisconsin.
Wedd meP i Es, 2 sbayetsoieiolele/e| AU SUSEAs(c\s\-10 cic! celal aieyeremietetine Illinois.
Meriwether, Charles J...... lMVontealnie pee. cue 506.300 Virginia.
Meriwether, R. T.......... MeMath 7st iis a pisaveverentrerere Alabama.
Merrill, Rev. S. H......... | Bluebill).j-.6;-- cie\sjo\oseloeaavaen| laine.
Metcalt, sie oP UG arayeterielei Mendon............-.»-».+.-| Massachusetts.
Miller. (Revenge te iotesvenstetaes Millersburoy-2/. 0 slejeiisisleehel .-.| Kentucky.
Mitchell, Drip Ae peptic. | East Saginaw.,..........-.--) Michigan. @
Mitchell, Hon. Wm......... lWNantuckethe einen aDie | Massachusetts.
Morehouse, A. W)...:....«.>. Spencertown......+++..++2.+.-| New York.
Morelle) Di.) eee ee MinorMbUny sy eyereherebleter veal Ayaie | North Carolina.
Morris, Prof. (OW ieeuerpren| New. York. ee +| New York.
Munger, (5: Bs ctor Le Roy...... jratelatelore eat | New York.
Murray, Prot. Dayidueessoe:s Albany..... veojesieiale ais | New York
Mussey, BR. D.. 22 ewe VOC Ot a\sioniestorepiete «see. Massachusetts

op

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.

313)

METEOROLOGICAL LIST—Continued.

Spencer, IDE Rat! Tee On rOcoOoe

Name. Residence. State.
Nettleton, A ........ .eee..-| Lynchburs....... coadooudod Virginia.
INGytat, Ui se oaoonoce doc So Orinae Tehileacocooe Sdodeoos Florida.
Newton, W.H.............| Fond du Lac..... Boos a cdo 0b Minnesota.
(Cielelllls 1, IB SoaGb aj boondbods Poultney s GoooGdoe pooooo0s | lowa.
Ormsby, J. S.......+-0+++0.| College Hill...............-- | Ohio.
Orton Jase s. cceceeieeocls eel) VW illiamStOwml..ss6 «0.0.00 | Massachusetts
haloes, dkish Ao dscoodoob 6 Craftsbury. ...+..+eees++--+| Vermont.
lRaidker; die IDe oqcadduoode soal| Suswlimbogonocoe souogne a6 Maine.
Fematin, We Sooadod dodiooddcs IMMDSCRIINeS God odH be dodoobuor Towa.
Patton, Thos...... do6odcod Lewisburg.......... sfesistenatets Virginia.
Pearsom, dm@s seekbcsosceoud) Memencalkvaccootunuoocouccdos | Florida.
Pendleton, Dr. EK. M........| Sparta....... PASE NARA s Mietl Georgia.
Perkins, Capt. A. D...... SAP VLOTIEOC eucyenereleleics:stelelelsciats\atal Michigan.
Perkins, Dri iy Cis. a... 4) Newburyport... 6 <j. - <=. Massachusetts.
TPaiems. lal Gs odagoclseaobeuoe Lafayette... .ccs.cceersonsee Indiana.

- Phelps, Rev. Joshua ........| Alexander College........ ...| Lowa.
bullipsiyErot.asive clelclelecie ole Ch&pel Hill...... oeeeeeseee-| North Carolina.
Pigkaircl, IDs Ue lbuscooods cool! lems ccccoocnocobonGoc Wisconsin.
Plumbe, Dr. Ovid....-.....| Salisbury..... dodonsoodbador Connecticut.
Poole, Henry. codgonoe poo d| ANionoya WMlnNES coodanocogosode Nova Scotia.
IBOTUETS Nieto elavevecosials caveenstens IBeloitieyevelevesielee esocceceee.-.| Wisconsin.
Posey, Jolin Eye's cies «+01 =< Savannah........... iodao Georgia.
IRonwell, Stymie o oo ausbo code Newport..... od oudoo6 podoos Rhode Island.
JPnmiit, Ios IDs desocomosacs| recloted 6ocansoccobuOUOCd New York.
Prescott, Dr. Wm..........| Concord........-. Dovodgouns New Hampshire.
Ralston, Rev. J. G.........| Norristown..... ombooovdddd Pennsylvania.
Rankin, James......2.-2+2+| Saybrook........--+-eeee++| Connecticut.
Raivenie lla vile WVialerelevayecialalevelal|/ PAIGE Ns lee: <6 My eahersl chelorsreters .»--| South Carolina.
Ray, L. Gi. eecccccee cece ee) PAariSic eee cece c cree csesene Kentucky.
Reeds) De Hiei ere)<7el- srecces| BellevieW .-.e+e.esescresaes Nebraska Territory.
IRareol, [Mehwveneel Crs 550000 bod) sl@ngirPg boo codococooOoBHOOS New York.
Rice, lenmvinecters cher .| North Niviebora! Loitn scomake .-| Massachusetts.
Riddle, Professor W. tp .| Jackson..... oodco6 eeeeceee| Louisiana.
Riggs, S. R. and A. L......| Lac qui Parle........... ----| Minnesota.
Robbins, Dr. James.... d| Wedomielees 5 oo aon edbGsoonaCCE Massachusetts.
Robinson, Rev. KH. S........) Garlandsville...............| Mississippi.
odimamet Sanauelseterers si ae iets ING We EXC GLOLGs sets c/s) e)eleverel sie) +) eh Massachusetts.
Root, Professor O.........- @hinitioniveeverctorenreteys Seeitshersial oven New York.
Rosseter, Professor Geo. R..| Buffalo............ noocdoeos Virginia.
Salisbury, Elias 0... ...--..| Buffalo... o 5... cscs cece ace | New York.
Sanford, Professor S: N.....| Granville..........e0..-. --| Ohio.

Sartwell, Dr. H. P.. co) leteiam Waitin coon tbo Stoo! --| New York.
Savage, Revs Ge Seo Viner s bun opnyelslelelaclaleretsletsroke New York.
Sawyer, Georgiev Bec omelssrsre)<\ Salaon) Hallie cye;sclecjele). si eters | New Hampshire.
SEMvaieup lakes Iho Gaodsoed) Gare lmlllissocooobs ocogoub od | New Hampshire.
Scheeper, E. H. i 5a ee Pella..... andoloo Sra anata .| Iowa.
Sdechigidhys Jal enoccoteood) Gael IieiGiseo5codcodaddns | Michigan.
Schlegel, Albert............| Taunton....................| Massachusetts.
Schley, ‘William. ANU OWN cododacsoodomoo end) Geonne.
Schreiner, Francis..........! Moss Grove........ --.-..+.| Pennsylvania.
Shane, ry MRS DERMIS SoCo oO DDO CORO OOS Kentucky.
Sheldon, Henry C..........| North Scituate ........... -.| Rhode Island.
Shepherdy Rev. J. A........ Shin lMaiciise@o doconasocaooc California.
Shields, Robert............, Bellecentre..... nOUdOOOE .--| Ohio.

Skeen, William. ...cessce Huntersville.......... ats .| Virginia.
Smallwood, Dr: Charles,../).| St. Martin’s, ...css-+e0e0.ss| Canada.

Smith, Dr. B. A.....e00-++-| Worcester. ....cceseeee..-.| Massachusetts.
Smith, Dr. J. Bryant.......| Lincolnton..................| North Carolina.
Smith, Dr. J. W...........| Hast Franklin..............| New York.
Smyser, ID, a RGA Ao OroOmRor tH aiiislbi strana: sipleai</siaeaes)n)«| Pennsylvania.
Snell, Professor E. S........| Amherst..............:.+-«.| Massachusetts.

Ssiic Uok@)oltics Goo opbooOOebn Bb OOL

Minnesota.

56 NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

METEOROLOGICAL LIST—Continued. '

Name. Residence. State.
Spencen.eMidward §S).\. sf. /s0/0 oe] MOU Gs clelelo lan ofeie aise eeeeee| Wisconsin.
NPOOMEN pins alela/cice cle sateen INGO FOES So o0dub0 ccKddo ood) Olina,
Spooner, Stillman........... Wampsville...... soaadods -.| New York.
MLeele PAMPUSTUS. “lle es = oe «|| OCUAT IWCYS.. vice clones «0.0 -..| Florida.
HSTIEGTS Uo IW) 5 noc snojas ia mie| MUACISOM sesjc.c ec emtaiers sso cla ec] WVASCONSING
MEMEOS. WIT. Pus ls cjale ccs olale| WOCLES eeisioie ler elo ereraria ts en terete Pennsylvania.
iewart, rots AW Perc.) soccle14| epanoneaeceeiseleie sss .s eels cal MeMnessee,
cewalbs Wis Mlciele o/oierele/s a/c) Gureemwoodencis/eiceste eieieeiciers Tennessee.
BOUFAL Ts, ia lS iaielsiole\ajmisvow aeinia ele | SU PUCNIOS: clelelniedeleltietetrsieue) ets Michigan.
SEER Ny OMS oo od asap odh Oratontluy st Sata S4usadeuooe New York.
Somes ID. Tels GS oocus00K000 -| Saugatuck.....seesseveeese-| Michigan.
Sin@any Ini INS lalosopooso56 IMENTS 6 6bb50 0005 eeee.---| New York.
SER NS IBS SbhooodccaoKKde WWioltivaillleryerveretesckenetelsnersievcte eit Nova Scotia.

Sans IDyes dolinns oandbawbod
Siulien leekMlgss SoG ODad GU KMOOr

Baylor, Vos Wikies sees
Haylor, Wr Vi Kes Solio alere
Mbickstums We creveversetsrecvee
Thompson, Zadock .........
diner, erottdas erslelelelctels ore
Muaomeyny erotic) elctste/ac
Rarer, 1) avadeecjateleceye sic el
Tt wilens tls eieishevetscialtins we

Wnderw.ood wD eypatrscvstersieleret:
Van Kleek, Rev. R. D......

Waddell, Wm. H........ 2/4) Grenada. se scleie Sale expe siete
Walker, Miss Octavia C..... Cooper. ....-.. Retayetes 9
Aelita le Soc condos bd IDOWePioniaWabdoecodosuaes

Webster, Prof. N. B........
Were As Daisies cto aici als
WieiserseRis:cieivis es icere etetelays
Wrest; Edmundien. <eees - sicie
Whelpley, Dr. Thos........

Whitehead, W. A..........
Wrallard cB ee ee. a ate
Williams, P. O,.... add ous +
Williams, Prof. W. D.......
Wilson, Prof. W. D........
WW ViISOTs Wo -Wiseicicletelesta ole, aye
WVarrchells VAN ievsiciete siete S008
Wankkler Carls issjoiisccsie ele (ols
WVioodruth, Woum 5 sc1ss teres) shots
UNG par OSsspnooocoroce

Wales) Walter Detects. ovale e
Wong, ‘Albert “Av cts sesesiclein-
Young, J. A
Young, Mrs. Lawrence......
Wounseerot. Wiaie)siciele ea

«| Plattsburg. ..s.ccseceeecce Ac

Broolklym. o\c)s\e «+s sisleiess eg e:

alulWeadwvallleverreeieteteiter Bibi tie ais

ULM a LOM pe teletorenetelaisteres terre
Greencastle) jeyejelelacteis ececkojere
AWSealOOSaisisiceiericrete teria srenn
Richmond sieyeisielenieloiee hee ae
Green Springs. ...0....0---

Gastlevonisrele creviereerecieicicteiecis

Flatbush, . Ui Wenuigie peeenae aaah any

Porismouiaeeteeecicisteseeee
IMTOO GodOGo GD Ane BHO do0
Andersville..... Mi alctoleles ters ier

IBrestevsinessesics events
Newark...... eaves

-| Kentucky.
olf JBlanweryortl Gooidiggatnoabacand«

Pennsylvania.

New York.
Michigan.
Pennsylvania.
Vermont.
Indiana.
Alabama.
Virginia.

-| Alabama.

Vermont.

New York.

.| Mississippi.
.| Michigan.
..| Delaware.

New Hampshire.
Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania.
Ohio.

.| Michigan.
.| New Jersey.

Janesville .......ecee++--| Wisconsin.
Gouverneurseiccies sence New York.
Mialdisomit eleyelsleveisielelsiseiaeya | economia.

Generale Neveiciwnuiate weoteerascorer New York.

TPIS NTE SG SGG0 00D 000K GN00
Ann Arbor ......+..

eeeeecoeee

Miblwalite rs sistereisiosrsigvelaveeicrnes
ING TA VAT DON: erarehevel eteintelcventeieke oe
[disehyerelsinayolisn San obo ondoe Sake

Houseville......

eeseeceesecos

.| Pennsylvania.

Michigan.
Wisconsin.
Michigan.
New York.

New York.

TAM OVerieleislosarellelelattey aici ake New Hampshire.
Camden...... sbbko og ddos dos South Carolina.
PLUTO ANE oie etolelelesleleleveraleuetelts Kentucky.

|| TLATMOVER Giereies eaiclerchontoetetenenste

New Hampshire.

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 13

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

To the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution:

GENTLEMEN: The year which has elapsed since the last meeting of
the Board of Regents has been marked by events which must have a
decided influence on the future history of the establishment intrusted
to your care. The plan of organization adopted, and the operations
in accordance with it, have been widely discussed by the public. The
subject has also been brought before Congress, and referred to a spe-
cial committee of the House of Representatives, and to the Judiciary
Committee of the Senate. The committee of the House had not time,
before the close of the session, to visit the Institution, or to make such
an examination of the management and the condition of its affairs as
the importance of the matter referred to them would seem to demand.
The members were divided in opinion as to the question of further le-
gislation, and no action was taken upon the reports which they pre-
sented. The Judiciary Committee of the Senate reported on the sub-
ject, and unanimously approved the acts of the Regents in construing ~
the law of Congress, in interpreting the will of Smithson, and in what
they had done in the way of increasing and diffusing knowledge among
men.

The discussions that have taken place in the journals of the day in
regard to the policy pursued by the Institution, together with the print-
ing of an extranumber of copies of the Regents’ report to Congress,
have given the public generally an opportunity of becoming more
fully acquainted than heretofore with the character of the trust, and
the manner in which it has been administered. From the number of
letters received during the past year, containing spontaneous expres-
sions of opinion relative to the course pursued by the Regents, there
can be no doubt that the policy which has been adopted is the one
most in accordance with the views of a majority of the intelligent part
of the community.

It is not contended that the plan of organization is in all respects
what could be wished; on the contrary, it is believed that more of the
income is devoted to local objects—in the support of a large building
and the expensive establishment necessarily connected with it—than
is entirely consistent with a proper interpretation of the will of Smith-
son., But in establishing an institution in which various opinions
were to be regarded, the question was not, what, in the abstract, was
the best system, but the best which, under the circumstances, could
be adopted. It can hardly be expected that any plan, however faith-
fully and cautiously pursued, will give general, not to say universal,
satisfaction. In the faithful discharge of their duty, the directors of
the Institution are liable, frequently, to make decisions which conflict

14 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

with what is deemed, the interests of individuals ; and when proposi-
tions intended only for personal advantage are rejected, a hostile feel-
ing is sometimes engendered, which finds vent in misrepresentation
and public attacks. After due caution has been observed in order to
give no just cause of complaint, such attacks should be disregarded.
The Regents will, doubtless, adhere to the line of policy which has
been adopted ; turn neither to the right nor to the left to catch an ap-
parently favorable breath of popular applause, and continue to lead,
rather than follow, public opinion. The directors of the establishment,
whose duty it is to make all that concerns it their special study, ought
to be better acquainted with the intentions of the donor, and the re-
sults produced by the expenditure of the income of his bequest, than
those who have no responsibility of this kind to induce that attention
to its affairs which could alone qualify them to become proper advisers
as to its operations.

Since the last meeting of the Board, the Institution has not only
sustained, but has extended the reputation it had previously acquired.
The number of applications on favorable terms, even in a commercial
point of view, which have been made from abroad for the Smithsonian
publications, has very much increased, and the number of volumes
received in exchange has exceeded that of any previous year. The
inquiries which have been made of the Institution for information in
regard to different branches of knowledge, the references to it for the
decision of important questions, and the applications for assistance in
the prosecution of original research, indicate an extending field of
usefulness open to its cultivation, "Indeed, so many objects of the
highest importance are presented, that much difficulty would be ex-
perienced in the selection of those which should first receive attention,
if the directors were not governed by fixed rules. The tendency to
expand the operations of “the Institution beyond its means, enforces
the necessity of constant vigilance and forethought. While much

may be done in the way of advancing knowledge by the judicious ap-
plication of a small fund, it is surprising that so much is expected to
be accomplished by an income so limited as that of this bequest, and
that propositions should frequently be made to the Regents by intel-
ligent persons to embark in enterprises which would involve the ex-
penditure of the whole annual interest on a single object.

The building is at length completed, and its several apartments
are now in a condition to be apphed to the uses of the Institution.
As various changes have been made in the original plan, the follow-
ing brief description may not be inappropriate at this time. It con-
sists of a main edifice, two wings, two connecting ranges, four large
projecting towers, and several smaller ones. Its extreme length from
east to west is 447 feet, with a breadth varying from 49 feet to 160
feet. The interior of the east wing is separated into two stories, the
upper of which is divided into a suite of rooms for the accommo-
dation of the family of the Secretary ; the lower story principally com-
prises a large single room, at present appropriated to the storage of
publications and the reception and distribution of books connected
with the system of exchange. The upper story of the eastern con-

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 15

necting range is divided into a number of small apartments devoted
to the operations in natural history, and the lower story is fitted up
as a working laboratory.

The interior of the main edifice is 200 feet long by 50 feet wide, and
consists of two stories and a basement. ‘The upper story is divided
into a lecture-room capable of holding 2,000 persons ; and into two
additional rooms, one on either side, each fifty feet square, one of which
is appropriated to a museum of apparatus, and the other, at present,
toa gallery of art. Both are occasionally used as minor lecture-rooms
and for the meetings of scientific, educational, or industrial associa-
tions. The lower story of the main building consists of one large hall
to be appropriated to a museum or a library. It is at present unoc-
cupied, but will be brought into use as soon as the means are pro-
vided for furnishing it with proper cases for containing the objects to
which it may be appropriated. The basement of this portion of the
building is used as a lumber-room and as a receptacle for fuel.

The west wing is at present occupied as a library, and is suffi-
ciently large to accommodate all the books which will probably be
received during the next ten years. The west connecting range is
appropriated to a reading-room.

The principal towers are divided into stories, and thus furnish a
large number of rooms of different sizes, which will all come into use
in the varied operations of the Institution. A large room in the
main south tower is appropriated to the meetings of the ‘‘ Establish-
ment’’ and the Board of Regents; three rooms in one range, in the
main front towers, are used as offices ; and two rooms below, in the same
towers, are occupied by one of the assistants and the janitor ; other
rooms in the towers are used for drawing, engraving, and work-shops.
There are in the whole building, of all sizes, ninety different apart-
ments ; of these eight are of a large size, and are intended for public
exhibitions.

The delay in finishing the building has not only been attended with
advantage in husbanding the funds, but also in allowing a more com-
plete adaptation of the interior to the purposes of the Institution. It
is surely better, in the construction of such an edifice, to imitate the
example of the mollusc, who, in fashioning his shell, adapts it to the
form and dimensions of his body, rather than that of another animal
who forces himself into a house intended for a different occupant. The
first point to be settled, in commencing a building, is the uses to
which it is to be applied. This, however, could not be definitely
ascertained at the beginning of the Institution, and hence the next
wisest step to that of not commencing to build immediately, was to
defer the completion of the structure until the plan of operations and
the wants of the establishment were more precisely known.

From the report of the Building Committee it will appear that about
$6,000 remain to be paid upon the contracts, which amount will be met
by the interest of the extra fund during the present year. The whole
amount expended on the building, grounds, and objects connected
with them, is $318,727 01. This exceeds considerably the original
estimate, and the limit which was at first adopted by the Regents.

The excess has been principally occasioned by substituting fire-proof

» 16 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

materials for the interior of the main building, instead of wood and
plaster, which were originally intended.

It is to be regretted that a design so costly was adopted ; but the
law of Congress evidently contemplated an expensive building, and
placed no restriction on the Regents as to cost or plan, except the
preservation of the principal of the bequest.

From the report of the Executive Committee it will be seen that not
only has this restriction been observed, but that, notwithstanding the
enhanced expenditure, a considerable ‘augmentation of the fund has
been effected. The original $515,000, received from the bequest of
Smithson, is still in the treasury of the United States; and, after
the present debt on the building shall have been discharged, there
will remain in the hands of the treasurer the sum of $125,000 of unex-
pended interest. Though this is a favorable condition of the finances,
yet caution in the expenditure is still imperatively required. We
should not forget that the ordinary expenses of the Institution have

Fee ails increased ; and that, whilst the nominal income has re-
mained the same, the value of money has depreciated ; and, conse-
quently, the capability of the original bequest to produce results has
been abridged in a corresponding proportion. Besides, when the
building is entirely occupied, the expense of warming, attendance,
&c., must necessarily be much increased beyond its present amount.
The repairs, on account of the peculiar style of architecture adopted,
will ever be a heavy item of expenditure. The several pinnacles,
buttresses, and intersecting ‘roofs, all afford points of peculiar ex-
posure to the injuries of the weather. In this connexion, I cannot
help again expressing the hope that Congress will, in due time, relieve
the Institution from the support of this building, and that it will ulti-
mately appropriate at least the greater part of it to a national museum,
for the general accommodation of all the specimens of natural history
and of art, which are now accumulating in the Capital of the nation.
The two wings and connecting ranges would be quite sufficient for all
the operations of the Institution, and a large portion of the funds now
absorbed in the incidental expenses, which have been mentioned, could
be devoted to the more lezitimate objects of the bequest.

It was mentioned in a previous report that the rooms of the upper
story of the building were particularly arranged with a view to accom-
modate the meetings of literary, scientific, and other associations which
might assemble at the seat of government. During the past year the
following societies have availed themselves of the facilities thus af-
forded, viz: the United States Agricultural Society,the Metropolitan
Mechanics’ Institute, a musical convention of the choirs in this city and
of persons invited from a distance, also a second convention under the
auspices of the Philharmonic Society of Washington. Besides these,
the Teachers’ Association of the District of Columbia has held its
monthly meetings in this building, and the rooms have been frequently
occupied during a single evening for public purposes. The use of the
lecture-room is granted when the object for which it is asked is of
general public utility, and not of a party or sectarian character, or
intended to promote merely individual interests.

| Since the death of the lamented Downing, but little has been done

:

;

Te NA

cordance with the original design, be converted into an extended park. |

| : t
as THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 17
Fahy

a m &

has been made for keeping in order the lot on which the Smithsonian

building is situated, and it is hoped that in due time the whole reser-

tion from the Capitol to the Washington Monument will, in ac-

_ The Smithsonian building having been completed, the refuse mate-

F ae oa . PE sip
to complete the general plan of the improvement of the mall proposed \
_ by him and adopted by Congress. An annual appropriation, however,

rial will be removed from the south part of the lot, and the whole ©
grounds around the institution will then be in a condition for per- |
“manent improvement. It is to be regretted that Congress has not

_ made an appropriation to carry out the suggestion of Dr. Torrey, and |

%

_ other botanists, of establishing here an arboretum to exhibit the vari-
- ous ornamental trees of indigenous growth in this country. The |

climate of Washington is favorable to the growth of a very large num- |

ber of the products of our forests, and an exhibition of this kind would |
serve to render better known our botanical wealth, and to improve the |
public taste. The preservation and cultivation of our native trees are |

objects of national importance.
A subscription has been collected by the members of the American

Pomological Society for the erection of a monument to the memory of |

Downing, and the President has given his consent to the placing of

this in the same lot with the Smithsonian Institution. The monument —

_ will be erected in the course of the present year, and will serve to per- _
petuate the memory of a public benefactor, as well as to embellish the ©

grounds. :

Publications.—Since the last meeting of the Board of Regents, the
seventh volume of the Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge has
been printed and distributed. Owing to certain changes, which were
considered desirable in some of the memoirs mentioned in the last

_ report, they were not ready in time ‘for the press, and this volume was
. consequently made up without them. It therefore does not contain as

“many pages of printed matter as some of the previous volumes. It has,
however, a larger number of plates, and consequently the expense of

its publication has been equal to that of any of the preceding ones.

1, Among the papers mentioned in the last report was one by Mr. 8. F.
Haven, librarian of the American Antiquarian Society, on the progress
of information and opinion respecting the archeology of the United
States. The printing of this paper, which is now nearly completed, was

' delayed for the purpose of enabling the author to extend it in some par-

' ticulars, and to include in it a more definite account of some branches
_of ethnological investigation than was at first contemplated. It will
be recollected that the object of this paper is, first, to present the specu-
lative opinions relative to American antiquities, which preceded any
systematic or scientific investigation, and to exhibit the various hypo-
_ theses advanced, as to their origin, based upon hints from sacred or
' profane history; secondly, to follow the steps of inquiry, nearly in

_ the order of time, and to present a summary of facts supposed to be
_ developed, and views entertained at different stages of research and

es

- discovery. When the author, in pursuing his subject, arrived at the

oe ala of the period when philological and physiological deduc-

18 TENTH ANNUAL, BEPORT OF

tions, from *<lisbleiniaamatiogie malic ally aa scientifically brought -
to bear upon this investigation, it seemed necessary to enlarge the.
original plan, and to exhibit, concisely, the considerations involved

in the discussions, the course. they had taken in this country, and the .

conclusions to which different writers in these departments of research
had been led.
The last chapter will present a sketch of what appears to be the

aetual information now possessed respecting the vestiges of anti- —

quity in the United States, and will include the consideration of the
following points :
1st. To what places of the American continent the known courses

of the winds and currents might casually bring the vessels of ancient

navigators.
2d. The evidences of foreign communication said to be observable
at those places.
3d. The other noe means of access from foreign countries.
4th. The topography of ancient remains in the United States,
5th. The external character of those remains.
6th. Their local peculiarities.
_ Jth. The character of the articles taken from them, and supposed to
be of contemporaneous origin.
Sth. The inscriptions, medals, and other remains, supposed to indi
cate the use of letters or hieroglyphic symbols. ;
This paper, as usual, will be issued, at first, separately, and afte
wards published as a part of the eighth volume of Contributions.

2. The paper mentioned in the last report, on the Tangencies of
Circles and Spheres, by Major Alvord, of the United States army,

has been printed, and is now ready for distribution. It is due to

Professors Church and Gibbes, to whom the memoir was submitted,

to mention that they have given it critical examination, have sug-
gested several improvements, which have been adopted by the author,

and that, in his absence on official duty in Oregon, they have read.
the proof-sheets, and corrected the plates and text—a service of no —

small moment in the publication of an abstruse mathematical paper,
in which extreme precision, if not absolute accuracy of ty pgemaph ysis
required.

3. The paper on the Aurora Borealis, by Professor Olmsted, de- |
scribed in the last report, has also received some emendations, ‘and ie
is now in the press. The valuable collection of notices of the appear-
ances of the aurora in northern latitudes, by, Peter Force, Esq., of .
Washington, is also in the hands of the printer ,,and will form an alas ve

pendix to the eighth volume.

4, A corrected edition of the first part of the tables. for fcllitae ud:
ting the investigation of physical problems, mentioned in the fifth and
sixth reports, has been prepared, and, with the second part of the ‘i

same series, is now in the press. No publications of the. Institution.
have been called for more frequently than these tables. They haye —
been introduced into Great Britain, and have supplied a want Sra iy
has long been felt by the practical cultivator oy physical science in
that country, as well as our own,

Each set of tables has a fiat title and pagings and “may. Be ;

¥ °

~

?

w

. ae
Ce

<

at

oe

we ”

Ry

Rh , ie! ‘
tgs THE re A lead 19

a

separately ditoniag and distribufed in a | cane form, or bound to-
gether in a single octavo volume. The following is the list of the
tables: 1. Comparison. of the thermometrical scales : 2. A’ series of
hygrometrical tables ; 3. Tables for comparing the quantities of rain 5
4. A series of tables for comparison of different barometrical scales,

: &e.; 5. Tables for computing differences of level by means of the
barometer ; 6. To ascertain elevations by the boiling-point of water ;
7. For the conversion of different measures of lensth,

™

A full descriptive list will be found in the appendix.

In connexion with the publication of these tables, I may allude to
the fact which is constantly to be regretted, that, while the charac-
ters which indicate the numerals of or rdinary and scientific computa-
tion are the same in all civilized countries, there should exist, in this
age of the world, such a diversity in the ‘standards and divisions of
measures. The present appears to be an auspicious moment for at-
tempting to introduce a uniform system of weights and measures.
This would probably present no great difficulty in the case between
Great Britain and this country, and since England and France are
now allied in a common cause, they might both be induced to agree
upon a general standard ; and if this were adopted by all who speak
the English and French languages, it would soon become common to
every part of the civilized world,

5. Another paper submitted for publication is on a special branch

of natural history, called Oology. The design of this memoir is to

give, by means of colored engravings, correct representations of the
egos of the birds of North America, so far as they have been ascer-
tained, and to accompany each figure with an account of whatever
may be known as to the mode of breeding, the construction of the
nests, and the geographical distribution of the species during the
hatching season. It is believed that this paper will supply a 1 defi-

‘ciency in the natural history of North America. There is no separate

treatise on-its oology, nor do any of the works on American ornitho-
logy furnish reliable descriptions under this head, except in regard
toa few of the more common birds. All our ornithologists, says the
author, Audubon not excepted, have given their attention almost ex-
clusively to the birds, and have omitted to notice the peculiarities of
their propagation. The reason for this may readily be found in the
difficulty attending the investigation, which is to be appreciated only

by those who have sought to make a ’ study of this branch,of natural
“history. ‘The author has devoted to this subject all the leisure he

could spare during twenty years, and each year he has been able to

add new contributions to the stock of knowledge, as well as illustra-
- tions and specimens to the common store, until he is now enabled to

describe and figure at least four-fifths of the oology of this continent. —
In the dorimence ment of the operations of the Institution, the Re-. an

gents might have hesitated to sanction the publication of a paperon —

a subject. “which at first sight would appear to be so far removed from

pre tatiloat application. But it is believed that since that period, more —

just views of the importance of such subjects have become prevalent, -

and that the Smithsonian publications themselves have done good —

service in diffusing more liberal sentiments. Indeed, it isan import-
aR, <

20 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

ant part of the duty of shia? Pe tation to encourage special lines of
research into every department of the varied domain of nature.
Though it might be a perversion of intellect for a large number of
persons in the same country to occupy themselves in any one pursuit
of this kind, when so much on every hand is required to be done, yet
it is highly meritorious in any individual to devote himself systemati-
cally, industriously, and continuously, for years, to the elucidation of
a single subject. He may be said to resemble in this respect the ex-
plorer of an inhospitable region, who enables the world to see through
his eyes the objects of wonder and interest which would otherwise be
forever withdrawn from human knowledge. Let censure or ridicule
fall elsewhere—on those whose lives are passed without labor and
without object ; but let praise and honor be bestowed on him who
seeks with unwearied patience to,develop the order, harmony, and
beauty of even the smallest part of God’s creation. A life devoted
exclusively to the study of a single insect, is not spent in vain. No
animal, however insignificant, is isolated ; it forms a part of the great
system of nature, and is governed by the same general laws which
control the most prominent beings of the organic world.

It is proposed to publish this paper ina number of parts, com-
mencing with the oology of the birds of prey. This is one of the
most difficult of all the families to study with precision, on account
of the retiring habits of the birds and their almost inaccessible breed-
ing places.

6. The next paper is on the relative intensity of the light and heat
of the sun upon the different latitudes of the earth, by L. W. Meech,
Esq. This memoir, which was submitted for examination to Prof,
Peirce and Dr. B. A. Gould, of Cambridge, presents a thorough mathe-
matical investigation of the only known astronomical element of me-
teorology. It gives a distinct, precise, and condensed view of this
element ; enables the practical meteorologist to compare it with the
results of observation ; to eliminate its influence and obtain the resid-
ual phenomena in a separated form and better fitted for independent
investigation. It determines, from the apparent course of the sun,
the relative number of heating and illuminating rays which fall upon
any part of the earth’s surface. The rays of light and heat from the
sun to the earth, though imperceptible in their passage through free
space, and manifest only by their results at the surface of the globe,
evidently constitute a primary element of meteorology. The subse-
quent effects ,which are measured by the thermometer and designated
by the word temperature, are secondary, and modified by a variety of
proximate causes. In accordance with this distinction, the numerous

researches in this field may be divided into two classes, namely, those
which relate to the number of rays falling on a given place, and those
which relate to the temperature produced by these rays under different
conditions of surface, &c. To the former of these belongs the investi-
gation of Halley, given in the Philosophical Transactions for 1693.
By regarding heat as of the nature of force and resolving it intoa
horizontal and a vertical component, he drew the proper “distinction
between the number of rays and their heating effect or ‘« impulse, ’’
which is expressed in the well known law, that the sun’s intensity at

&

Se

saa 2

/ ca hee
is “THE SMITHSONIAN INS
mF
any, time is proportional to the sine of ‘the sun’s altitude, above the
horizon. The subject. was also investigated by Euler in 1739, in the
oe bite Commentaries, with some improvements upon the ‘method
of Halley, but owing to the introduction of false hypotheses, it was
not brought to a successful conclusion. More recently, Fourrier and
Poisson have discussed the problems of terrestrial heat at great length,
but in so general a way as to leave very much yet to be accomplished.

The present memoir, avoiding hypotheses, proceeds entirely in ac-
cordance with the principle that the intensity of the heat and light
radiated from the sun to the earth, is inversely proportional to the
square of the distance. By strict adherence to this primary law, the
principles of the astronomical branch of meteorology are deduced in a
connected series with geometrical precision, while at the same time an
account is taken of all the modifying circumstances of which the effects
are definitely known, such as the geographic latitude, the changes of
the sun’s distance from the earth, the changes of the sun’s altitude or
oblique direction of the solar beams, and changes in the length of the
day.

Among the more interesting results thus obtained are the simple
expressions for annual intensity and the duration of sunlight and twi-
fight, and a more full delineation of the peculiar increase of summer
heat around the poles, first pointed out by Halley.

The secular changes of solar heat, or those which relate to long
periods, are also analyzed in accordance with the received variations
ee elements, particularly those given by Leverrier, and
extended to very remote epochs. This part of the investigation is in-
timately connected with the geology of the globe, and the question as
to the amelioration of the climate of America since the period of our
colonial history. The paper is accompanied by a number of graphical
illustrations, which, besides exhibiting the general results, show the
reflex agency of the earth and its atmosphere in modifying the direct
heat of the sun, and the progressive change of climates, and the seasons
of the year. A small appropriation was made to defray the expense
of the arithmetical calculations necessary for deducing the numerical
values from the general formula.

7. In a previous report it was stated that a small appropriation had
been made to defray, in part, the expense of some special geological
explorations, under the direction of Professor EK. Hitchcock, of Amherst
College, Massachusetts. The papers containing the result of these in-
vestigations have been presented to the Institution for publication.
They all relate to surface geology, or the geological changes which
have taken place on the earth’s surface since the tertiary period.

’ The first paper treats of the unconsolidated terraces, beaches, sub-_
marine ridges, &ec., that have been formed along the shores of the
ocean, lakes, and rivers, since the last submergence of the continents.
. The author has given the heights of a great “number of these above»
the ocean, and the rivers, and a map of those in the valley of the Con-
nee icut river. The evidence they afford of a submergence of this
tinent, at least, and a part of Europe, since the Drift Period, is re-
garded by the author as one of his most important conclusions. ‘ity I But”
‘£ * "

Sal 91

a 5

22 ‘TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

8
many others, however, are “presented, which will tend to modify the
opinions entertained of the superficial deposits of the globe. _

The second paper is on the erosions of the surface of the ear th, espe-
cially by rivers. Of this phenomenon numerous examples are viven,
and those described minutely which have fallen under the author’s
own observations. Some of the conclusions to which he has been con-

ducted are new and unexpected. He has, for instance, pointed out
several traces of old river-beds, now filled up and abandoned, through
which, in his opinion, the str eams ran on a former continent,

The third paper would appear to establish the fact that glaciers
once existed on some of the mountains of New England, in distinction
from the drift agency, which he regards as chiefly the result of ice-
bergs and oceanic currents. This paper-is accompanied by a map of
the ancient glaciers, so that geologists can examine for themselves the
data from which the deductions are made.

These investigations, says the author, ‘‘are an humble attempt to
penetrate a little distance into the obscurities of surface geology, and
to exhibit changes which seem to have been more overlooked than
any other which the earth has undergone.’’ Whatever may be the
Opinions entertained of the conclusions of the author, the facts which
he has collected must ever be of importance.

On account of the colored maps which are necessary to illustrate
these papers, their expense will be considerable, and we shall be «
obliged, perhaps, to defer tna publication until towards the close of | *
the pr esent year. «

It is a subject of congratulation, and an evidence of the advance Ofie.,
liberal sentiments in reeard to. the importance of abstract science in asst
our country, that within the last few years liberal donations have —
been made for the publication of original research and the promotion
of original scientific investigations. In addition to the $100,000 be-
queathed some years since to the Harvard Observatory, the same
establishment has lately received from the Hon. Josiah Quincy the
sum of $10,000 for the publication of its observations ; and $10,000
has been bequeathed by Mr. Appleton for the publication of original
memoirs in the Transactions of the American Academy. A wealthy
lady of the city of Albany has just reared a monument to the memory
of her husband in the establishment of an observatory, which, we
trust, will be more enduring than any merely material edifice, how-
ever permanent and unalterable may be its character. Discoveries
will undoubtedly be made by means of this enlightened bequest, which
will indelibly associate the name of Dudley with the future history of
astronomy. The love of posthumous fame is a natural and laudable de-
sire of the human mind. It is an instinct, as it were, of immortality,
which should be fostered and kept alive by ‘example as one of the most.
powerful inducements to enlightened benevolence. And what prouder
monument could be coveted than that which shall associate a name
with the discovery of truths, the knowledge of which will be as widely
extended and as continuous in duration as civilization itself? Smith- -
son was ambitious of this distinction, and has presented with rare
eg aE to all who have the means of gratifying the same feeling, a

y

* | THE (SMITHSONIAN, INSTITUTION. 28
£ = _ By,

_ mioble example. In connexion with the same subject, I may refer to
the unexumpled provision which has been made by subscription for
~ ‘the publication of the extended researches of Prof. Agassiz. The re-
. sults of these researches are to be comprised in ten quarto volumes, at
a subscription price of $120. The whole number of subscribers already
‘obtained is three thousand, which will produce $360,000. The Smith-
“sonian Institution had commenced the preparation of the plates of
- several memoirs by Prof. Agassiz, which will now be probably merged
in this work; and thus, thous h it may lose the honor of a more per-
manent association of the name of this celebrated individual with its
-own publications, yet a portion of its funds will thus be set free for the
publication of the researches of less fortunate though meritorious
Jaborers in the field of knowledge. The Institution, however, will
have largely contributed from its museum to the materials which will
be required in the preparation of this great work, and will thus be

still connected with this important enterprise.

Exchanges.—The system of scientific and literary exchanges, of
which an account has been given in the previous reports, has become
more widely known and its advantages more generally appreciated.
Nearly all the exchanges of scientific works between societies and in-
-... dividuals in this country and abroad are now made through the agency
~~. « of this Institution. The whole number of articles ie vrieriniened during
the year 1855 was $585. The whole number of separate articles re-
ceived during the same time cannot be stated, as those addressed to
particular persons or societies were enclosed in packages which were

_* . mnotopened. The articles received in behalf of the Institution amounted
_~ to 4,500, and the number of packages for other parties to 1,445. The

Jatter, in almost every case, contained several different works, which

would swell the amount received to a larger number than that which

was sent. ‘The associations in this country which have availed them-

selves of the facilities of the system comprise nearly all those that

publish Transactions. Among these are many of the agricultural
“societies of the western States. Ina number of cases societies and
individuals have transmitted sets of their works, to be distributed by
the Institution to such associations as 1t might deem best entitled to
receive them.

The Smithsonian agency is not confined to the transmission of
works from the United States, but is extended to those from Canada,
‘South and Central America, and in its foreign relations embraces
every part of the civilized world. It isa eround of just congratula-.,
tion to the Regents, that the Institution, by means of this part of the

- plan of its organization, is able to do so much towards the advance of
“knowledge. it brings into fr iendly correspondence cultivators of origi-
nal research the most widely separated, and emphatically realizes the 7
* idea of Smithson himself, that ‘‘the man of science is of no country ;””
“thet “the world is his country, and all mankind his countrymen.*
| » The system of exchange has found favor with foreign governments,
d the Smithsonian packages are now admitted into all ports to which ..
» they are sent, without detention, and free of duty. It has “6 tea
i ai favored by the liberal aid of companies and individual ae, this
a

a ie ra

a

~

ek:

“ Wes nee ‘3 &.

1% 5 “4

24 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF |. a
-

country. The mail steamship line to California via Panama conveys
our packages free of cost to the Pacific coast. The line of steamers to
Bremen has also adopted a like liberal policy, and Messrs. Oelrichs &
Lurman, of Baltimore, have indicated their estimation of the value
of the system, by making no charge whatsoever for transmitting a large
number of boxes to Germany, and in receiving and forwarding others
from that country.

In connexion with the subject of exchanges, 1t becomes my duty to
announce the loss which the Institution has experienced i in. the death
of one of its warmest,friends and most active agents, Dr. J. G. Fliigel,
of Leipsic. After a residence of several years in this country he. re-
turned to Germany as United States consul, in which capacity he was
unremitting in his efforts to render service to American travellérs,
and, by his untiring industry and zeal in behalf of the Institution,
contributed more than any other person to make it known through
northern and central EKurope. His son, Dr. Felix Fliigel, has been»
appointed his successor, and has evinced a desire and given evidenee
of his ability to carry on the system with promptness and efficiency.
The agent of the Institution in London is Mr. Henry Stevens, and in
Paris Mr. Hector Bossange; and to these gentlemen the thanks of the
Regents are due for important services in the distribution and reeep-
tion of packages without charge.

Correspondence.—The correspondence during the last year has been
more extended than that of any preceding period. The character of
the Institution becoming more widely known, the number of applica-
‘tions for information relative to particular branches of knowledge |
has been increased. The correspondence relates to the exchanges,
the collections, the publications, the communication with authors and
the members of commissions to which memoirs are submitted, an-
swers to questions on different branches of knowledge, and reporis as
to the character of specimens of natural history, geology, &c.; also
explanations of the character of the Institution, the distribution of its
publications, its system of meteorology, &e.

The whole number of pages copied into letter-books in 1855 is
about 4,000.

Besides this correspondence, there have been sent off from the In-
stitution upwards of 5,000 acknowledgments of books and other ar-
ticles presented to the Institution, and 6,000 circulars, asking for
information on special points, such as natural history, meteorology,
physical geography, statistics of libraries and colleges, &ec.

Many of the communications are interesting additions to knowl-
edge, though they are scarcely of a character to warrant their publi-
_ cation in the quarto series of Contributions; and it is now proposed to
append some of these to the annual report to Congress to illustrate
the operations of the Institution, as well as to furnish information on
subjects of interest to the public. The meteorological system gives
rise to an extensive correspondence, and maintains a lively sympathy
between the institution and a large number of intelligent individuals.
During the past year, as usual, many crude speculations on scientific
and philosophical subjects have been presented for critical examina-

Prd

9

_ > ——

# _THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 25
ba
tion. To these, in all cases, respectful answers have been returned,
and an endeavor has been made to impress upon the correspondent
the distinction between fanciful speculation and definite scientific in-_
ah didvon Dee
aiination: —The plan of organization of this Institution does not
include the application of any of its funds directly to educational pur-
poses. Were the whole Smithsonian income applied to#his one ob-
ject, but little, comparatively, of importance could be effected, and
that little would scarcely be in accordance with the liberal intention
of the testator, as expressed in his will, by the terms ‘‘ the increase
and diffusion of knowledge among men.’’ Still, the theory and art
of éducation are susceptible of improvement, as well as of a wider ap-
plication ; and therefore, though the Institution may not attempt to do

anything itself in the way of elementary instruction, it may, in ac-

cordance with its plan of operations, assist in diffusing a knowledge
of the progress of the art of teaching, and of its Sea in this
country.

Ata meeting of the American Association for the Hele amtcomnente of
Hducation, held in this building in December, 1854, a committee was
appointed, which called the attention of the Institution to the im-
portance of aiding in preparing and publishing a history of education
in the several States of the Union, the object of which would be to
diffuse-a knowledge of what has been done in each section of the
country among all the others, and thus to render the separate expe-
rience of each beneficial to the whole. After consultation with the
members of the Executive Committee, then in the city, it was con-

- cluded to devote $350 to this purpose. This sum has accordingly

been advanced to the Hon. Henry Barnard, of Connecticut, who has col-
lected and digested for publication the materials for a work of this kind.

The subject will be presented under the following heads:

1. Survey of the principal agencies which determine the education
of a people, with an explanation of the American nomenclature of
schools and education.

2. A brief sketch of the action of the general government in the
matter of education and schools.

3. Legislation of each State respecting education.

4, Condition of education in each State, according to the census re-
turns of 1850, and other reliable sources of information.

5. Hducatioral funds—State, municipal, and institutional.

6. Hducational buildings : remarks on their general condition, with
illustrations of a few of the best specimens of each class of buildings.
7. Catalogue of documents relating to the educational systems and
institutions in each State.

~~
\

Pl Nal

|

8. Statistical tables, with a summary of educational agencies, such spit

as the press, ecclesiastical organizations, facilities of locomotion, &e.

9. A brief statement of the educational systems and statistics of ‘

the most civilized countries of Europe.

_ The work will either be published as a separate report on educa-

tion, or may be given i in a series of numbers of the American Journal -
of. pensation’ ‘reba copies of which will be obtained for distribution.

"

=

26 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF ™

It is believed that this exposition of the subject will supply a deficiency
which has long been felt, and be of much service in Smee yee
ampor tant cause to which it relates.

Laboratory, Researches, &c.—The law of Congress incor porating
the Institution directed the establishment of a laboratory, and, in ac-
cordance with this, a commodious room has been fitted up with: the
necessary #appliances for original research in chemistry and other
branches of physical science.

During the past year a number of different researches ive been.
prosecuted j in this apartment.

1. A continuation of those mentioned in the last report on building
material.

2. A series relating to combustion, and some points on meteorology.

3. On the flow of air through tubes of various forms. t

4. On the application of some newly-discovered substances to prac- ;
tical purposes in the arts. '

5. The examination of the minerals of the Pacific railroad and
other expeditions.

Though the funds of the Institution will not permit the constant
employment of a practical chemist, yet we are enabled to do some-
thing towards the support of a person in this line, by referring to him
the articles of a commercial value which are submitted to us for ex-
amination, and for which the cost of analysis is paid by the parties
seeking the information,

A young chemist, who has spent three years in Germany, has now
the use of the laboratory, and is prepared to make any analyses which .

“may be required. For the facilities afforded him he is to keep the’
apparatus in working order, and to make such examinations of: speci-
mens as may not require much labor. oe

In one of the previous reports it was mentioned that a set of instru-
ments for observing the several elements of terrestrial’ magnetism
was lent to Dr. Kane for use in his Ar¢tic explorations, and Tam hap-
py to inform the Board that these instruments have done good service
to the cause of science in the hands of this intrepid explorer and his
assistants, and that they have been returned in good condition. They
will be again intrusted to other persons for observations in different
ea of this countr y.

Meteorology.—Since the last meeting of the Board an arrangement
has been made with the Commissioner of Patents by which the sys-
tem of meteorology, established under the direction of the Institutio:
will be extended, and the results published more fully than the Smith.
gonian income would allow. A new set of blank forms has been pre-
pared by myself, and widely distributed under the frank of the Patent
Office. An appropriation has also been made for the purchase of a

large number of rain-gages, to be distributed to different parts of
_ the country, for the purpose of ascertaining more definitely with com-
pared instruments the actual amount of rain which falls in the dif-
ferent sections of our extended domain. <A series of experiments has
been made with regard to the different form of gages, and a very

- THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 2T
ae"
‘SL oe one, which can be manufactured at a small expense, is easy of
appl lication, and can be readily transported by mail, has been adopted.
Mr. Jas. Green, of New York, has continued to eae ae standard
instruments in accordance with the plan adopted by the Institution,
and to supply these at a reasonable price to observers. He preserves
an accurate record of the comparison of each instrument with the
standards furnished by the Institution, and in this way good service

- is rendered to the advance of this branch of knowledge by*the general

introduction of compared and reliable instruments. ‘The system is
constantly improving in precisionsand extent.

Complaints have been made that but few of the materials collected
by the Institution have yet been published. The answer to these,
however, is readily given in the fact that so much of the income up to
this time has been devoted to the building, and so many demands
have been made upon the Smithsonian funds for objects requiring
more immediate attention, that little could be done in this line; and,
besides, it is more important that the information should be reliable
than that it should be quickly published. The value of observations
of this character increases in a higher ratio than the time of their con-
tinuance, and, therefore, what may be lost by delay is more than
compensated by the precision and value of the results. ~

The reduction of the meteorological observations has been continued
by Professor Coffin during the past year. He has completed the dis-
cussion of all the records for 1854, and those of 1855 as far as they
have been sent in. The publication of these, however, in full, will
require a volume which, we trust, will be printed at the expense of

the general government, as an appendix to the Agricultural Report.

of the Patent Office.
_Important additions have lately been made to the physical geogra-
phy of the western portions of the United States, under the direction

» of the Secretary of War, by the officers of the army engaged in the

explorations of the several routes for a railway to the Pacific. A.
series of exact barometrical sections has been measured from the Mis-
sissippi river to the Pacific ocean. -The elevations of the extended
plain which constitutes the base of the Rocky mountains and of the
parallel ridges have been determined. Temporary meteorological ob-
servations have also been made, which afford approximate data rela-
tive to the climate of this region.

The elevation and direction of the ridges which separate the valley
of the Mississippi from the Pacific ocean have a controlling influence
on the climate, particularly on the precipitation of the North Ameri-
can continent, and especially distinguish the storms of the Pacific
coast from those of the Atlantic States.

The additions which have been made to the physical geography
and natural history of this continent under the enlightened policy of

the Secretary of War, will be received with great interest by the scien-”

bh. men of Hurope.

_ In studying the pee a physical phehemens of the lobe, the west: a me

é “ern half of the North American continent, in comparison with other
_ parts of the world, has been almost a blank. It is hoped, however,
that the spirit of inquiry that has been awakened and the enterprises

5

4

”

+e {
in

i ait
ss

x“

28 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

which have been commenced, al thus far successfully prosecuted in
this line, will be continued, ‘and will supply the desiderata which
have so long been felt. If all the military posts, or a selection which
might be made from them, were furnished with a full set of instru-
ments, and the observations made with due precision, results of the _
highest interest to the man of science, as well as to the agriculturist,
the physician, and the engineer, would be obtained.

As firsttapproximations the simple observations at the different
posts, which have thus far been published, are acceptable additions
to knowledge; but whatever is werth doing at the expense and under
the direction of the general government, ought to be as well done as
the state of science and the circumstances under which the work is
commenced will admit.

A series of continued observations at a few posts, made at each
hour during the twenty-four, similar to those carried on under the’
direction of Major Mordecai; at the Frankford arsenal, would afford
materials of much interest for determining in the interior of the con-
tinent the hours of the day most suitable to be chosen for ascertaining
the mean temperature, and for reducing the observations made at
different times to the same hours, as well as for settling the time of
occurrence of the daily periodical changes of the atmosphere.

Besides the collection of meteorological materials relative to the
climate of the United States, the Institution has in its possession an
extensive series of observations made in Texas and Mexico by Dr. Ber-
landier. These were placed at our disposal by Lieutenant Couch, who
was favorably mentioned in the last report as having made a valuable
_ exploration a few years ago in the southern part of our continent. —
Portions of this material will be published, from time to time, as an —
appendix to the Smithsonian Contributions.

lam happy to state to the Board, that the Provincial Parliament
has made provision for the establishment of a system of meteorology
in Canada, which will co-operate with that of the Institution. The
act is in the following words:

‘¢ Whereas it is desirable at all seminaries and places of education
to direct attention to natural phenomena, and to encourage habits of
observation; and whereas a better knowledge of the climate and
meteorology of Canada will be serviceable to agricultural and other
pursuits, and be of value to scientific inquirers; be it therefore en-
acted, that it shall be part of the duty of every county grammar
school to make the requisite observations for keeping, and to keep a
meteorological journal, embracing such observations, and kept accord-
ing to such form as shall from time to time be directed by the council
of public instruction; and all such journals, or abstracts of them,
shall be presented annually by the chief superintendent of schools to
the governor-general, with his annual report.

“‘ Hvery county grammar school shall be provided, at the expense
of the county, with the following instruments: One barometer, one
thermometer for the temperature of the air, one thermometer for
evaporation, one raln-gage, one wind-vane.’

Lhe Library. —Blore has been accomplished in the ited during

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 2
. a én

Be

o

the past year than at any previous period. The books have been pro-
visionally arranged according to subjects, and considerable progress
made in a full catalogue as well as in an index to the chronological
record of the daily reception of books as they are placed in the library.
The first part of a descriptive catalogue of the works received in ex-
change has been published, and the second part is now in process of
preparation. An extra number of the first part has been struck off,
and copies have been sent in the form of an appendix to the seventh
volume of Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, to all foreign
societies, in order that our deficiencies may be made known, and an
appeal made to our contributors for their supply. This list will also
be of much importance to persons engaged in original research in this |
country, since it will give them, in a separate catalogue, a knowledge
‘of the rich collection of Transactions and proceedings of literary and
scientific societies in the possession of the Institution.

The value of a library is not to be estimated by the number of
volumes it contains, but by the character of the books of which it is
composed. It is the present intention of the Regents to render the
_ Smithsonian library the most extensive and perfect collection of Trans-
actions and scientific works in this country, and this it will be enabled
to accomplish by means of its exchanges, which will furnish it with
all the current journals and publications of societies, while the sep-
arate series may be completed in due time as opportunity and means
may offer. The Institution has already more complete sets of Trans-
actions of learned societies than are to be found in the oldest libraries
in the United States, and on this point we speak on the authority of
one of the first bibhographers of the day. This plan is in strict ac-
cordance with the general policy of the Institution, viz: to spend its
funds on objects which cannot as well be accomplished by other means,
and has commended itself to those who are well able to appreciate
its merits, aud who are acquainted with the multiplicity of demands
made upon the limited income of the Smithsonian fund. In a letter,
after a visit to Washington, the bibliographer before alluded to remarks:
*¢ My previous opinions as to the judiciousness of the system pur-
sued by the Smithsonian Institution, in every respect, were more than
confirmed. I hope you will not change in the least. Your exchanges
will give you the most important of all the modern scientific publica-
tions, and the older ones can be added as you find them necessary.
The library, I think, should be confined strictly to works of science.”’

A thorough examination has been made of the series of journals and
transactions of societies; deficiencies have been noted, and, as far as
possible, supplied, and the whole placed in the hands of the binder.
This was considered indispensable for their preservation and use.
The separate parts are in danger of being lost or injured so long as
they remain in a pamphlet form. During the past year $2,043 have
been expended in the binding of 3,668 volumes. The entire west wing
of the building has been appropriated to the library, and three sides
of this large apartment are now occupied with books. By placing .
two rows of cases, each of a double story, along the middle of the |
room, the amount of shelf room may be tripled, and space may thus be -
obtained sufficient for the wants of the library for a number of years.

30 TENTH oa REPORT OF

It has before been observed se the Smithsonian library is intended
to be a special one, as complete as possible in Transactions and all
works of science. There is now in the city of Washington the large
miscellaneous library of Congress and a city library Re ten fioasanl
volumes. Besides these, are the libraries of Georgetown College and
of the several executive departments, and the invaluable col! ection of —
works pertaining to America, belonging to Peter Force, esq. The —
latter, with commendable liberality on the part of its enlightened
owner, is open to the use of all who are engaged in research with
reference to the speciality to which it pertains ; and we trust that
means will be provided by the general government to secure this col-
lection in case of its ever being exposed to the danger of dispersion. —
Washington is, therefore, better supplied with miscellaneous books _
than any other city of the same size in the Union, and it can a
scarcely be considered necessary, or even just, to expend any portion
of the income of the small fund intended for the good of mankind | -
generally, in duplicating collections already to be found in the same
city. Indeed it would be well if in every city of this country ar range-
ments could be made by which each library should aim to be as com-
plete as possible in certain branches ; and we are pleased to learn that
this policy has been adopted in the formation of the Astor library,
the superintendent of which, in purchasing the rare books which it
contains, having given a preference to such as were not to be found 1 In
any other collection in the city of New York.

To assist in rendering available the several libraries of the country,
it has from the first been an object of the Institution to collect acom- ©
“plete set of their catalogues, and it is believed it now possesses a more
extensive collection of this kind than is to be found elsewhere. Any
person desiring to ascertain where a book may be obtained, can in-
most cases acquire the knowledge desired by addressing the Secretary
of the Smithsonian Institution. At the last session of Congress an
act was passed authorizing the transmission free of postage of articles
‘entered for copyright. The effect of this law has been to diminish
considerably the expense to which the Institution had been subjected.
in receiving books of this kind. Still there is a class of books on
which postage is charged, namely, all those we receive in exchange
through the mail for our own publications, including the laws and
legislative documents of the several States. On the whole, the law.
relative to the deposite of works intended for copyright has thus far
been of no real benefit; for the expense of clerk-hire, certificates, and
shelf-room, would far exceed the value of all the books received in
this way. While-school books, works intended for children, and the
lighter and more worthless publications of the day, are forwarded to
us, the larger and more valuable productions of the American press
are often withheld. ‘The principal office of these books has been to
swell the number of volumes contained in the library, and in some
respects to satisfy those who desire a large number of books rather
_ than a choice collection. The process of cataloguing the library of
Congress, in accordance with the plan proposed by this Institution,
has been carried on under the direction of Professor Jillson, of Co-
lumbian College. The number of titles prepared is 15, 885, with

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 31.

7,949 cross-references—the whole number of volumes catalogued being

32,986. This number, according to Professor Jillson’s report, em-

braces all the volumes which were in the library at the time the cata-
~ logue was commenced, with the exception of the law department, the
bo nd volumes of tracts, and some incomplete works. It also in-
Tai: the additions made in the general library to chapters 1st, 2d,
, 3d, and 4th, previous to April, 1855, the additions to the different
chapters previous to the time they were catalogued, and at least one-
half of the additions made during the past year. The whole amount
expended on the preparation of the 15,885 titles. is $4,971 07, and
that of stereotyping about 4,000 titles, $2,974 91. This is exclusive
of the expense incurred by the Institution in making the experiments
on the stereotyping process, and the cost of the press, type, general
apparatus, fixtures, &c.
_ The appropriation made by Congress has been exhausted, excepting
$54.02... ;

Museum.—The specimens of natural history which have been re-
ceived during the past year have been very numerous and of great
value, the number of distinct contributors amounting to 130. As in
former years, the most valuable additions have been received from the
officers engaged in the various scientific expeditions of the govern-
ment. An illustration of the extent of our receipts during the year is

» exhibited in the fact, that the specimens of mammals alone amount
to 2,500. ’
« The following is a general summary of the present state of the col-

< lections: The number of jars containing specimens of mammals in
alcohol is 350: of birds, 39; of reptiles, 3,344; of fishes, 4,000; of ©
invertebrates, 1,158; of miscellaneous, 28; making a total of 9,171
jars. Most of these contain a number of specimens; and there are
about 30 barrels and cans filled with other specimens, which have not
yet been assorted. There are also 1,200 prepared mammals, 4,425
birds, and 2,050 skulls and skeletons generally.

It is no part of the plan of the Institution to form a museum merely
to attract the attention and gratify the curiosity of the casual visitor
to the Smithsonian building, but it is the design to form complete col-
lections in certain branches, which may serve to facilitate the study

* and increase the knowledge of natural history and geology.

Though the statement may excite surprise, yet I may assert, on the
authority of Professor Baird, corroborated by the opinion of others well
qualified to judge, that no collection of animals in the United States,
nor, indeed, in the world, can even now pretend to rival the richness
of the museum of the Smithsonian Institution in specimens which tend
to illustrate the natural history of the continent of North America. ’

Not only have representatives of animals of every part of the country —
been obtained, to illustrate the entire American fauna, but also speci-
mens of the same animal, from different parts, have been procured, inf a

@ order to determine the geographical distribution of a species. oo ge

Of the vertebrate animals, there is scarcely a known species not al- ©

ready in the collection, while of those which have not yet been. oe

£

eo ? a eon,

a2 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

cally studied, there are probably a large number which have never
been scientifically described.

These specimens have not, up to this time, been exhibited to the
public, for want of suitable cases, in the large room, to properly dis-
play them; but they are accessible to those who are pursuing original
investigations, during nearly the whole year. They have almost con-
stantly. been used for this purpose, by a succession of individuals en-
gaged in the pr eparation of reports for the government, or the study
of particular branches of natural history.

It is a part of the plan to give encouragement and assistance to
original investigations, and persons who visit Washington for the
purpose of studying the collection are furnished with all ‘the facilities
which the Institution can afford, and these, in the specimens, instru-
ments, and the ample hbrary of reference, are already such with re-
gard to certain branches as cannot elsewhere be obtained.

The use of the specimens is not confined to persons who visit
Washington, but, in accordance with the general policy of the In-
stitution, they are sent to individuals who are engaged in the study
of particular classes of animals, and with this view a large number
of duplicates are in almost every case obtained. A considerable por-
tion of the materials of the great work now in preparation by Agassiz
will be derived from this Institution, and it is considered an import-
ant part of the duty of the directors to induce persons to undertake
the study of special branches of natural history, and to afford them
the means of its successful prosecution. For example, one of the
researches of Dr. Leidy has been thus undertaken; and Dr. Jeffries .
Wyman, of Cambridge, is now engaged. in the study of the peculiar
character of the batrachian animals, and of the anatomical structure
of the undeveloped organ of sight of the blind fish of the mammoth
cave, and he has been supplied, for this purpose, with a large number
of specimens of each of these animals by the Institution. In most
cases of this kind the results of these investigations are published in
the Smithsonian Contributions ; though this is not strictly required,
it being considered sufficient that full credit be given for all that has
been contributed at the expense of the Institution.

The labor necessarily expended in unpacking, assorting, and label-
ling the specimens has been very great; and when to this is added
the constant care required for the preservation of so many objects of
a perishable character, the cost of the maintenance of an extended
museum must be evident. .

A Jarge number of the specimens now in the museum have been
procured by the several expeditions under the general -government ;
and as in but few cases an appropriation has been made for their
preservation, the expense of this has fallen on the Institution.

For a detailed account of the present condition of the collections,
and the operations in the museum during the past year, I must refer
to Professor Baird’s report, herewith transmitted. Besides the re-
searches mentioned, a number of explorations in natural history
- have been undertaken. The most important of these is that of Cali-
fornia, by Mr. E, Samuels, under the patronage of this Institution and
the Boston Society of Natural History. He expects to remain on the

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. BS)

Pacific coast about a year, and will doubtless secure numerous speci-
mens in all departments of natural history, and will devote himself
to completing such collections as are imperfectly represented "by the
results of the various Pacific railway surveys. Mr. Samuels is also

- charged, on the part of the Commissioner of Patents, with collecting

specimens of seeds of the trees, shrubs, and grains of the country. A
division of the expense, and the liberality of the Panama line, have
enabled this exploration to be instituted at a small cost to each of
the parties interested.

A small appropriation has also been made to assist in forming a
complete collection of specimens to illustrate the zoology of Ilinois,
under the direction of Mr. R. Kennicott.

Another exploration was made in the northern part of the State of
New York, during the past season, by Professor Baird.

The collections which have resulted from these expeditions, to-
gether with those from the Mexican boundary commission, and the
several railway surveys, will furnish important additions to the
natural history of the North American continent. ;

Lectures.—The interest in the lectures still continues, and the |
large lecture-room during the past winter has frequently been filled
to overflowing by an attentive and intelligent audience. The plan
has been adopted to give courses of lectures on special subjects, inter-
spersed occasionally with single lectures, principally of a literary
character. Courses of lectures on a single subject, it is believed,
serve to convey more valuable and permanent instruction than a
number of separate lectures on different subjects. To impress a gene-
tal truth upon the mind, requires frequent repetition and a variety
of illustrations, and hence but little impression can be made with re-
ference to any subject involving scientific principles by a single dis—
course ; and the lecturer who appears but once, too often attempts to
interest his audience by the enunciation of vague generalizations or
by mere rhetorical display.

This is, however, not always the case, since, for example, a single
lecture may be given on the history of a discovery, or a brief analysis
of the life of a distinguished individual.

Asa general rule, therefore, we consider a numberof single lectures:
by different persons, as of less value than a series on one subject by the
same person. The latter requires a more profound acquaintance with
the subject, and a greater amount of previous preparation. There
are many persons who might be able to give a single popular lecture
on some branch of knowledge, who would fail in attempting an ex--
tended course.

The following is a list of the lectures which, were delivered during.
the winters of 1854~55 and 1855-’56.*
1854—’55.—One lecture by Prof. Etras Loomis, of New York: ‘The:

zone of small planets between Mars and Jupiter.’’

* In order to complete the list for the winter of 1855-’56, the lectures delivered after
the date of the report have been added.

3

34 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

One lecture by Dr. D. Brarnarp, .of Chicago, Illinois, ‘‘ On the
nature and cure of the bite of serpents, and the wounds of poisoned
arrows.”’

Four lectures by Hon. Guo. P. Marsa:

Ist. ‘‘Constantinople and the Bosphorus.’’

2d. Do. do. do.

3d. ‘*The Camel.’’ y

Ath. ‘‘ Environs of Constantinople.—Political and military import-
ance of the position of that Capital.—The reform system in Tur-
key.”’

One lecture by Dr. Rost. Batrp: ‘History of the war between
Russia and Turkey, with notices of those countries.’’

Nine lectures by Prof. Asa Gray, of Cambridge, Massachusetts,
“©On Vegetation :”’

1. ‘‘Development from the seed and from buds, root, stem, and
leaves.

2. Aerial, ephiphytic, and parasitic vegetation.

3. Morphology of branches.—Subterranean vegetation.—Adapta-
tion of bulb-bearing plants and the like to regions subject to a sea-
son of drought ; of forests and the like to regions of equable distribu-
tion of rain.—Anatomy and action of leaves.

4. How plants grow.—Anatomical structure.—Development from
the cell.—Gradation from plants of one cell to the completed type of
vegetation.

5. Wood.—The tree.—Life and duration of plants.—The individual
in its various senses.—The tree a community as well as an indi-
vidual.

6. How plants multiply in numbers.—The flower.

7. Fruit and seed.—Fertilization and the formation of the em-
bryo.—Reproduction in flowerless plants.

8. Movements and directions assumed by plants generally.—The
relations of vegetation to the sun.

9. Relations of vegetation to the sun continued.—The plant con-
sidered as the producer of food and a medium of force.”

One lecture by Rev. J. 8. Fietcuer, on ‘‘ Brazil.’’

Two lectures by Hon. Henry Barnarp, of Connecticut: ‘‘ Recent
educational movements in Great Britain.”

Two lectures by Bev. H. A. WasuBurne :

1. ‘‘Confucius, or the Chinese mind.’’

2. “‘The Chinese war.’’

Two lectures by Prof. JosepH Loverine, of Cambridge, Massachu-
setts: ‘The progress of electricity.’’

One lecture by Ottver P. Batpwin, esq., of Richmond, Va.: ‘‘Na-
tional characteristics.”’

One lecture by Dr. W. F. Cuannine, of Boston: ‘‘The American
fire alarm telegraph.’’

Three lectures by Ropert RussELi, esq., of Scotland, on ‘‘Meteor-
ology.’’

1855~’56.—Three lectures by Prof. HE. 8. Snutz, of Amherst Col-
lege, Massachusetts, on ‘‘ Architecture;’’ and one lecture on ‘‘ Plane-
tary motion and disturbances.”’

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 35

Six lectures by Prof. O. M. Mrrcetn, of Cincinnati, Ohio, on ‘‘ As-
tronomy.”’

One lecture by Joun C. Deversnux, esq., of New York, on ‘‘The
popular influences of architecture.’’

Six lectures by Prof. Guores J. Cuace, of Brown University, Provi-
dence, Rhode Island, on ‘‘ Chemistry apphed to the arts.’’

One lecture by Prof. C. C. Fenron, of Cambridge, Massachusetts,
om friGreece.’”

Five lectures by Rev. Joun Lorp, of Connecticut, on the ‘‘ Gran-
deur and fall of the French Bourbon monarchy.’’

From the foregoing statements, I trust it will be evident that the
Institution is realizing the reasonable expectations of its friends; that
its funds are in a prosperous condition, and that, so long as the
present policy is maintained, it will continue to promote the advance
of knowledge, and thus carry out the cherished object of its founder.

Respectfully submitted :
JOSEPH HENRY, Secretary.
JANUARY, 1856.

36 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

APPENDIX TO THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

DEcEMBER 31, 1855.

Str: I beg leave to present herewith a report for the year 1855, of
operations in such departments of the Smithsonian Institution as have
been intrusted by you to my care.

Respectfully submitted:

SPENCER F. BAIRD,
Assistant Secretary Smithsonian Institution.
JosepH Henry, LL. D.,

Secretary Smithsonian Institution.

I.—PUBLICATIONS.

The seventh volume of Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge
was issued in July last and promptly distributed.

The octavo publications during the year have been confined to the
ninth annual report, of 464 pages.

The eighth volume of Smithsonian Contributions is in an active state
of forwardness, and will soon be ready for delivery.

Il.—_ EXCHANGES.
a—FLoreign Hachanges.

Owing to unavoidable delay in printing the seventh volume, the
packages for foreign distribution could not be made up until the mid-
dle of July. By the end of the month, however, they were all sent
off, and by October had safely reached the hands of the agents of
distribution. As in past years, most of the active scientific and lit-
erary institutions of America embraced the opportunity to transmit
their exchanges.

The returns during 1855 have been very valuable, considerably ex-
ceeding those of any previous year, excepting so far as relates to maps
and charts. Even here, however, the decrease is more apparent than
real, as several extensive series have been received, bound into vol-
umes instead of being in loose sheets, as is frequently the case. The
particulars of these returns are presented in the following tables:

A.
Table exhibiting the number of pieces received in exchange during 1855.
W QUIMAGR=ADUIO. te dciseiiceae ne sever odbardeaedenap 87
ag GHAVUD tide ssseat ss. «a. eemenaerniees 233
BE EH MVCUERD. so valthaiteibunis valve ipa abieeat : T17

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 37

Parts of volumes and pamphlets—folio... 4]

ot ac oe hs quarto. 239

te se a rf octavo. 1,427
1,707
Maps and Cu@nayimee, clei scusaidedesisceltces sec seds 26
SOD) AACN GUL ER EAD Sr ean 2,770

™ By comparison with the table of last year, it will be seen that there
has been an increase in the receipts, by 111 volumes and 239 parts of
volumes and pamphlets.

The number of donations for 1855 amounts to 1,779 ; that for 1854
to 806.

The list of receipts for other parties during the year exhibits a
large increase over that of 1854, both in the number of packages and
of addresses. Thus—

In 1855 were received 1,445 packages to 44 addresses.
In 1854 were received 987 packages to 36 addresses.

oe

Difference 458

Il

The Institution is indebted for aid in expediting its parcels to Mr.
Zimmerman, consul-general of the Netherlands; to Dr. Henry Wheat-
land, of Salem; to Lieutenant J. M. Gilliss, U. S. Navy; to the
American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and to the
Board of Missions of the Presbyterian church.

The following tables exhibit the chief statistics respecting the for-
eign exchanges for the year. To table B should be added two boxes
of books sent in December to Chile, and one to London, consisting
chiefly of copies of the report on Chile, made by Lieutenant Gilliss.

TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

B.

Table showing the amount of printed matter sent abroad by the Smith-
sonian Institution in July, 1855.

of principal

packages.
sses of sub-pack

ages enclosed.

Distributed by Dr. Feliz Fligel,
Leitpsic.

SSPVEMEM cieeinicleislelcleisisivialneis
IN@AWAW/Soq0d000 b600 D000e

otal as aesee

f eoereceseocee

Distributed by Hector Bossange,
Paris.

Erance cc.
Italy ......

wecerer cece

EU Of eal fate ietelaiols:elelele niaseld= islet

Distributed by the Royal Society
and Henry Stevens, London.

Spain.....
Portugal
Great Britain and Ireland......

Be ee seee cscs Pees eeee

ry

eevee

MOLL a talpsis\oteisiete

Distributed in other parts of the
world

seeeee ee eeeeeeee

Grand total ...cceceegoees

ad-

of distinct
dresses.

es

| Address
| Addre
| Total

°

60 | 35]...
27 | 23}...
87 | 58 |145
3] 3}..
2 saoloa
95 |148 |....
100 |151 |251
28 | 10 | 38
418 |457 |875

Total of distinct packages
to different addresses.
No. of pieces enclosed in
principal packages.*
No. of pieces enclosed in
sub-packages.*

several works enclosed
pieces.

in one piece.
Total of volumes and

Estimated addition, where

| Number of boxes.
| Capacity, in cubic feet.

| Weight.

3 =e
Ba | os
“an nn
on O65)
25 | 25
ae =| afi]
ae a ong
a. ed
Ee #2
oy Ge
Sa]e z
68 joe
z 2°
17 50
8 15
14 33
48 104
Q7 81
301 485
31. 70
18 63
464 | 901
71 45
4] 28
112 73
6 3
3} |lSdo0 50
200 | 490
209 | 493
40 10
825 {1,477

saseealll SEM Aaa
See een, OT
by Moa Gees opt saiT0
Leela 250ui 145
BSaigoa pe aaah) Me
fog 1,283 | 945
vi Ae rey Toe
Fk Ee SRE
1,365 |2,251 1,562
43 862 | 120
Se2.8 | P3480 a 40
185 |1,202 | 160
Mien | beds
AOS aL 20
ee 1, 022

702 {1,090 | 708

50| 196 | 10

2,302 4,739 |2, 430

442 |2,240

1,416 [8,585

5 | 74 | 2,285

4 | 20 650

33 |358 |10, 481

* Addressed packages from other institutions count only as one each, although containing sometimes as

many as a dozen pieces.

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 39

C.

Table of packages received in 1855 from American institutions for dis-
tribution abroad.

Boston—

American Academy of Arts and Sciences.................csce0s 146

Marcu ras EDITOR yp SOMME f.te Iclac antes siasi foo ose wiafie osice ve « #6 sie elelenivle 49
Cambridge—

(hservatomy clarvard Comlece sy fei. cons sn sue uisicoiok « jecuelese xe 124

Hyon ee TaMT Cla (Cy CAROUGE ae Aes ADI ott: SUH. Giials is yalets qla's o's orcs o karan clea 16
New Haven—

PRM ENGT CENT ANO T TE OS CUCILC Cla diaie sc lsciee ois Ss slafeie pstolastevs cjgebe stars cease 40
Albany—

INewaNlon ke State vb ra tyes uot nes: vcs ocllanindes se beds Larreselranoe 5

New, York State Acricultural Society 223. .02.cc0:-.s.beebeer se 1
New York—

American Geographical and Statistical Society............0+ 150
Philadelphia—

PUIMeLICAMy Ee MULOSOMUNGal SOCle tive ajen. cra. baes seen eee telete a 28

Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences............-.....+ 91

iiladeliphiay Colles or Ielammacya ems .ce ccs. ces aaabatae eee 1

Pennsylvania Tastitute for Blind! |) S058 Mi einc an med ie aeee 48

nitsronicadl Society on, lemmsy liveiuiah tes sees: ) ee sea vee ween 1
Washington \

CCRC AT VOT Veber les cic cut\ia ote acrslapustatine op Arka rac ee 6

inated: S tatesm@e abemb) Onnee! 2 2s ie ieee eee dela Ace 200

bureau om Ordnance andkliydrograplyje.yoh.c0.0.s0s scanned 78

United States Naval Astronomical Expedition................ 20
Columbus, Ohio—

Ohio State Board! of Agwicultmres..2.4: 104.5: eset ee ae 126
Detroit—

Michigan State Acrieultural Society. ........cvesseredsessccuetee AT
New Orleans—

New Orleans Academy of Natural Sciences.................006 200
San Francisco—

California Academy of Natural Sciences..............cceeceees 46

Geological Survey, ot Californias. site sebicqisdse vee clots deme access 128
Santiago, Chile—

Wisin renacitaiot (olathe et sic a. ara sve aeaslayatlaethy.scrgs tata gud ale sarod tha’ Se be relay

2 TBST EN eho TPA aTPASE Nan Ie Loge) UPL BSP a LA Une Pte, 34
AV avon Wcetneh tin Mt LS rei 0. 28 dc aOR MRT dled avdinlueh daivat 980

Urea patna cc sens acta sie dc alee ie nate cused ut saint's Soci 2,712

40 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

D.

Table of packages received from Hurope for distribution to various
societies in America.

Canada—

Wa rtOUS MStitULIONS. .....<<staesssasessancdee ee eeeaee: mame ft
Boston—

American Academy of Arts and Sciences.............sceeseeees a fs

Neaturalwaastory Soclety. wae. tae wesschasuee ace teen een ee 20

owiehe Tai braryes: isthe sease ss seams cele i ORNS UR ae 13
Cambridge

ODSERVALOLY bie cose gael oaks cee ehlke ster we eae tyaeraegiie Ua aE he eae 26

Botanic, Gardens). cei sasesc sate ee ah mney Cea 4]

Harvard, University co. a tane hie peat acon vemetaeae a shane 39

Astronomicakmourmallverts sc eiaer cme Atk SUNS fos. tee 28

American Association for Advancement of Science.......... 6
Worcester—

American vAmbig@ariainy SOCTe hy.) eM eOne) akan a anhh Lr wane 6
New Haven— ;

American Journal (of Sciences ee vr ceee enti. (Gens sce ok eae 36

American Oriental Societys sis. te usce ses esses s see. acne 7
Providence—

Brown miversuby ips. tage nc stetetece sos eradsecneeaseuee eels Soe ee 10
Albany—

libaniy Ts tibUbe. ca Wier wahee ts lve ose tacks cee neat heen 17

New’ Work State Tibraryyasets). 2) so 2s ese ae 27

Diate A-cricwl biral SOCUY 1: se cist hw ute cee cs atelet .. gee eee a
New York—

lyceum. of Naturals Mistonye: ioe ee a. ae aceon 23

American Lithnoloeical Society sas werdncce see ace es eee ae 1

Geographicaljand Statistical /Societye ets ciate scence esas 5

American Lastitutest i Ui. Maman ae coer eN cca ile clea e a 13

Astor y bvbiar vidos oie conaseisliejds tit dN BD Ulta cigs! Bee eh lig 15
West Point—

‘United States Milatary Academy. o.. fackuesomaunemeanse sactad 2
Philadelphia—

American: hilosophicaluSociety. i... ise Ales beads ce aseee te 72

Academy.of,.NaturaltSciegees. sail viaessed) acs Si geag eevee ene 45

Bramiclin'Institubesalaeatt wer egedoaubuleweles de ahuuae ahaa sh anily 1

Geological Survey, of Pennsylvania.....c....cccesnescsedssocneee 3
Washington—

Rudsidentjof the, Wnited States. iecieisudescie'e ce ceeves evewenege 1

Dimited States, Patient OLGeb pss... sicaiddadhies wajea wate e Saye aeteine city 23

Come resspliabrarynits nh dq anedapatdeddsesdedemavenee tal led oid Mea koe 15

United States and Mexican Boundary Survey............cs+06 1

Dnited states Coast Sutveyics... ites debs +o+ss. (ee odseaccouy eee 33

National OMserva tons sau"... a. is heme oeea sash. bebe s vctane mite 38

Nationale UMS HMA. 28. 0 >» cn tcconscambaee yeas saat ween 26

Commissioner of Indian Affairs........c..c.cececestercecsesoonce 1

A

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. Al

Georgetown, D. C.—

Ceanvetowm Collemeds meee Lidde dai cues danced nf sisagaueds 29
Cincinnati—

Se Vas LOT 4. cele eres duis Veta davisiwceneecee casa lhewe es 12
Columbus—

BOMIa State A. crieul imal SOCLY Es istics chsiciscecejsicssieevaecae lene 2
Detroit—

Michioan StaterA ericulttral SoCbY .. .o.ceesek esses. eeeeen eee 8

Ann Arbor
BR OLESCE ALON ieee Medinet bbe nbaheiniaen Wt RE ela 4
Madison—

Wisconsin State Agricultural Society...........:ceceseseeee, 26
Baltes es, inidnitenenh places.ch sche rans sateen ube doeetendseee | LRT
PmiouasState: Daprariesss.: i343 a iikooeeiles ben datas yeh MN OO 28
Miscellaneous societies and individuals........1.....:6.000.eeseeeaeee 508

otal ty: SE OIC Sr Mies See nuke cit, Come nr meme ARH IETS 1,445

By reference to the preceding tables, it will be seen that the Insti-

tution acts as agent not only for parties in the United States and
Canada, but also for the University and Observatory of Chile.
_ The facilities for conducting the Smithsonian exchanges have been
greatly increased by the liberal act of the mail line of steamships to
California via Panama, in carrying, without charge, its parcels for
the west coast of America. The line of steamers to Bremen has also
granted the same privilege. Messrs. Oelrichs & Lurman, of Balti-
more, as in previous years, have marked their sense of the value of
the operations of the Institution by making no charge whatever for
their agency in shipping from Baltimore the large number of boxes
sent to Bremen, and in receiving and forwarding others from that
port.

b—Domestic Hachanges.

The copies of volume VII of Smithsonian Contributions were dis-
tributed promptly through the following agents, whose services, as
heretofore, have been given without charge: Dr. T. M. Brewer, Bos-
ton; George T. Putnam & Co., New York; J. B. Lippincott & Co.,
Philadelphia ; John Russell, Charleston ; B. M. Norman, New Or-
leans; Dr. George Engelmann, St. Louis; H. W. Derby, Cincinnati ;
and Jewett, Proctor & Worthington, Cleveland.

Nearly all the parties to whom copies were addressed have already
returned acknowledgments to the Institution.

A few copies of volumes IV and V of the History, Condition, and
Prospects of the Indian Tribes of the United States have been dis-
tributed in behalf of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

IlI.—MUSEUM.
A—Increase of the Museum.

The year 1854 was a marked one in the history of the Institution,
on account of the magnitude and intrinsic value of the collections re-

49, TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

ceived. These were mainly from the survey for marking the boundary
between the United States and Mexico, and those for a practical rail~-
road route to the Pacific, from the North Pacific exploring expedition
under Captain Ringgold, and the expedition to the Parana and its
tributaries under Captain Page, from the exploration of the coast of
California by Lieutenant Trowbridge, and many others, enumerated
in detail in the last report. It was supposed that, with the return of
most of these expeditions, and the diminution in extent of the field
of labor, the receipts during the year 1855 would show a cohsiderable
falling off. This, however, has by no means been the case; on the
contrary, the additions have not only been greater in number, but of
even greater interest, many new regions having been almost ex-
hausted of their’scientific novelties. The following table will illus-
trate the difference in the receipts for the two years:

1854. 1855.

Number of kegs and barrels received.............-seseseoes 35 26
BVO. CATS race ea eae tela scat ae cence tie a eae cic teetamee cheat em ere 26 18

DO! SEGRE RA RE ESC ROA Aenean beeches Ae ance).

DOP oh Wee TINA MAN les LRT RNS ben Ae eee eee 94 148

Does” Mneitesie shea ek sie NO CN ET Eee eate ee spat — T

DOP packed oat LORE eet as ces eum ani Ruste ree 32 19

Dol” “Neaomnicts sare mee nean eec eee ateka ern, ne — 2
Mota or pieces. si, Nae RL BESTT AD 5 Oe ea 362 467
Wastinct donations ee ae Nas ee coats aes LSO" ye Dee

The entire number of different contributors during 1855 has ex-
ceeded 130. There has been a considerable decrease in 1855 in the
number of fishes and reptiles received, owing to the fact that full
collections have been made in previous years at many points, which
thus became exhausted as far as contributions of desirable specimens
were concerned. In the department of mammals, however, the in-
crease over previous years has been very marked, in consequence of a
circular which you issued early in the year calling attention to the
subject. The number of specimens received, preserved either in alco-
hol or as dry skins, amounted nearly to 2,500, an aggregate which
few museums in the world can probably give, as received in the same
space of time.

As in 1854, the most important of the collections received, whether
their extent or novelty be considered, were made and sent home by
the government exploring expeditions, as follows :

@—THE MEXICAN BOUNDARY LINE.

Survey of the boundary between the United States and Meaxico—Major
W. H. Emory, U.S. A., commissioner.—In the last annual report, atten-
tion was called to the fact that the active survey of this line had been
resumed, for the purpose of accurately marking the new portion of the
United States boundary, acquired by the Gadsden treaty. The party
of the Commissioner left Washington in September for the field of

ry

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 43

operation, and got back to San Antonio in one year, after running a
boundary line of seven hundred miles in length. Operations were
commenced simultaneously at both extremities of the line, Major
Emory himself taking charge of the eastern end, and intrusting the
western to Lieutenant Michler.

As in all previous surveys of the Mexican boundary line, much at-
tention was paid to the collection of facts and specimens illustrating
the Natural History of the region traversed, and very full series of the
animals, plants, minerals, and fossils, were secured by the gentlemen

specially charged with this duty—namely, Dr. C. B. Kennerly, sur-

geon of the expedition; Captain H. K. Smith, commander of the
escort ; and Arthur Schott, esq., assistant to Lieutenant Michler.

The collections thus made, at the close of the field labors of the
Boundary Survey, were in no respect inferior to the preceding ones,
and formed an appropriate winding up of the natural-history opera-
tions of a great work. The pioneer of all those government explora-
tions which have yielded such important fruits to natural science,
traversing hundreds of miles previously unvisited by the naturalist,
and provided with a scientific outfit devised expressly for it, and well-
tested previously to its adoption by other parties, the Mexican Bound-
ary Survey has imperishably identified itself with the history of the
progress of science in the collecting of perhaps a larger number of
new species of North American animals and plants than any one
party ever gathered before, or will again.

b.—REGIONS WEST OF THE MISSOURI.

Heploration of northern route for Pacific railroad, under Governor
I. I. Stevens.—The rich results of explorations along this line have
already been adverted to. The naturalists of the expedition—Dr.
George Suckley and Dr. J. G. Cooper—after the expiration of their
connection with the survey in 1854, continued making collections of
facts and specimens at their own expense, and added much to their
previous acquisitions. The numerous specimens gathered by Dr.
Cooper, principally at Shoalwater bay and near San Francisco, have
not yet been all received: those of Dr. Suckley, made at the Dalles,
Fort Steilacoom, and in various portions of Oregon, have arrived, and
are of the first importance. They are especially rich in mammalia,
and will again be referred to.

Exploration of California by Lieut. Williamson.—Lieut. William-
son, after completing the report of his survey of 1853, was sent out
again in May last to examine the region along the Cascade range of
mountains in California and Oregon, for the purpose of discovering,
if possible, a practicable pass through these rugged mountains. His
labors were completed in November, and in December Dr. J. 8. New-
berry, geologist and naturalist of the party, arrived in Washington
with the rich fruits of his labors, consisting of full collections in all
departments of natural history. In mammals this collection is espe-
cially ample, containing among others many of the larger species, as
bears, deer, &c., not previously secured by any expedition. Facts of

44 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

the greatest interest in the geographical distribution of many forms
were obtained, especially in determining the existence west of the
Cascade mountains of the genera Coregonus, Siredon and Scaphiopus.

Dr. Newberry brought with him a donation to the Institution by
Dr. W. O. Ayres, of San Francisco, of a series of types of his new
species of California fishes, which will prove of very great value for
comparison.

The exploration under Lieut. J. G. Parke in California has also re-
turned to Washington with important collections, mainly in geology
and botany, made by Dr. Antisell. The expedition under Capt. Pope,
for the purpose of testing the question of artesian boring on the plains,
is still in the field, where Capt. Pope is engaged in continuing the nat-

ural history explorations commenced by him in previous expeditions.
No specimens have, however, been received from him during the year.

Survey in Texas of Capt. R. B. Marcy.—The coilections made by
Dr. Shumard during this survey, referred to in 1854, were not received
until the present year, having been detained for many months at Fort
Smith by low water in the Arkansas. They consist of many interest-
ing specimens of vertebrates, insects, and plants, with full series of
the minerals and fossils of that region.

Collections made by Dr. Anderson, U. 8S. A., at Fort McKavit,
Texas, have served to illustrate still further the zodlogy of this State.

Lieut. W. P. Trowbridge.—The researches of Lieut. W. P. Trow-
bridge, U. 8. Engineers, superintendent on the Pacific coast of the
tidal stations of the U. 8. Coast Survey, have been vigorously con-
tinued since last year, as shown by the record of his donations, con-
sisting of many specimens of vertebrates and invertebrates from dif
ferent points, as Cape Flattery, Astoria, San Francisco, the Faral-
lones, and San Diego. No one explorer, unaided by government
resources, has done so much in the way of collections in American
zovlogy as Lieut. Trowbridge accomplished by his own personal labor,
assisted by Messrs. James Wayne, T. A. Szabo, and Andrew Cas-
sidy, tidal observers under his command. It is thus that the oper-
ations of the Coast Survey, under the liberal countenance of its chief,
have tended to advance the knowledge of the natural history of our
coast to a degree only second to that of its physical features.

To Richard D. Cutts, esq., in charge of a surveying party of the
Coast Survey, the Institution is indebted for specimens of the mam-
mals, birds, reptiles, and fishes of California, of rare excellence of
preservation and scientific interest.

Another exploration made by a party of the U. 8. Coast Survey
was conducted by Mr. Gustavus Wiirdemann, in continuation of former
efforts of similar character on the coasts of Louisiana and Texas. Mr.
Wiirdemann’s operations were carried on at Indian river, Florida, on
the St. John, and on the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina, at
which places he gathered many interesting specimens of animals.

Dr. J. F. Hammond, U.S. A., stationed at Fort Reading, sent in
some valuable collections from that part of California. Specimens

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 45

_ from Fort Yuma were presented by Major G. 8S. Thomas, Lieut. Pat-
terson, and Dr. R. P. Abbott, of the U.S. army.

Geological Survey of Oregon.—A large number of boxes of minerals
and fossils have been received from Dr. J. Evans, now occupied in
the geological survey of Oregon. To these were added a number of
specimens of the mammals and birds of Oregon, as well as some still
more valuable from the region of the Upper Missouri.

Explorations on the Missouri.—The explorations on the Upper Mis-
souri and Yellowstone, by Dr. F’. V. Hayden, in connexion with
Col. Vaughan, Indian agent, Mr. Alex. Culbertson, and Mr. Chou-
teau, continue to yield results of much importance. Large collections
of fossils, minerals, mammals, birds, insects, and plants, have been
made and sent in.

Dr. Hayden has revisited the Mauvaises Terres of White river
during the year, and procured some forms of fossil mammals not pre-
viously discovered. The Mauvaises Terres of the Blackfeet country
_have also furnished him a rich harvest. His geological collections
now amount to nearly six tons in weight.

The expedition of United States troops under Gen. Harney against
the Sioux tas also resulted in the collecting of many specimens of
fossil mammals and reptiles in the Mauvaises Terres. Most of these
will probably go to enrich the cabinet of the U.S. Military Academy
at West Point.

A valuable series of specimens, made at Fort Benton, on the Upper
Missouri, by Mr. Harvey, was received during the summer, and serves
to complete the collections in the same vicinity by Dr. Geo. Suckley.

Haploration of Mr. Samuels.—The exploration of California by Mr.
KE. Samuels, under the patronage of the Smithsonian Institution, the
Boston Society of Natural History, and the United States mail line
to California—consisting of the United States Mail Steamship Com-
pany, (M. O. Roberts, esq., president,) the Panama Railroad Company,
(David Headly, president,) and the Pacific Steamship Company, (Mr.
Aspinwall, president)—promises to do much towards the development
of the natural history of that State. Mr. Samuels left New York on
the 5th of November, and by last advices had arrived in San Fran-
cisco. He expects to remain in California about a year, and will secure
numerous specimens in all departments of natural history, devoting
particular attention to completing such collections as are imperfectly
represented in the results of the various Pacific railroad surveys. The
above-mentioned companies have, in the most liberal spirit, granted
free passage to Mr. Samuels and his collections, besides adding other
facilities, thereby reducing materially the expenses of the work.

The California Express Company of Messrs. Wells, Fargo, & Co.,
and J. M. Freeman & Co., at the suggestion of officers of the Panama
line, have instructed their agents in California to render Mr. Samuels
all the aid in their power.

In addition to his other collections, Mr. Samuels is specially charged
by the Commissioner of Patents with securing seeds of the trees and
shrubs of California for distribution throughout the country.

46 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

C—REGIONS HAST OF THE MISSOURI,

In anticipation of the great fair in Chicago of the Illinois State
Agricultural Society, it was proposed to secure and exhibit full col-
lections of the natural history of the State on that occasion. Accord-
ingly, Mr. Robert Kennicott was selected by the society to travel
throughout Illinois, especially along the lines of the Illinois Central
railroad, and not only to make collections himself, but to instruct the
employés of the railroad company and others, so as to enable them to
assist in the work. Aided by a small appropriation by the Institu-
tion, in addition to the facilities furnished by the society and the rail-
road company, Mr. Kennicott collected in a few months the finest
cabinet of Illinois specimens ever brought together. This collection
constituted one of the most striking features of the fair, and after the
latter was closed was in great part forwarded to the Smithsonian In-
stitution. Itis much to be regretted that a very large and valuable
collection of living reptiles of Illinois, transmitted by Mr. Kennicott,
should have been destroyed through a misunderstanding with the ex-
press company. To Mr. Kennicott is due the praise of having been
the first to enter on a systematic zodlogical exploration of Illinois,
Thanks to his efforts, we have few States better, or even so well, repre-
sented in our cabinet. In this Jabor he has been worthily seconded
in the more southern portions of the State by Mr. William J. Shaw,*
from whom many valuable collections, especially of insects, have
already been received.

In company with William A. Henry, esq., I visited the wild regions
of northern New York, for the purpose of studying the habits, and
collecting specimens, of the mammals inhabiting it. With the assist-
ance of Mr. M. Baker, of Saranac Lake, we succeeded very well in ac-
complishing our object.

Mr. Henry and myself also visited the region along the St. Law-
rence, and made some interesting collections, aided by Mr. H. A. Day-
ton, of Madrid, and Mr. W. E. Guest, of Ogdensburg.

d—MEXICO.

Two very important additions to our collection of specimens, illus-
trating the natural history of Mexico, have been received during the
year. The first consists of a series of types of Mexican serpents as
described in the Erpetologie generale of Messrs. Duméril and Bitoron,
and presented by the Jardin des Plantes, of Paris, through the agency
of the Messrs. Duméril. The other collection was forwarded. by John
Potts, esq., and contains specimens of reptiles, fishes, birds, and mam-
mals, made in central and northern Mexico, and all in the highest
state of preservation. Some of the specimens were received by Mr.
Potts for the Institution from Mr. Schleiden. Additional collections
from Mexico are earnestly desired, as serving to determine more accu-
rately the nature and geographical distribution of North American

* Since writing the above, intelligence has been received of the death of Mr. Shaw.

»

“i

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. AT

animals. Thanks to the disinterested zeal of Mr. D. N. Couch, for-
merly of the United States army, we already possess, in the rich col-
lections made by himself and Dr. Berlandier, very full series from many
provinces of northern Mexico, as Tamaulipas, Coahuila, New Leon,
Durango, &c. The fruits of the travels of Dr. Thos. Webb, in the
more western portions of northern Mexico, are also of very great value.
The vicinity of the city of Mexico is probably the point where the
Mexican specimens of most interest are to be derived.

€—SOUTH AMERICA AND THE REST OF THE WORLD.

Survey of North Pacific and China seas, wnder Commander John
Rodgers, United States Navy.—The collections made by this naval ex-
ploring expedition, while first in charge of Captain Ringgold, and
subsequently of Captain Rodgers during 1854 and part of 1855, have
been received in good order, and consist of many boxes and kegs of
specimens in zodlogy and botany, collected chiefly by Messrs. Wm.
Stimpson and Charles Wright, naturalists to the survey. These
specimens are principally from the South Pacific and the China seas.
Collections of very great interest were made during the past spring
and summer about Japan, Kamschatka, and in and along Behring’s
straits, and subsequently on the coast of California.

The Japan Hxpedition, under Commodore Perry, was also the means
of adding some fine collections of birds, reptiles, and shells to the
zoological treasures of the country.

From Dr. James Morrow, agriculturist to the expedition, has been
received a number of jars filled with reptiles and fishes of Japan, em-
bracing several novelties in science.

Exploration of the Parana, under Captain T. J. Page, United States
Navy.—This expedition has continued its important agency in devel-
oping the natural history resources of Paraguay, by sending home
many specimens of the mammals, birds, reptiles, fishes, invertebrates,
plants, minerals, &c. These, with previous collections from the same
source, constitute the most important series of South American ani-
mals, especially of the reptiles and fishes, ever brought to the United
States.

Arctic Hapedition of Dr. Kane, United States Navy.— During the re-
cent voyage of Dr. Kanealong the west coast of Greenland, many col-
lections in natural history were obtained. It became unfortunately
necessary to abandon them, however, after the vessel became frozen
up, and the party was obliged to return in sledges.

j{—GENERAL STATEMENTS OF ADDITIONS.

I shall now proceed to discuss briefly the more important contribu-
tions to the museum during the past year, referring ior particulars to
the general list of donations.

Mammals.—The most marked increase during the year has been in

48 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

the collection of mammals, of which about 2,500 specimens were re-
ceived. Much the larger number of these, as might be expected, con-
sisted of very small species, as of Arvicola, Sorex, Hesperomys, &c.,
although many of the larger kinds, as bears, deer, wolves, foxes, &c.,
are included. Most of the specimens were preserved entire in alcohol,
affording means of anatomical as well as zodlogical research. About
eight hundred skins have been registered as received or prepared in
the Institution. The additions to this department have been from all
parts of the world, including an interesting collection of English
species from Sir W. Jardine.

One of the most important contributions to the geographical collec-
tions of the institution has Leen the series of mammals of eastern
Massachusetts, received from Mr. J. W. P. Jenks, of Middleboro.
Large numbers of all the species from about Middleboro have been
collected and forwarded by Mr. Jenks, amounting to over eight hun-
dred specimens, and with the result of adding several species to those
known to inhabit the State.

Another collection of mammals of nearly equal extent, but of less
variety of species, was made in Clarke county, Virginia, at the instance
of Dr. Kennerly, by Mr. John A. Kniesley. This also contains some
rare species. Others were received from Mr. Bridges, in North Caro-
lina. The Rev. M. A. Curtis, of South Carolina, aided by his sons,
has also furnished the largest number of mammals, both specimens
and species, ever received from the southern States.

Birds.—Of birds, several thousand specimens have been received;
the most important from the west coast of America. The principal
extra limital collections were from the expeditions of Captain Ring-
gold, Captain Rodgers, Commodore Perry, Captain Page, and Lieut.
Gilliss. Mr. Naffer presented some very rare species trom the Phil-
ippine Islands; and Dr. Tolmie a series of skulls of birds of the
Pacific ocean, as penguins, cormorants, &c.

Reptiles—Many interesting collections of reptiles have been re-
ceived from different portions of North America and Mexico, as well
as from other parts of the world. Among the species collected in
Japan by Commodore Perry is a specimen of the Plestiodon, supposed.
by authors to be identical with a North American lizard, (P. quinqui-
lineatus.) The collection of types of Mexican species from the Jardin
des Plantes has already been referred to.

Fishes.—The number of fishes received has been less than in pre-
vious years, although by no means deficient in interest. Those from
west of the Rocky mountains were mostly made by the government
expeditions, as also by Lieutenant Trowbridge, Dr. Ayres, Dr. J. F.
Hammond, Dr. Cooper, Dr. Suckley, Mr. Cutts, &c. The most im-
portant of the eastern were a collection from the Tortugas, made by
Lieutenant H. G. Wright, U. 8. Navy, assisted by Dr. White-
hurst, and one from the Maumee river, by Mr. George Clark. Some
Cuban fishes were presented by Professor F. Poey, of Havana, and
some South American, by Thomas Rainey, esq., United States consul.

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 49

Invertebrates.—The principal addition to the series of invertebrata,

not yet mentioned, consists of two large cabinets, containing the valu-.

able and extensive collection of shells belonging to General Totten,
and deposited by him. Such a collection has been much needed in
the Institution for purposes of comparison.

Piants.—A series of the plants of the Berlandier collection, selected
by Dr. Gray, was presented by Dr. Short, of Louisville. By special
request of Lieutenant Couch, Mr. Ervendberg forwarded a collection
from Comal county, Texas, and Dr. Glisan one from Fort Arbuckle.
Seeds of a valuable Texan grass were received from Major Carleton.

Fossils and Minerals.—The very valuable collection of minerals and

fossils collected in the Lake Superior mining region by Messrs. Foster
and Whitney, and illustrating their government report, has been re-
ceived during the year, and with the other government geological
collections, previously secured, furnish rich material for representing
the geological features of the country. The Oregon collections of Dr.

_ Kvans have been already mentioned. .
A collection of Niagara fossils and minerals was received from

Thomas Barnett, esq.

Miscellaneous.—A fine specimen of the Australian Boomerang, and
other articles, were received from Mr. Carrington Raymond, of New
York. From Mr. N. Triibner were obtained two sets of microscopic

slides: one containirg illustrations of organic tissues and organs; the

other constituting a complete system of entomology, in numerous
mounted preparations, showing the family characteristics of the prin-
cipal orders of insects.

Living Animals.— Among the additions te the museum during the
past year have been quite a number of living animals, some of them
species of great rarity, or else but seldom seen out of their native lo-
calities.

These have answered an excellent purpose in serving as models for
drawings by the various artists engaged in figuring the collections of
the different surveying and exploring expeditions.

Although the institution is, of itself, unable to provide suitable ac-
commodations for the larger mammals and birds, it is fortunate in
the zealous co-operation of Dr. Nichols, the superintendent of the
United States Insane Asylum, who cheerfully receives any specimens
sent him, and gives them every attention which they may require.

As a source of harmless amusement and mental diversion to the pa-.
tients of an insane asylum, a collection of hving animals has no equal, .

and it is much to be desired that the number at the Washington asylum
may be materially increased.

The most conspicuous addition to the menagerie of the institution 1s

a huge grizzly bear, (Ursus ferox,) received in July. It was caught
in 1853, while quite young, by Dr. John Evans, United States geol- —

ogist, during his overland journey to Oregon, and sent to Mr. Hen-

dricks, in Indiana, by whom, after two years’ time, it was forwarded —
4

5

50 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

to Washington. It is now a little more than two and a half years’
old, and has already attained a Jarge size, weighing probably five or
six hundred pounds.

Dr. Evans has also forwarded, through D. D. Owen, two living
wild cats, (Lynx rufus,) from the Upper Missouri. One of these died
last spring ; the other still survives.

A fine specimen of the American antelope (Antelope americana)
was presented by Dr. W. W. Anderson, of South Carolina, and was, as
far as I can learn, the first living one brought to the Atlantic States,
although the species is very common on the Western plains. It was
taken in the vicinity of Fort McKavit, when quite young, by Dr. W.
W. Anderson, U. 8. A., together with a Virginia deer, (Cervus vir-
ginianus,) likewise presented to the Institution. The antelope, unfor-
tunately, died from some unknown cause, some months ago; the deer
is still in good health.

Amorg the small quadrupeds, received alive, of most interest is a
specimen. of the grey gopher, (Spermophilus franklinii,) presented by
Robert Kennicott, esq. This species is an inhabitant of the prairies
of Illinois, lowa, and Wisconsin, and probably of Minnesota, and the
plains north of it. In some of its habits, it is not dissimilar to the
prairie dog, (Cynomys ludovicianus.) Several squirrels, (Tamias
americana, Scvurus migratorius, céc.,) together with some wild mice
and moles, have also been received from various sources. A living
racoon has also been received from California.

A pair of young roseate spoonbills, (Platalea Ajaja,) caught in
Florida, was presented by Mr. Wiirdemann.

Very large numbers of living serpents, embracing many rare species,
have been received from different regions ; much the greater number,
however, from Illinois, where they were collected by Mr. Kennicott.
Others were presented by Mr. Sergeant, Mr. Kirkpatrick, &c. A
portion of the specimens from Illinois were sent to the Jardin des
Plantes, in charge-of Mr. J. H. Richard, but were wantonly thrown
over-board during the passage by a young American, to the profound
regret of this Institution, and of the administrators of the Paris
Museum d’ Histoire Naturelle. A second collection, duplicate of the
first, sent by Mr. Kennicott, was destroyed by the Express Company,

to whose charge it was commited in Chicago. <A long time will pro-
bably elapse before some of the species can be replaced.

Some interesting species of living frogs, salamanders, &c., have
also been received, “together with a considerable number of turtles.

In view of the very great number and extent of donations to the
museum in 1855, as well as of the limited space allotted to me, it is
clearly impossible to mention here in detail any but the most import-
ant, and even some of these must be omitted. As an index, how-
ever, to the alphabetical list of donations herewith presented, T have
prepared the following tables—the first, showing the principal addi-
tions by States ; in the second, the arrangement is by systematic clas-
sification :

I,.—GroGRAPHICAL INDEX To SPECIMENS RECEIVED.

Washington and Oregon.—Andrews, Cooper, Evans, Tolmie, Suckley.

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 51

California.—Abbott, Ayres, Baird, Campbell, Cooper, Cutts, Ham-
-mond, Newberry, Patterson, Taylor, Thomas, Trowbridge,

Williamson. é

Southern Boundary —United States and Mexican Boundary Commis-

sion.

Texas.—Anderson, Carleton, Ervendberg.

Lowisiana.—Andrews.

Arkansas and Indian Terrttory.—Glisan, Marcy, Shumard.

Missowri.—Engelmann, Hilgard, Shumard.

Kansas.—Couch, Hammond.

Nebraska.—Hivans, Harvey, Hayden, Vaughan.

Jowa.—-Moore, Stevens.

Wisconsin.—Barry, Child, Hoy, Kumlen.

Lake Superior —Agassiz, Foster, Whitney.

Illineis —Kennicott, Sergeant, Shaw.

Ohio.—Clark, Kirtland, Kirkpatrick, Lesquereux, Wormley.

Kentucky —Grant.

Tennessee.— Means.

. Alabama.—Pybas.

Mississippi.—Robvinson, Spillman.

#lorida.—Casey, Whitehurst, Wright, Wurdemann. ©

Georgia.—Leconte, Neisler, Postell.

South Carolina.— Andersen, Barratt, Curtis, Morrow, Ravenel, Weston.

North Carolina.—Bridger, Dewey, Hrwin, Fitzgerald.

Virginia.—Goldsboro, Kniesley, McDonald, Palmer, Robertson.

District of Columbia.—Brown, Dougal, Herder, Johnson, Nichols.

Maryland.—Bowers.

Pennsylvania.—Patton.

New York.—Baird, Davis, Dayton, Hall, Howell, Lawrence, Oakley,
Ward, Welsh. sia

Connecticut.—Plumb.

Vermont.—Thompson.

Massachusetis.—Agassiz, Brewer, Jenks, Wyman.

British Provinces.—Barnett, Bell, Dawson, Montreal Natura) History
Society, Wyman.

Cuba.—Poey.

Mexico.—Jardin des Plantes, Potts.

South America.—Gilliss, Nichols, Page, Rainey.

Hurope.—Clark, Easter, Jardine, Karsten, Sturm.

China, Japan, and South Pacific Ocean.—Agassiz, Galick, Morrow,
Ringgold, Rodgers.

East Indies.—Napper.

Australia.—Ray mond.

Ii.—Sysrematic Inprx ro SPECIMENS RECEIVED.

Mammals.—Agassiz, Anderson, Ayres, Baird, Barratt, Barry,
Brewer, Bridger, Brown, Campbell, Child, Clarke, Cooper, Couch,
Curtis, Cutts, Davis, Dawson, Dougal, Engelmann, Evans, Hale,
Hammond, Howell, Hoy, Jardine, Jenks, Kennicott, Kniesley, Kirt-
land, Kumlien, Lawrence, Leconte, Montreal Natural History So-

52 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

ciety, Moore, Morrow, Nichols, Shaw, Stevens, Sturm, Suckley, Thomp-
son, Trowbridge, Vaughan & Hayden, Tuley, Welsh, Wurdemann,
Wyman.

Birds.—Bowers, Couch, Curtis, Cutts, Davis, Fitzgerald, Gulick,
Johnson, Kennicott, Napper, Postell, Pybas, Shaw, Sturm, Suckley,
Tolmie, Trowbridge, Vaughan & Hayden, Wurdemann.

Reptiles.—Abbott, Andrews, Anderson, Baird, Bridger, Curtis,
Cutts, Easter, Engelmann, Evans, Fitzgerald, Goldsboro, Hammond,
Howell, Jardin des Plantes, Kennicott, Kirkpatrick, Kirtland, Les-
quereux, Palmer, Patterson, Postell, Pybas, Sergeant, Shumard,
Spillman, Suckley, Trowbridge, Vaughan & Hayden, Ward, Weston,
Wormley, Wurdemann, Wyman.

Fishes.—Agassiz, Anderson, Baird, Casey, Clark, Cutts, Dayton,
Evans, Grant, Hammond, Howell, Kennicott, Means, Poey, Rainey,
Shumard, Spillman, Suckley, Trowbridge, Vaughan & Hayden, Wes-
ton, Wormley, Wright, Wurdemann, Wyman.

Invertebrates.—Barratt, Easter, Engelmann, Hammond, Lewis,
Neisler, Ravenel, Shaw, Totten, Trowbridge, Wilson, Wright.

Plants.—Carleton, Eversfield, Glisan, Hilgard, Short.

Fossils and Minerals.—Andrews, Barnet, Dewey, Erwin, Foreman,
Karsten, Oakley, Pybas, Ravenel, Spillman, Thomas, Vaughan &
Hayden.

Miscellaneous.—Raymond, Ringgold, Triibner.

B— Work done in the Museum. Ton

Owing to the very great number of specimens received weekly at
the Institution, the labor involved in unpacking, assorting, and la-.
belling, has been very onerous, considerably greater than in 1854.
No arrears, however, have been suffered to accumulate, every collee-
tion on its arrival being promptly entered on the books of registry,
and appropriately ticketed, with date, locality, &c. In this labor, as
in previous years, I have been assisted by Dr. Charles Girard.

A considerable amount of taxidermical work has also been per-
formed within the walls of the Institution; several hundreds of
skins of mammals and birds, and an equal number of skulls, having
been prepared. All such specimens as admitted of it have been regu-
larly catalogued on the books of the museum: the serial numbering
of prepared mammals having been advanced, during the year, from
351 to 1,200; of birds, from 4,354 to 4,425; of skeletons and skulls,
from 1,276 to 2,050. The entries of mammals and skulls have been
brought completely up; those of several collections of birds have,
however, been purposely deferred for the present.

All the collections of vertebrata in the Institution (with the excep-
tion of the fishes) have, during the year, been re-arranged systemati-
cally on shelves or in drawers, so as to bring together all the speci-
mens of each species, Owing to the want of 1 space, this could not be

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 53

done previously ; the acquisition of several additional rooms has, how-
ever, supplied all the accommodations at present necessary. Nothing
satisfactory can be done with the collection of fishes, now filling 4,000
jars, until the erection of cases in the main hall shall furnish a suit-
able place of exhibition.

During the past year my own leisure time has been chiefly em-
ployed in working up the mammalia of the collection, and the mono-
graphing of the genera has been completed, with the exception of a
few families.

Particular attention has been paid to the study of the skulls and
skeletons of the species, for which the large collections of the Institu-
tion affords unrivalled facilities. C. Girard has also prepared several
zovlogical monographs.

C—Present Condition of the Museum.

The richness of the museum of the Smithsonian Institution at the
present time must be a source of national pride to all who are desirous
of seeing at Washington a satisfactory exposition of the natural his-
tory of North America. No collection in the United States, nor in-
deed in the world, can pretend to rival it in this respect. Every part
of our continent, from the British line on the north to central Mexico
on the south, has abundant representatives here of its peculiar inhab-
itants, while the collocation of specimens of one species from many
different localities furnishes materials towards determinations of geo-
graphical distribution of inestimable value. Thus of the known spe-
cies of North American vertebrata there is scarcely one not already in
our possession, while of nondescripts we have scores. Among the
mammals alone it is probable that the final result of a critical exami-
nation of the specimens will be the addition of over fifty species to the
list, given recently by Messrs. Audubon and Bachman, most of them
being new to science.

Of North American reptiles but two or three of those described by
Holbrook are wanting, while his aggregate has been more than
doubled.

The following table will illustrate the statistics of the alcoholic col-
lections at the present time, while the addition of similar data for
1851 will show the increase in four years. Five years is the entire
period during which the collections generally of the Institution have
been forming ; and when it is considered that no purchases whatever
have been made, save of an occasional specimen in the city market,
‘it must be admitted that few Institutions, even those under the direct
patronage of wealthy governments, can present such results. Nearly
every specimen, too, has been collected at the express instance of the
Institution.

54 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

Table exhibiting the number of jars, with specimens in alcohol, in the
Smithsonian Institution December 31, 1855, compared with December
ou ,; 1851: €

1851. 1855

Mammal Sepa ote eee ia Pe. ok RE Se ees ite a ae 36 850
TSE SEY = ee Ee ie ge i ey See EE EY NRE 2S al a none 39
Reset es; oS eS eee ee Seo ees hee ooe se soceoonse 554 3, 344
TONS GS oes BE Cae ha ee eS SER ee eee I, 082 4,000 —
4 GTA STE SN OD ET esgic eRe ek ee ee Se OES 15d f 2,158
INeScellaneOuUs: 2.02 oa we a es Ce ae a re aN Om EER SE os 65 280

Total 0 O00 SIAR REID MGR OL tec MT Ty 1, 887 9,172

in the above enumeration it should be borne in mind that many of
the jars of invertebrata and of fishes contain a considerable number of
species each, while there are at least thirty barrels, kegs, or large
cans filled with specimens, which it has not yet been convenient to
separate and assort.

An equally gratifying increase is shown in the skins and skeletons,
of which a table similar to the preceding is herewith presented :

4851. 1854. 1855.
Brepared\ mammals. 40 002 bs se Le ee ye none 351 1, 200
STEMS ee Le SREP Pin’, Pa team GS Ee el 3, 700 4, 354 4,425
Skullsand skeletons generally..------------------ $12 i, 276 2,050

An addition, however, of at least 1,500 specimens of North Ameriean
birds is to be made to this list of specimens in hand, but not yet
regularly entered.

Catalogue lists of shells, insects, minerals, fossils, plants, &c., have
not yet been prepared, although the increase here has likewise been
very great,

D—Principal Desiderata of the Museum.

Although the collections received by the Institution have been so
large and valuable, there are still some special desiderata, which it
may be well to mention here, in hopes of having them supplied.
Among the mammals east of the Mississippi most wanted are the two
species of swamp rabbit; the one (Lepus aquaticus) found in Mis-
sissippi, Louisiana, and Alabama, considerably larger than the com-
mon gray rabbit, (L. sylvaticus ;) the other from the Atlantic south-
ern States, near the seaboard, (L. palustris,) smaller than that last
mentioned. Next to these come the squirrels, especially the rusty-
bellied varieties, from the southern and western States. The various

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 58

kinds, even those most common, of the mice, moles, shrews, &c., are
very desirable.

A particular desideratum, as yet unsatisfied, is the Florida pouched
rat, or ‘‘salamander,’’ (Geomys pinetr,) abundant in Florida and
Georgia, where, though its heaps of earth are met with in every direc-
tion, the animal itself is rarely seen and caught. A steel trap set at
night, and baited with sweet potatoes, or other vegetable substance,
would probably secure them readily, as the western species may be
taken in like manner.

While the species from the west of the Missouri are universally
desirable, the large reddish-brown hare of northern Texas, the black
and grizzly bear, the wolverine or. glutton, the black-tailed deer of
the Missouri, and the Rocky mountain goat, are of particular in-
terest.

As an additional illustration of our desiderata among the mammals,
I subjoin a copy of a circular on the subject, issued by you last spring,
and containing special instructions for preserving and forwarding.

Skeletons, with skulls of mammals, as indeed of all vertebrata, are
always desirable.

Of birds, the most prominent desiderata from the eastern portion
of the continent are the American golden eagle, (Aquila chrysaetos,)
the flamingo, (Phenicopterus ruber,) and the courleco, (Aramus scolo-
paceus,) from Florida, and the trumpeter-swan, (Cygnus buccinator,)
of the upper Mississippi.

Eggs of birds are always desirable, especially such as may serve to
complete the work of Dr. Brewer on American eggs, now under way.

Among the North American reptiles, there are but two species of
serpents described by Dr. Holbrook not in the collection ; these are the
Coluber coupert, or gopher snake, a very large, thick blue-black snake,
found on the dry pine hills on the seaboard of Georgia, especially
along the Altamaha river ; the other is the Trigonocephalus atrofuscus,
a copper-head snake, having subquadrate blotches on the back, and
quite dark in color. This species is found in Tennessee.

Of the tortoises, any terrapins from the Atlantic, Gulf coasts, or
the West, are desirable, and these can readily be sent alive. The
Florida land-turtle, or ‘‘ gopher,’’ is also wanted. Of the salaman-
ders, large numbers of the Menobranchus, Menopoma, Siren, and Am-
phiuma, are always wanted for dissection or distribution. These
may be popularly described as lizard-shaped animals, with slimy
skins, living in water or mud, especially of rice-fields, (from the south-
ern kinds,) having two or four legs, and with or without gills on the
sides of the neck. They are usually called alligators in the western
Ste though erroneously ; in size they range from six inches to two
eet,,

Of fishes, those particularly desirable are the species of sunfish,
&c., found in fresh-water creeks, emptying directly into salt or brack-

_ ish water.

E—Premiums for Collections. :

It may, under certain circumstances, be desirable for State organiza- m
tions, such as that of the New York Cabinet of Natural History, to

56 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

offer premiums for the best collections in particular departments of
natural history, (within the State,) with the privilege of taking the
others offered at a fair valuation. This would excite a spirit of
emulation between societies and individuals, which could not fail of
beneficial results, independently of the value of the collections them-
selves. ‘The credit of having been the first to propose this plan in
America is, perhaps, due to the Ottawa Atheneum, of Ottawa, Canada,
which* has offered premiums of from two to ten pounds, amounting
in the aggregate to £33 10s.

F— Distribution of Collections.

With increasing materials at its command, the Institution is able
to do more and more in furnishing the means of seientific research to
naturalists at home and abroad, either as an absolute donation or as
an exchange for specimens received or promised. More assistance of
this kind has been rendered in 1855 than in any previous year. Thus
many specimens of American turtles and terrapins have been sent to
Professor Agassiz to aid him in preparing materials for the first vol-
ume of his great work on American zodlogy. To Dr. J. Wyman also
have been sent specimens of lophoid fishes and Perennia branchiate
reptiles, to be used in his investigations. Coleoptera have been sent to
J. L. Leconte, mammals to Major LeConte, eggs of birds to Dr. T.
M. Brewer, infusorial earths to Professor Bailey, plants to Drs. Torrey
and Gray.

A collection of 21 species of North American serpents was sent to
the Jardin des Plantes, of Paris, embracing a number not previously
in its possession. Many living specimens were also sent, but unfortu-
nately lost, in a manner previously referred to. Duplicates of collec-
tions received have also been sent to institutions in this country, as
fishes, birds and mammals to the Philadelphia Academy of Natural
Sciences, fishes to the medica] department of Pennsylvania University,
mammals to the Boston Society of Natural History, d&c.

G—Hachange of Specimens,

Much has been done by the Institution in 1855, as in preceding
years, in the way of facilitating the labors of naturalists, by bring-
Ing into communication those of like tastes in different parts of this
country, or the world. Many persons have thus been enabled to secure
important additions to their means of research. Its extensive lists of
workers in natural science throughout the world enables the Institu-
tion readily to meet the wishes of parties, by referring at once to those
most likely to assist in accomplishing some special object.

Among the gentlemen who are desirous of having their wishes
made known to fellow-workers in science, may be mentioned the fol-
lowing :

M. Zanardini, of Venice, desires to exchange specimens of Medi-

* Journal of Education for Upper Canada, (Toronto,) November, 1855, page 175.

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. BY

terranean and other European algae for specimens from North
America.

W. A. Thomas, of Irvington, Westchester county, New York, de-
sires to exchange minerals and fossils of New York for those of other
States.

James Lewis, of Mohawk, New York, is prepared to exchange
shells ot New York for others from the south and west.

B. Pybas, of Tuscumbia, Alabama, will exchange shells of the
Tennessee river for Silurian and Tertiary fossils.

Frank Higgins, of Columbus, Ohio, will exchange Ohio shells for
those of southern States.

Dr. Emile Cornaria, Assistant Divectss of the Civic Museum,
Milan, will exchange vertebrata, mollusca, insects, and fossils of
Italy, Hungary, &c., for corresponding specimens from America,

H—List of Additions to the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution in
1855.

f Dr. fi. P. Abbott, U. S. A.—Reptiles from near Fort Yuma, Cali-
ornia.

Professor L. Agassiz.—Fresh-water fish from China; mammals
from Massachusetts and Lake Superior.

Dr. W. W. Anderson.—Living deer and antelope from Texas.
Specimens of destructive insects (Spenophorus) from South Carolina.

Dr. W. W. Anderson, U. 8S. A.—Reptiles, fishes, and young beaver
in alcohol, from Texas.

Professor EH. B. Andrews.—Reptiles from western Louisiana.
Deposited.

Seth Andrews.—Infusorial earth from Olympia, Washington Ter-
ritory.

Dr. W. O, Ayres.—Fishes and scalops from San Francisco. .

S. F'. Baird.—Collections of fishes and reptiles made at Hlizabeth-
town, Saranac Lake, Ogdensburg, and Madrid. Thirty skins of mam-
mals from northern New York. Living racoon from California.

Thomas Barnett.—Minerals and fossils from Niagara Falls.

Dr. J. B. Barratt.—Skin of scalops, and two boxes of insects from
South Carolina.

A. C. Barry.—Mammals and fishes from Wisconsin.

John G. Bell.—Polar hare (Lepus glacialis) and mounted quail,
(Ortyx virginianus. ) Specimens in flesh of the varying hare of New
York, (Lepus americanus.)

J. Jacob Bower. —Specimen in flesh of black swan of Australia,
Barnacle goose, and blue-headed pigeon from his aviary.

Dr. T. M. Brewer.—Mammals in alcohol from Massachusetts.

J. L. Bridger.—Keg of mammals and reptiles, skins of cannes
and hares, from North Carolina,

Solomon G!. Brown.—Mammals from vicinity of Washington.

A, Campbell.—T wo foetal black-tail deer from California,

Major J. H. Carleton, U. S. A.—Seeds of grass from the Pecos
river. ‘
Captain J. B. Casey, U. S. A.—Tail of a ray, (Tampa Bay.)

f

uy

58 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

Rollin R. Child.—Skin of Vespertilio noveboracensis, from Wisconsin.

George Clarke.—Box of fresh white fish (Coregonus) from Lake
rie, inice. Barrel of fishes in alcohol from the Maumee river.

James Clarke.—Specimens of Stickleback from England.

Robert Clarke.—Skulls of wolf and moose from northern New York.

Dr. J. G, Cooper.—Skins of mammals, birds, and case of speci-
mens in alcohol, Shoalwater bay. Mammals from Santa Clara, Cali-
fornia.

LTieut. D. N. Couch, U. S. A.—Box of mammals and birds, Kansas.

fiev. M. A. Curtis, Armand D. R. Curtis, and M. Ashley Curtis.—
Numerous skins of mammals and birds, eggs of birds, reptiles in alco-
hol, from North and South Carolina.

R. D. Cults.—Skins of birds and mammals, with reptiles and fishes
in alcohol, from San Francisco county, California.

H. Davis.—Nests and eggs of birds, mammals in alcohol, from New
York.

J. W. Dawson.—Specimens of Jaculus, Arviola, and Sorex, from
Nova Scotia. Deposited.

i. A. Dayton.—Keg of fishes (crooked mullet) from Grass river,
New York.

Samuel A, Dewey.—Chalcedony and Itacolumite from North Caro-
lina.

W. A, Dougal.—lLiving mole, (Scalops aquaticus.)

Dr, John D. Haster.—Salamander and gryllotalpa from Germany.

Dr. George Engelmann.—Mammals, reptiles, and crustacea from
Missouri.

Professor L. C. Ervendberg.—Collection of plants from Comal coun-
ty, Texas.
‘ S. B, Erwin.—S8lab of Itacolumite from Burke county, North Caro-
ina,

Dr, John Evans.—Can of reptiles and fishes from Upper Missouri.
Pair of living wild cats.

Dyin, Evans and Wm. P. Hendricks.—Living grizzly bear from
Upper Missouri.

Dr, Eversfield.—Nut of double cocoanut, (Lodoicea seychellana.)

tev. Frederick Fitzgerald.—Reptiles in alcohol. Skin of barred
owl (Strix nebulosa) from North Carolina.

Dr, H. Foreman.—Two sets of minerals.

A, Galbraith.—Skin of puree sand-piper, (Zvi Teta itima,) Phila-
delphia. .

C. Gautier.—Living feet mouse, (CHerercraps

Dr, Rodney Glisan, U. S. A.—Bale of dried plants, Fort Arbuckle.

J. M. Gilliss, U. S. N.—Box of birds from Chili.

Mr. Goldsboro.—Living Heterodon platyrhinos from Virginia.

Mr. P. Grant.—Blind-fish and crab , Amblyopsis spelaeus, and Cam-
barus pellucidus, from Mammoth cave, Kentucky.

James T. Gulick.—Skin of metarenia from Sdwioh Islands.

Dr. S. E. Hale.—Two fresh specimens of pine martin or sable
(Mustela huro) from northern New York.

Dr. J. F. Hammond, U. S. A.—Box of mammals, rele fishes,
&c., from Fort Reading, California.

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 59

Dr. W. A. Hammond, U. 8. A.—Bottle of insects from Kansas.

Mr. Harvey.—Specimens of reptiles, fishes, and fossils from the
Upper Missouri.

Master Herder.—Irish specimen of Baltimore oriole, (Jcterus Balti-
more.

Dr Hilgard. —Skeletons of Astur coopert and Sciurus migratorius
(grey squirrel) from Missouri.

Dr. Hilgard.—Three boxes dried European plants. Deposited.

Lobert Howell_—Mammals, reptiles, and fishes of New York.

Dr. P. &. Hoy.—Skull of Spermophilus franklini, and many skins
of mammals, from Wisconsin.

Jardin des Plantes.—Collection of Mexican serpents, types of spe-
cies described in Hrpetologie genérale.

Sir Wm. Jardine.—Skins of weasels, foxes, hares, and arvicolas
from Scotland.

J. W. P. Jenks.—Over 600 specimens of small mammals of Mas-
sachusetts in alcohol, and 120 skins.

Dr. C. J. B, Karsien.—Specimens of meteoric iron from Thorn,
Prussia.

George Kennicott.—Box of birds’ eggs from Illinois.

Robert Kennicott.—Several collections of living reptiles, about 200
in number ; reptiles, fishes, and mammals in alcohol; dried skins of
mammals; ege¢s of birds; specimens of seventeen-year locusts; living
grey gopher, Spermophilus franklini, &c., from Hlinois.

J. Kirkpatrick.—lLiving Nerodia nigra from T Lorain county, Ohio.

CQ. F. Kirtland. —Fishes and reptiles from Ohio.

Professor J. P. Kirtland.—Seven skins of mammals from Ohio.

Mr. Kniesley.—Kight hundred small mammals from Clarke county,
Virginia, in alcohol.

Th. Kiimlien.—Five skins of birds from Wisconsin. Skin of Sorex
brevicaudus.

Geo. N. Lawrence.—Skins of Sciurus and Sorex from Iowa, of Ar-
vicola and Sorex from New York.

Major Le Conte.—Skin of Reithrodon lecontit from Georgia.

Leo. Lesquereux.—Salamanders from Ohio.

J. Lewis.—Shells from New York.

Marshall MacDonald.—Living deer mouse (Hesperomys) from Vir-
ginia.

Dr, A. Means.—Specimens of Polyodon from Tennessee.

i Montreal Society of Natural History.—Skin of Hesperomys from
anada.

W. EH. Moore and A. J. Stevens.—Mammals, fishes, and salaman-
der from Iowa.

Dr. James Morrow.—Five skins of Hesperonys aureolus from South |
Carolina.

tt. J. Napper.—Box of bird-skins from Manilla.

HI, M, Neisler.—Fifteen specimens of shells from the Chattahooche
‘Tiver,

Dr, Nichols.—Mammals in flesh from vicinity of Washing tony Two
specimens of Crax and Nasua in flesh from Paraguay.

60 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

Geo. W. Oakley.—Box of pyntiferous rock from Cayuga county,
New York.

Captain W. P. Palmer, U. S. A.—Specimens of Heterodon platy-
“yhinos from Virginia.

W. Patten.—Skin of Mus rattus from Pennsylvania.

Tneut. T. E. Patterson, U. S. A.—Double-headed rattlesnake from
Camp Yuma.

D. Orrin Plumb.—Box of infusorial earth ; specimens in alcohol of
fishes ; skull of rattlesnake ; specimen of eibbsite.

Professor F. Poey. —Fishes from Cuba.

James P. Postell.—Eggs of birds and reptiles from Georgia.

John Potts.—Qeptiles and fishes in alcohol; skins of “mammals
and birds from Mexico.

B. Pybas.—Reptiles, fishes, and fossils from Alabama.

Thomas Rainey.—Fishes (Callichthys and Osteoglossum) from Para.

Edward Ravenel.—Box of recent and fossil shells of Carolina, in-
cluding Hncope macrophora, Mellita ampla, and caroliniana.

Carrington Raymond.—Australian Boomerang club and satchel.

Commander C. Ringgold, U. S. N.—Bow and four bone-tipped ar-
rows—island of Nitenda. .

Wynaham Robertson.—End of lower jaw of young mastodon from
Washington county, Virginia.

EH. S. Robinson.—Insects from Mississippi.

FE’, Schafhirt.—Separated human skull.

I’. D. Sergeant.—Living specimens of bull-snake (Pityophis sayr)
and jar of reptiles from Ilinois.

W. J. Shaw.—Mammals, birds, insects and plants from Illinois.

Dr. Short, Lieut. D. N. Couch, and Professor A. Gray.—Set of
plants of Mexico and Texas from the Berlandier collection.

Dr. B. F. Shumard.—Reptiles and fishes from Missouri.

Dr. Wm. Spillman.—Fishes, reptiles, shells, and fossils from Mis-
sissippl.

Ff’. Sturm.—Skins, nests, and eggs of birds; skins and skulls of
mammals from Europe.

Dr. George Suckley, U. S. A.—Very large collections of mammals,
birds, reptiles, fishes, and invertebrates from Washington and Oregon
Territories. Living serpent, _Epicrates maurus, from Panama.

A. S§. Taylor.—Dried specimens of grasshopper, and of Talitrus,
from California.

Major G. H. Thomas, U. S. A.—Box of river sediment, &c., from
the Colorado river.

Professor Z. Thompson.—Skins of mammals and alcoholic speci-
mens from Vermont.

Dr. W. F. Tolme.—Skulls of birds from the Pacific.

General Totten, U. S. A.—Two cabinets containing a large collec-
tion of shells. Deposited.

Lieut. W. P. Trowbridge, U. S. A.—Box of birds and mammals
from San Diego, California, collected by Andrew Cassidy; collection
of muds from San Diego; skins of mammals collected in Oregon by
Job Wayne; box of marine plants; two boxes mammals and birds,
collected by T. A. Szabo; keg of reptiles and fishes from coast of Cali-

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 61)

fornia; other collections, in alcohol, from Cape Flattery and Farra-
lones; box of shells, La Paz, &c.

N. Triibner.—Collection of 150 slides from the microscope, ex-
hibiting dissections, illustrating different families of insects; also 25
miscellaneous slides prepared by H. Frey.

Col. Joseph Tuley.—Fresh skin of elk (Hlaphus Canadensis) from
his park.

Colonel Alfred Vaughan and Dr. F’. V. Hayden.—Skins and skulls;
mammals and birds; reptiles and fishes in alcohol; box of fossils, from
Upper Missouri.

Gen. Ward.—Heterodon niger from Sing Sing, New York.
meat Welsh.—Skins of squirrels (Zamias and Sciwrus) from New
York.

Plowden C. J. Weston.—Reptiles and birds in alcohol; fishes from
South Carolina; fern in alcohol.

Dr. Wilson, U. S. A.—Shells from Japan.

Dr. T. G. Wormley.— Reptiles and fishes from Ohio.

Lieut. H. G. Wright, U. S. A., and Dr. D, D, Whitehurst.—Fishes
and invertebrates from Tortugas.

Gustavus Wiirdemann.—Eggs and skins of birds, reptiles, fishes,
and invertebrates, in alcohol ; pair of living roseate spoonbills, (Pla-
talea Ajaja,) from Indian river, Florida, and coast of Georgia and
South Carolina.

Professor J. Wyman.—Arviciola, Sorex, and Cyclopterus, from
Labrador. Scaphiopus holbrookii from Cambridge. Deposited.

Ka ra : PAL he
n nity ;
wh dgs a! -

62

“TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

LIST OF METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS.

State.

Nova Scotia

Canada

Maine

New Hampshire--

Vermont

Massachusetts _ ..

Rhode Island ---.-

Connecticut ~ ----

New York-.-.----

Name of observer.

Henny Poole ets ee
Prof cA eb.) S-sovuanb oe. sae
Dr. Charles Smallwood_..-.--
Hats Aw akiale ste ee tem eas ee
Sea CT ay Ae eee yce a re
Henny Willisss a= eye ees
Well. (Dame wae ies aa eee
George B. Barrows----------
John J. Bell

Gee Wie Gap tile a a Sees
BS Gould Jbrowmeean see. ae

Henry A. Sawyer, A. M___-- te
Rev. L. W. Leonard_....____
1D) IBiekleyGly as - erp
JamesvAa Paddock. = ass
Je: Bakers. sates tent Sabb ess
TNERARVG a anenoh eae fee
Ceoege Isbiss So2 52 555565555
Jamies Ky Collbyaeae esses ==
ETC TUS 4 © pyAU ia eae ae ea a
Waillivamp aca ryaey ses epee
NOME ROO KS eee er eee
Rey. Hmerson Davis ..------
AMaSa, Holcombe ees ae
James Orton__-_--
Lavalette Wilson_
Hon. William Mitchell___.--
Joris Joey Siavellile Se ni ee
HC Perlainge apni. 22
Edward A. Smith, M. D.
Frank H. Rice, M. D_-_- t my
Samuel Rodmane-22-5-.----
John George Metcalf_-_------
len Ty BRC t= a eae
Albertischilerelee nes — oes
We Co Bondik ae 6h) Sees

Residence.

Albion Mines --.---
Horton, Acadia Col
Slee IMR Be eS
Montrealy 323% 3.58
Steuben —~ .---u---
Portland
Perny, te) soe aes Aare
Fryeburg
Carmel! 2222 5
Gardiner see =
Bluelist See
Windham

Londonderry - -- ---
Manchester
North Barnstead _-
Great Falls... -_-
Exeter

Craftsbury-.-2---=
Saxe’s Mills
INOnwiAchy sss = eae
Shelburne __------
St. Johnsbury - ----
Springfield - ..-.--
Richmond ~ --.---

wa eee

Williamstown -.--

Nantucketi. _.-.--
Amherst
Newburyport

Worcester

New Bedford_--- ..
Wigiaxc loys Sas
North Attleboro’ _-
ParimntOres eee sey
Cambridge . -2.-.-
Wood's Hole.--.--
Providence _-_.---

IOP (Cruse 00) Ke eas oe ea ee East Greenwich -/-
Revel awards So cs. == 2c0 New London-.----
IDA Shia es ae eae eens Pomireti 2 oe
PRAT OMG; uEL UU apes 2 eens Seas Georgetown ------
James*Rankin = V2 2%... = Say brooke ae
Werscholmeldie 5 tam te 2. Norwich 22-2) ose
Brot 10. WiaMornisre) 2. = Newaork 2252.24
aos B.warden. 2.856 025 - = Beverly ==. -L -- es
HW JOONS0N.- e252. 2 ~--- Canton csi= bse
Ephraim Byram...--.-.---- Sag Harbor_.-.---
DOUDMUCHE MSc tam oan noe Dodie. M22 jen
Win. 8. Malcolm... ..-_- Oswego}-=-2- Lente
John BOWMeieas Sete oo... Baldwinsville ..-.-

County.

Pictou.
lege.
Laval.

Washington.
Cumberland.
Washington.
Oxford.
Penobscot.
Kennebec.
Hancock.
Cumberland.
York.

Coos.
Merrimac.
Rockingham.
Hillsboro’.
Belknap.
Strafford.
Rockingham.
Rutland.
Orleans.
Franklin.
Windsor. .
Chittenden.
Caledonia.
Hampden.
Berkshire.
Worcester.
Hampden.
Hampden.

Berkshire.

Nantucket.
Hampshire.
Essex.

Woxcester,

Bristol.
Worcester.
Bristol.
Bristol.
Middlesex.
Barnstable.
Providence.
Washington.
New London.
Windham.
Fairfield.
Middlesex.
New London..
New York.
Putnam.

St. Lawrence.
Suffolk.
Seneca.
Oswego.
Onondaga,

METEOROLOGICAL LIST—Continued.

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.

63

State. Name of observer. Residence. County.
New York—Cont_| W. EB. Guest..------------- Ogdensburgh ----_- St. Lawrence.
A. W. Morehouse ---=..2-=-- Spencertown------ Columbia.
J. Everett Breed -....------ Smithville _-____- Jefferson.
Rev. W. D. Wilson --------- Genevian sens ee Ontario.
PO: Walliams Map) 2222-2 = Watertown _.----- Jefferson.
W. W. Sanger, M: D_------- Blackwell's Island_| New York.
Jolin) elt)— Sake en eo oo Ihibertyy ts osha ae Sullivan.
J: Wi. Chickering...222+2.- ial lite SERA Soils Seneca.
BME Ad ban MD ele 2222252 Ameeliea es au eas Alleghany.
Win, ©, Prato 2.222222_ f| Rochester ------- Monroe.
fe Joseph W. Taylor ---------- Plattsburg---..--- Clinton.
i Hdw.:G.- Reedeiect is s2ee es Homme nts) 82h eee Cortland. -
WAH: Denninot tutti) 2 = sae Fishkill Landing -_| Dutchess.
Mase Mi Jilobdellis22 222523 North Salem-_-...- Westchester.
H. A. Dayton _-.--- fee ak MECH Seo ee oo St. Lawrence.
John R. French obail---=-- Mexicoyentiifig: Se be Oswego.
igpolaeral ILE OBES eee Oke BALE ee Brie.
T &. Gibbons ---s---.2.. {| New York-------- New York.
Ja Carolldiouse 422 hs es eee Wowavallilieys 42 oe Sy Lewis.
Dr: He iP. Sartwellut 4222522 enna arin ayaa Yates.
Rev. Thos. H. Strong ------- Flatbush -..-.---- ‘Kings.
Stillman Spooner----------- Wampsville -____- Madison."
New Jersey------ implies Cooke ie 2 egw ee ae Bloomfield _ -..--- Essex.
Dr. H. R. Schmidt__.------- Burlington ---..-- Burlington.
W. A. Whitehead -----.-.-- Newark) 5 255208 Hssex.
Pennsylvania ...-| Joseph Edwards_-.-.------- Chromedale ____-- Delaware.
hey. Grier halsrony 3 22 2228 Norristown ------- Montgomery.
Alawar 1skenselhiy Sev oS eee Harrisburg .-42- 2 Dauphin.
Me Jacobs See Beh ie a os Gettysburg -._.__- Adams.
Fenelon Darlington--------- Rocopson! see sae Chester.
Saal IERONal oe ee Reese Bedionds es. == Bedford.
iKbenezern, lance suas seo Morrisville --.-__- Bucks.
Paul Swiftt gees) a. 2) Haverfordi: =) 22h Philadelphia.
Francis Schreiner-.--------- Moss Grove.-...-- Jrawford.
Chas. Ss Jamies aaa a se 28 Hewisburg.--.5--- Union.
J). Ee) nielks hums eee kok Meadiiulle a Seane ian Crawford.
ray |) WV). NV... Wallsomiersays 2iaIS 2 pie Rittsbumeye assess Alleghany,
On Ty Hobbseeeen si oe Randolph -------- Crawford.
Aiiaoarsp souls) Mess). eee epee Canonsburg_--_._. Washington.
John) Wecrer ts aeae [ses Berwick at eee Columbia.
H. A. Brickenstein .-------- Nazareth Hall --.-| Northampton.
Prof. Jas. A. Kirkpatrick.--_| Philadelphia -__._- Philadelphia.
Prot. Wi @ A Wilson |i. Sees Carlisle siete k suru Cumberland.
Wictor Scriba ase. ks jassoo5.— Abo Pe ISMUL aes Alleghany.
Win, Martine 222020222222 f} Pittsbung.-------- Alleghany.
AywEle penis SEMI 2b = 2 Pottsville _.-.---- Schuylkill.
Dilawar --- 7 Aenea irs WWewarks 22. cbs Newcastle.
Maryland. ..----- Miss El Mis Baer ea ba ns Sykesville -.------ Carroll.
Henry EH. Hanshaw--.------- Rréederick. =o... 22 Frederick.
B. QO. Lowndes 2222) he Bladensburg ----- - Prince George.
James A. Pearce, jr---.----- Chestertown ------ Kent.
' A. Zumbrock, M. D..+------ Annapolis - ------- Anne Arundel.
Virginia......---| Lieut. R. F.-Astrop---.-.-.. Crichton’s Store.-.| Brunswick.
; Ae Samuel Couchi2.. 2-525. Buialose 2h ofa. Putnam.
t oe Benjamin Hallowell.......-- Alexandria ..-...- Alexandria.

©

64

TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

METEOROLOGICAL LIST—Continued.

State. Name of observer.

Vircinia——Contias| Ose Bilis 2--- = -=-scs see

: James eis Clarke! ® <. Sees
Je We sMarvine: Joo eee
Thomas Patton: oo. soe ees
We (Ce @Quincy se: seas oe

Miss E. Kownslar

North Carolina---| Prof. Dan. Morelle.---.-----
Prof. James Phillips --------

South Carolina_==| BH. N. Pulleri.2--2-2 Soo2ees

Jk, Soins WOO se eae eee

Georgia ..------- Dr. James Anderson_-------

Wis, Blais) ee seier ce ee
Mlorida.-2.-sseee
James B. Bailey------------
William C. Dennis. ---------
Went Ost iiny nee sere

John Pearson
Hon. Augustus Steele. -_----
Georve-benaghe es sea
Sade Cummine sons. ee
Prof. John Darby-----------
HeMDutwilerew sos aS
Prof. J. Boyd Elliott__..----
Profile Jlarper 2 bo2oo
Damesh oul Mee ae or bree ar
Rev EH. 8. Robinson.--------
Disab ake bartone. 2-2-2 2=

eee eee eee eee

pa ker Jennings eM Da
Dr. R. T. Carver

George S. Savage, M. D_----
Jobn Swalsa, Mie seas aoa
Mrs. Lawrence Young.------
Prof. J. W. Andrews--------
Re-S. Bosworth e232 ese 22222
HEC AS (Benton; ayaa: 2k nei
George L. Crookham..---.
MEA Gilmore: ies! eee os

Pee MeeDay ton. 26.32 set
J. H. Fairchild
ES AaNOTIG WED he SIS be ss
GeoreWr Harper. 2 bos rae
Ebenezer Hannaford
James D. Herrick
F. Hollenbeck

rs

Residence. County.
Wardensville. ----- Hardy.
Mount Solon _----- Augusta.
Winchester... .---- Frederick.
Lewisburg -------- Greenbrier.
West Union.-_----- Doddridge.
Berryville mas sesee Clark.
Huntersville_-_-_--- Pocahontas.
Portsmouth. ___--- Norfolk.
Goldsborough - ---- Wayne.
Chapel Hill-.----- Orange.
Edisto Island ._--- Colleton.
Waccaman.-__---- All Saints Parish.
Charleston. ....--- Charleston.
PAWN eINe eae eta Barnwell.
Camden 22-2 = Kershaw.
he Rock. 222s 2224 Upson.
Whitemarsh Island | Chatham.
Spartans 25S. Hancock.
SE INO pa ooe- So5 Chatham.
Augusta_..------- Richmond.
Jacksonville __.--- Duval.
Garrisville._-.---- Alachua.
Salt Ponds-------- Island Key West.
Pensacola. -=-=2232 Escambia.
Cedar Keys ------- ‘Levy.
Tuscaloosa. ..----- Tuscaloosa.
Monroeville. -_---- Monroe.
TAN QUIT Bees Bee Macon.
Green Springs----- Green.

Port Gibson...---- Claiborne.
Oxdordy eens Lafayette.
Columbus. ...----- Lowndes.
Garlandsville ----- Jasper.

New Orleans__----] Orleans.
New Wied_...---- Comal.

PATIS tI Se a= Travis.
Friendship. -- --- -- Dyer.
Koroxavilile=2 2-25 == Knox.
Glenwood _.-.-_-- Montgomery.
Wane ease ae Boyle.

PAmiGney ene ose oe Bourbon.
Millersburg_------ Bourbon.
Ballardsville _._._- Oldham.
Springdale.-_----- Jefferson.
Marietta. ___--_--- Washington.
College Hill... ---- Hamilton.
Mount Vernon __--} Knox.
Jackson C. H..---- Jackson.
Unionville__.----- Lake.
Richmond..-_--.-- Jefferson.
Newark tee. 2h cm Licking.
Oberlin 2222s eee Loraine.
Germantown ----- Montgomery.
Cincinnati se2e- | Hamilton.
Chieviotion soos. as Hamilton.
BETETSODE Wace oe Ashtabula.
Perrysburg .-..--. Wood,

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 65

METEOROLOGICAL LIST—Continued.

State. Name of observer. Residence. County.
Ohio—Continued..| J. G. F. Holston, M. D_----- Zanesville ....._.. Muskingum.
OMS IE oe ae. eee Cleveland. -----..- Cuyahoga.
Sasleprtallivenseeyers Se oo :
- S. M. Luther Papen iyrelen sR 10s RN Hiram Sn er i on Portage.
John Ingram, M. D_..--.--- Savannah. ---_---- Ashland.
Guim live zag a8 au 2 Gallipoligee 2. Sas. Gallia.
JaMcDs Mathews! — +2222... Hillsborough — ----| Highland.
Veaayeysh 1818) LEXOKS) 2 5 4 Me em ae Peg Portsmouth _---.- Scioto.
ETOk Seen Satord! 4s eae Granville sss Sau Licking.
JosephsShaw sete: 25 ean Bellefontaine ----- Logan.
Wii iieSchenck, IM: De2ts5s24 Mpa byes Se eS Warren.
Prof. M. G. Williams.------- Winbameniae eae Champaign.
Michigan... /__- Seth L. Andrews, M. D__---- ROME Ome anes eae Macomb.
Wana. Camp belies Sea sae Battle'Creek 222. == Calhoun.
ne Cy Bia Cummlelyee saan ae Grand Rapids----- Kent.
Rev. George Duffield._------ Detroitps sss se cee Wayne.
UME Stramom ise Sr oh kes Saugatuck .--_---- Alleghany.
Siecle stranica eS ea ae Sts Jameseee saan Michilimackinae.
isaaen Stoneman seis se eee ROMEO} eae eee ae Macomb.
Miss Octavia C. Walker_----- Cooper anaes ei. Kalamazoo.
PETES Wala el yal ciy paar lea Ee Monroe) esse oe Monroe.
Lum Woodruff -----------
DUE | Allene Sep Te) baa { Anni Ac bor 2222 ee Washtenaw.
Pediana 225.402 Nive Nis weNtalsieroay i i eece|) [komme (oe a = Wayne.
CMBann ese au ee ae New Albany ------ Floyd,
John Chappelismith. -.._---- New Harmony ----| Posey.
Dr Veen seye siete tod wk aD WOT. Bossseseias Wayne.
Joseph Moore 22-2522 342222 Richmond 222. aes Wayne.
Bhneigye) sss Dyes eae Lester Gell Ls Uh See ON Peorias eo a2 ae Peoria.
Wins Virkiidredse: 22h) stunk a Bucintone ees secs Macoupin.
Solimay Geass ee a ei al Manchester.......- Scott.
C1 roxeN Liat EY Oh Oe PAHO Nel is 8 Menard.
ae KOM da Kenta.) WL). 7D) eat EE a Ottaware2 saw ae La Salle.
John James, M: D_----- =--- Upper Alton....-_- Madison.
S: By Meade see Sue ANY Us tele se eee Hancock.
Henny Aap Ze ees shoe West Salem-__-_--- Hdwards.
Benj.| Whitaker vee) ec Wrarsanygon en ee me Hancock.
Masgouri ... 2.4. Chas. Q. Chandler, M. D-- --} Rockport ---- _..- Boone.
Edw. Duffield) Mi: D---. -_-- 1ekeya ial) eye Ne ae Marion.
Geo. Engelmann, M. D__---- Samco us ye ae eee St. Louis. *
Ope Wi Teena ens Let) Dry Ridee wae see Marion.
lowar.= sae aes < BN ClBichwe lls ivinnpy 2 Oi ee Quasqueton------- Buchanan.
Townsend M. Connel_------.- Pleasant Plain ..--| Jefferson.
DrieAsa velo recess ta Dubuque ss.--— = =5 Dubuque.
Daniel McCready ..--------- Fort Madison ----- Lee.
ie ;
ta a a Bh : 1 ea Plum Spring ._-_-- Delaware.
My) Seedy eran ras Stl bial Muscatine - 2-2 0 - Muscatine.
Hy Ee Ae Scheeper sae 2 Be aes Os eee ans Marion.
Wisconsin .....-- Miss M. B. Bakers 222452 Cerescaia ss seu Fond du Lac.
IBrofs SecA Deane ace na Wiakeshay 02 2) Waukesha.
Johny. Eimoesi ee es oe Norway. S222 2 Racine.
Vie ee Superior Douglas
Gy Washington irri tara en Fite
Pie DY gL eae shag Mes ea A AOR Platteville. .._---- Grant.
Profypwime otter. 2 amemtae a Belouine es 2 o - o Rock.
I. CaRomeroys=- 22 ooo Milwaulkie-----.-- Milwaukie.
; os He Willangien ss tec Janesville ..------ Rock.
Carl Winkler ......--.----- Milwaukie.......- Milwaukie,
5

66

TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF

METEOROLOGICAL LIST—Continued.

8 State. Name of observer. | Residence. County.

Minnesota. 2 =-.-| SR. Riggs 2-2-2. <a. Hazlewood .....-.
1D) Tom SMSC A 5 St. Joseph_..----. Pembina.

California ......- Da HeiGibbonse eee seen nee San Francisco. --.- San Francisco.
ae a i aaa i r eos t Sacramento. . -...| Sacramento.
Dry RobertsKe Reid — eka Stockton ....--.-. San Joaquin.

H. B. Territory-..| Donald Gunn -_......-....- Red River Settlem’t

Paraguay . -.-.--- H.-A. Hopkinsi22s 22 esse

Mexico Joh. oS Prof. L. C. Ervendberg......

Jamaica .... -.-- James G. Sawkins ..-------.

Nicaragua ....--- J MIOSES Li FS ee

Venezuela .-.:-.- A Hendler Snes ee eae eee

a

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY FOR 1856.

To the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution:

GENTLEMEN: The report of the operations of the year which has just,
closed may be considered as completing the first decade of the history
of the establishment entrusted to your care. The act incorporating
the Institution was approved by the President, August 20, 1846, and
the first session of the Board of Regents was commenced on the Yth of
the following September. It was, however, principally occupied in
discussions relative to the plan of organization, which was not adopted
until the beginning of 1847; and hence, although this report will be:
the eleventh, yet, in reality, it completes the account of but, little
more than the operations of ten years. It may therefore be proper,
on the present occasion, to present in review a few of the prominent,
points in the history of the Institution.

In the beginning of an establishment of this kind, intended to last
as long as the government of the United States shall endure, it was
more important that every step should be in the proper direction, than
that great advances should be made. The condition of an institution
after a given time is to be estimated by what it has done well, rather
than by the amount of what it has accomplished. Activity impro-
perly directed is worse than inaction, and a wrong step at the com-
mencement may produce effects which will be injuriously felt during
the whole succeeding career.

From the outset there were many obstacles in the way of the proper
establishment of this Institution. It was not clear to the minds of
many that the general government had the power to accept a trust
intended for the promotion of knowledge; and after this point was
settled in the affirmative, a new difficulty arose in construing the will.
The bequest was of so novel a character, and the terms in which it
was expressed so brief, though precise, that much difference of opinion
naturally prevailed as to the intention of the donor and the means of
carrying it into execution. Another difficulty grew out of the manner

28

18 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

in which the funds were invested; and from these causes it was not
until after a delay of eight years that the law which organized the
Institution was enacted. Congress, it is true, intended in good faith
to compensate for this delay by granting interest on the fund from the
time the money was received into the treasury of the United States ;
- but, unfortunately, the whole of this accrued interest, and as much of
the annual income as might be thought necessary, were by the au-
thority of law appropriated to a building of a magnitude incommen-
surate with the means or wants of the establishment. 'The adminis-
tration of the trust was given in charge to a Board of Regents, whose
special duty it was to study the character of the bequest with more
attention than it had previously receiveds They were not, however,
left entirely free to adopt such a plan as after mature deliberation
they might think best fitted to carry out the intention of the donor,
but were directed to include in the organization several objects which,
in the opinion of a majority of the Board, were notin accordance with
a strict interpretation of the will, or with the annual income of the
bequest. |
The founder of the Institution was a man of liberal education, a
graduate of Oxford, an active member of the Royal Society, and de-
-voted, during a long life, to original scientific research. Not content
-with the acquisition of ordinary learning, he sought by his own labors
‘to enlarge the bounds of existing knowledge. Well acquainted with
the preeise meaning of words, while he left the mode of accom-
plishing his benevolent design to the trustees whom he had chosen,
he specified definitely the object of his bequest. In consideration of
his character, as evinced by his life, there can be no reasonable doubt
that he intended by the terms ‘‘an establishment for the increase and
diffusion of knowledge among men,’’ an institution to promote the
diseovery of new truths, and the diffusion of these to every part of the
civilized world, This view, however, was not at first entertained, and
various plans, founded on misconceptions, were proposed for the or-
ganization of the Institution. The most prominent of these proposi-
tions were, first, to found a national university which should be
supplementary to the colleges of the country; secondly, to diffuse
popular inforraation among the people of the United States by the
distribution of tracts; thirdly, to establish at the seat of government
a large library; and fourthly, a national museum. Though these
propositions embraced objects of high importance in themselves, and
probably affected the legislation of Congress, they did not embody the
prominent ideas of the testator. They were restricted in their influ-

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 19

ence to this country, confined to a limited diffusion of existing know-
ledge, and made no provision for new discoveries.

Fortunately the Board of Regents, with more precise knowledge of
the subject and with more liberal views, after much deliberation,
were enabled to adopt a plan of organization, which, while it pro-
vided for the requirements of Congress, presented as its most promi-
nent feature the promotion of original research in the various branches
of science,

Although the directors have had to contend with popular miscon-
ceptions and with opposition from other sources in carrying out this
plan, it has constantly been adhered to, and by its means a reputa-
tion has been established and an influence exerted in the lne of
the promotion of knowledge as wide as the civilized world. All
the requirements of Congress have been strictly complied with, a
building, making provision on a liberal scale for a library, a museum,
a gallery of art, lectures, &c., has been erected at a cost of 325,000
dollars; and this sum, by prolonging the time of completing the
building, has been paid entirely out of the interest. The whole
amount of the original bequest, 515,000 dollars, remains untouched
in the Treasury of the United States; and in order to assist in defray-
ing the heavy annual expense of the support of the establishment
necessarily connected with so large an edifice, the sum of 125,000
dollars has’ been saved from the income and added to the principal.

A library has been established, unrivaled in its series of the trans-

actions of learned societies, and containing nearly 50,000 articles; a

museum has been collected, the most extensive in the world, as regards
the natural history of the North American continent; a cabinet of
apparatus has been procured through the liberality of Dr. Hare, and
other means sufficient to illustrate the principal phenomena of chem-
istry and natural philosophy, as well as to serve the purpose of origi-
nal research ; and an annual series of lectures have been given to
large audiences by some of the most distinguished scientific and
literary individuals in the United States.

Although economy and forethought have been observed in providing
for these objects, they have absorbed a considerable portion of the income,
and lessened the amount of good which might have been accomplished
by a policy of a more truly cosmopolitan character. They have, how-
ever, as far as possible, been made subservient to the direct promotion
of knowledge ; and in this behalf, notwithstanding its limited means,
the Institution has accomplished much that is important.

20 . REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

It has published a large series of original papers on the following

branches of science, namely on i

Mathematics, and Me My sics.\ 2. cac.eceeeo ccc vgsecestetece ten semmecouseees ecaa tae
AGERONODIY Stee ee ce es hacdecosacseeseetoesccatenvagces Tendetee ac memeneneeenae hulle
BS teOROl Geyer ereres os cc cece vedsecaseceesagateosevevsedesse cusenen ater aenenenae 5
Ghemrsinytand Vechnology 3. oii. Gicceesscbeokbacesedesol con seuueeeeeee 2
Geearaphys Ethnology and Fhilology.. ....... 2st sesses.socesemanes Tia
Mie seaaledl WCICNCE sss cc ws nccecseue stoma cnence ce sedet eben cession bho sho 4
Memo cyan (ONY SIO, sc cuscstoctacuctordscsesssmescusnenes cecet enacts 8
eemremiyc ee tte ae nef ocS lyase ven cba sousetce mente cr ec iha Cute aa awan cme eae 7
PPA OTLOLOVY A. baratace sos ecceeateseecasesomestecasunsesoceteoedse coe sovaiaae 4
Geolo cy. 2s22 seca. coon Site eentctenes aiSistaten cuits estas cc ca wane Neen Aner oom
MipceWianeous:c.—.. joccccewsrcensacs aivealselisele sasaupe dnewie Nate vleanence net iat
Making anal ees. caen <1 ese tao Jassie bales RRR) ads ieee et ate (G:

Not only have these memoirs been published and distributed at the
expense of the Institution, but the production of most of them has
been facilitated by assistance rendered by its funds, its library, its
collections, and its influence. They are not mere essays or compila-
tions relative to previously known and established truths, intended to
diffuse popular information among the people of the United States,
but positive additions to the sum of human knowledge, presented in a

form best fitted for the student and the teacher, and designed through
them to improve the condition of man generally. Though in some
cases they may appear to have no connexion with his wants, yet they
are really essential to his mental, moral, or physical development.
Every well established truth is an addition to the sum of human
power, and though it may not find an immediate application to the
economy of every day life, we may safely commit it to the stream of
time, in the confident anticipation that the world will not fail to
realize its beneficial results. Weareassured, as we have said before,
both from the example of Smithson himself, and from the words convey-
ing the intention of his bequest, that the promotion of the discovery of
such truths was his principal design in founding the Institution which
is to perpetuate and honor higsname. Copies of the published memoirs
are sent to all the first-class libraries of the civilized world, and in
this way the idea of ‘‘ diffusion of knowledge among men’’ has been
most effectually realized. Besides the memoirs referred to, a large
number of important reports and. miscellaneous papers have been

published.

REPOKS ui THE SECRETARY. 21

Natural history explorations have been made at the expense of the

government, but principaily at the instance and under the scientific
direction of this Institution, which have done more to develop a
knowledge of the peculiar character of the western portions of this
continent than all previous researches on the subject. A system
of exchange is now in successful operation, connecting in friendly
relations the cultivators of literature and science in this country, with
their brethren in every part of the Old World. A large amount of
valuable material has been collected with regard to the meteorology
of the North American continent, and a system of observations organ-
ized which, if properly conducted in future, will tend to establish a
knowledge of the peculiarities of our climate, and to develope the laws
of the storms which visit particularly the eastern portion of the
United States during the winter. A series of original researches have
been made in the Institution in regard to different branches of natural
history, and also to portions of physical science particularly applica-
ble to economical purposes.
’ In consideration of the difficulties with which the directors of the
Institution have had to contend, it will, I think, be generally ad-
mitted that more has been accomplished than, under the circum-
stances, could have reasonably been anticipated. Although several
steps may have been taken which were not in the proper direction,
the Regents can scarcely be considered responsible for these, since
they were not entirely free to choose their own course, but were obliged ©
to be governed by the provisions of the act of incorporation.

Whatever ground of doubt may have existed as to the authority of
Congress to accept the charge of the bequest, there ean be none as to
the obligation to carry out the intention of the testator now that the
duty has been undertaken. The character of the government for justice
and intelligence is involved in the faithful and proper discharge of
the obligation assumed ; and this becomes a matter of graver import-
ance when it is considered that on the successful administration of the
affairs of this Institution depends the bestowment of other legacies of
a similar character intended for the good of men. If this Institution
should prove a failure, the loss would not be confined to the money
bequeathed by Smithson, but would involve the loss of confidence in
the management by public bodies of like trusts committed to their
care.

The adverse effects of the early and consequently imperfect legis-

92 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

lation ought, therefore, as far as possible, to be obviated; and this
could readily be done, if Congress would relieve the Institution from
the care of a large collection of specimens principally belonging to
the government, and purchase the building to be used as a depository
of all the objects of natural history and the fine arts belonging to the
nation, If this were done, a few rooms would be sufficient for trans-
acting the business of the Institution, and a larger portion of the in-
come would be free to be applied to the more immediate objects of the
bequest. Indeed, it would be a gain to science could the Institution
give away the building for no other consideration than that of being
relieved from the costly charge of the collections; and, for the present,
it may be well to adopt the plan suggested in a late report of the Com-
missioner of Patents, namely, to remove the museum of the Exploring
Expedition, which now fills a large and valuable room in the Patent
Office, wanted for the exhibition of models, to the spacious hall of
the Institution, at present uncccupied, and to continue under the di-
rection of the Regents, the appropriation now annually made for the
preservation and display of the collections.

Although the Regents, a few years ago, declined to accept this
museum as a gift, yet, since experience has shown that the building
will ultimately be filled with objects of natural history belonging to
the general government, which, for the good of science, it will be
necessary to preserve, it may be a question whether, in consideration
of this fact, it would not be well to offer the use of the large room
immediately for a national museum, of which the Smithsonian Institu-
tion would be the mere curator, and the expense of maintaining which
should be paid by the general government. The cost of keeping the
museum of the Exploring Expedition, now in the Patent Office,
including heating, pay of watchmen, &c., is about $5,000, and if the
plan proposed is adopted, the Institution and the Patent Office will
both be benefitted. The burden which is now thrown on the Insti-
tution, of preserving the specimens which have been collected by the
different expeditions instituted by government during the last ten
years, will be at least in part removed, and the Patent Office will
acquire the occupancy of one of the largest rooms in its building for
the legitimate purposes of its establishment. It is believed that the
benefit from this plan is so obvious that no objection to it would be
made in Congress, and that it would meet the approbation of the
public generally.

oe

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY, 23

Nothing has occurred during the past year to vary the character of
the financial statement which has been given in previous reports. By
a reference to the report of the Building Committee, it will be seen
that a final settlement has been made with the contractor, and, from
the statements of the Executive Committee, that $120,000 have been
invested in State stocks, bearing an annual interest of $7,830, and
that there is also in the hands of the Treasurer $5,000 to be invested.

During the present year the income from the extra fund can, for
the first time, be appropriated, at least in part, to other purposes than
the building. The repairs, however, the cases and furniture re-
quired for the care of the collections, together with the lighting and
heating, the pay of the watchman and laborers rendered necessary by
so large an establishment, will consume a considerable portion of the
income from this source. The expenditure on these items will tend
to increase rather than diminish with time, and therefore it will be
prudent to confine the appropriations considerably within the income,
in order to meet unforeseen demands.

No especial appropriation has yet been made by Congress for con-
tinuing the improvement of the grounds ; and it is to be regretted that
years should be suffered to pass without planting the trees which are in
the future to add to the beauty, health, and comfort of the metropolis of
the nation. Unjust censure is frequently bestowed on the Institution
on account of the neglected condition of these grounds, over which it
has no control, and on which it would manifestly be improper to ex-
pend any of its funds. No part of the public domain is more used
than the reservation on which the building stands, and I doubt not,
if the matter were properly brought before Congress, an appropriation
for the immediate supply of trees and its general improvement would
be granted. ;

During the past year a beautiful monument has been erected near
the Institution by the American Pomological Society, to the memory
of the lamented Downing. It is a just tribute to the worth of one of
the benefactors of our country, and affords an interesting addition to
the ornamental plan furnished by himself for the public parks of this
city. The adoption of this plan is in part due to the efforts of the Re-
gents in the way of embellishing the grounds around the Smithsonian
building.

24 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

Publications.—The eighth annual quarto volume of Contributions
to Knowledge has been printed and distributed. It contains the fol-
lowing memoirs:

Archeology of the United States, or Sketches, Historical and Biblio-
graphical, of the progress of information and opinion respecting
vestiges of antiquity in the United States, by Samuel F’. Haven, Esq.

On the recent Secular Period of the Aurora Borealis, by Denison
Olmsted, L.L.D.

The Tangencies of Circles and of Spheres, by Major Benjamin
Alvord, U. 8. A.

Researches, Chemical and Physiological, concerning certain North
American Vertebrata, by Joseph Jones, M.D.

Record of Auroral Phenomena, observed in the higher northern
latitudes, by Peter Force, Esq.

List of the transactions of learned societies in the library of the
Smithsonian Institution.

An account has been given of all the articles published in the 8th
volume, with the exception of the paper of Dr. Jones. The investi-
gations recorded in this memoir were made by an under graduate of
the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, and were
accepted for publication on the authority of Professors Jackson and
Leidy of that institution. The experiments were made on alligators,
terrapins, reptiles, fishes, and other animals. They were necessarily
attended with much labor and many embarrassments, on account of
the peculiar habits of the animals on which they were made, and the
difficulty of access to, and the miasmatic condition of, the localities
whence the specimens were obtained. The investigations were, for
the most part, conducted in Liberty county, Georgia, where the author
had an opportunity of obtaining fresh specimens of vertebrate animals
seldom enjoyed by previous observers ; and the industry and zeal which
he has exhibited in prosecuting his researches are highly commenda-
ble, particularly in the case of an under graduate of one of our medical
universities.

The memoir is divided into a series of chapters, the first and second
of which relate to the analysis of the blood of animals in the normal
condition ; the third and fourth to the physical and chemical changes
in the solids and fluids of animals when deprived of food and drink,
and also the effects of a change of diet. The remaining chapters pre-
sent a series of observations upon the alimentary canal, the compara-
tive anatomy and physiology of the pancreas, liver, spleen, the kid-
neys, andthe urine. The following are among the conclusions arrived

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 25

at by the author ; and though some of them may have been previously
obtained, yet they will serve even in these cases to verify the results
of other investigations.

The amount of water in the blood is greatest in the invertebrata.
Among vertebrate animals it is greatest in fishes and aquatic reptiles,
and least in serpents, birds, and mammals. It would appear, asa
general law, that as the organs of the animal are developed, and the
temperature and intellect correspondingly increased, the blood be-
comes richer in organic constituents. The blood of serpents, at first
sight, appears to form an exception to this conclusion; the larger
amount of solid matter existing in their blood is, however, accounted
for by the fact that they seldom or never drink water, and as they
_are constantly, though slowly, evaporating this fluid, the blood must
necessarily become concentrated and yield a larger quantity of solid
constituents upon analysis. ‘The proportion of the constituents of the
blood of mammalia varies as much in individuals of the same species
as in those of remotely separated genera. In the invertebrate ani-
mals the number of blood corpuscles is very small in comparison with
that in the vertebrata. The fibrine constitutes a remarkable index of
the vital, organic, and intellectual endowments of animals. In the
whole of the invertebrate kingdom it is absent, except in a few of the
most highly organized. In the lower order of the vertebrata, as
fishes and batrachians, it is soft, unstable, and readily converted into
albumen. The proportion of fixed saline constituents in the blood is
remarkably uniform throughout the whole animal kingdom. Among
the vertebrate animals the greatest amount of mineral constituents
is found in fishes and reptiles inhabiting the salt water. In every
instance during abstinence from nourishment, the water of the blood
diminishes more rapidly than the solid portions. The rapidity of the
consumption of the watery element, and the consequent concentration
of blood, is connected with the vital and physical condition of the ani-
mal, being more rapid in the case of those of warm blood. The cor-
puscles waste during starvation, as well as the other components, thus
proving that they have an important office to fulfil in the support of
the tissues and organs of the living animal. The fibrine relatively
increases during starvation and thirst. The fat of the body wastes
more rapidly than any other of the tissues. The continuance of life of
the animal during starvation and thirst is inversely proportional to the
rapidity of change of its elements, and, as a necessary consequence, to
its temperature and organic development. The relative weight of the
heart to that of the body was found proportionably smaller in fishes

96 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

and larger in birds than in other animals. The blood lost during
starvation was rapidly restored with vegetable diet, its solid constitu-
ents, however, were less with the latter than with animal food. The
proportion between the blood corpuscles and liquor sanguinis was not
altered, though the saline constituents were diminished with a vegeta-
ble diet. In many instances the shells of the terrapins became softer,
and the effect of a change of diet was also exhibited in the digestive
organs. The small intestines were enlarged, and a much greater

amount of water was thrown into the circulation than in the case of |

the use of animal food, and hence water, holding albumen in solution,
accumulated in the cellular tissues and serous cavities. The urine
was rendered more abundant, and its specific gravity and chemical re-
jations changed.

The remarkable difference which is known to exist between the
digestive apparatus of carnivorous and graminivorous animals, is ex-
hibited most strikingly in the comparative length of the alimentary
canal; for example, that of the common cat is five feet and a third in
length, while that of the sheep is eighty-eight feet.

Fishes afford the best means of studying the development of the
pancreas; the permanent forms which it assumes in them being but
the transient condition of its development during the growth of the
higher animals. This organ is found in carnivorous fishes, reptiles,

and mammalia, to be relatively much larger than in frugivorous and -

graminivorous animals. The pancreas of warm-blooded is larger than
that of cold-blooded carnivora. The opinion advanced by Bernard is
sustained, viz: that the office of the pancreas is to prepare fatty mat-
ter for absorption. The shape and appearance of the liver vary
ereatly. The former appears to be determined by that of the animal
and its abdominal cavity. The size also varies, and on this point a
series of results are given as to the ratio of its weight to that of the
whole body. The livers of all animals, cold or warm-blooded, as far
as the author’s observations have extended, yield grape sugar, which
passes into the circulation and disappears in the lungs so long as nor-
mal respiration is maintained. In cold-blooded animals it is never a
healthy constituent of the urine; if a supply of oxygen be cut off, it
is accumulated in the blood and eliminated by the kidneys. The
spleen, which is absent from all invertebrate animals, varies in form,
size, and position in different reptiles. In the mammalia it is large,
and presents manifold diversities of form. It is smallest in birds and
ophidians, and largest in fishes and mammals, It appears to be an

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 27

organ of subordinate importance in the animal economy, and of its
real office the anatomist is still ignorant. Its function is not indis-
pensable to the maintenance of life.

The kidneys are excreting and not secreting organs; and the
amount and character of the excretions depend upon certain materials
in the blood. When the kidneys are excised, other membranes and
organs assume their office; and it is probable that in lower animals,
which are without this organ, its functions are performed by the
mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines. As far as the ob-
servations of the author extend, the kidneys are larger in carnivorous
than in other animals. The urine of fishes is difficult to be obtained,
the bladders are almost always empty. The amount of urine excreted
by a warm-blooded animal is from forty to several hundred times that
furnished by a cold-blooded animal.

From this very brief exposition of the results obtained some idea
may be formed of the amount of labor bestowed on these investiga-
tions ; and whatever estimate may be formed of the speculations of
the. author, there can be but one opinion as to the value of the facts
which he presents.

The next article accepted since the date of he ils report, and
which has been printed and partially distributed, will form a part
of the 9th volume. It is by J. D. Runkle, and is entitled, ‘‘ New
tables for determining the values of the co-efficients in the perturb-
ative function of planetary motions which depend upon the ratio of
the mean distances.’’ The object of these tables is to facilitate the
calculation of the places of the planets, and other astronomical re-
searches.

In determining the mutual action of any two planets in our solar
system, there are certain quantities, depending upon the ratio of the
mean distances of these bodies from the sun, which must first be com-
puted. The number of these quantities, and the labor necessary to
compute each one of them, makes this first step in the reduction of
the mutual action of the two planets to numbers, a serious work. But
when it is remembered that there are fifty planets already known,
and that others, especially among the asteroid group, are probably
still to be discovered, the desirableness of determining all these quan-
tities by some short and easy process cannot admit of question. The
tables just published by the Institution accomplish this desired end
with the greatest possible facility. Their use gives the same advan-
tage in the calculations to which they are applied that a table of
logarithms affords in arithmetical operations. The tedious labor of

Qs REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

computing these quantities for the old planets has already been per-
formed three or four times over—a labor which these tables would
have saved, and will save in the future for all the planets whose mean
distances are not at present sufficiently well known. The supplement
to the tables contains the qualities necessary in the computation of the
mutual perturbations of the eight principal planets ; and the supple-
ment continued, which will be published during the present year, will
contain the quantities which correspond to the asteroids. In order to
ensure accuracy in printing these tables, they have been stereotyped.
The work was referred to Prof. B. Peirce, of Harvard University, and
Capt. C. H. Davis, Superintendent of the American Nautical Almanac,
and it is published on their recommendation.

Another paper which has been accepted for publication, and is
now ready for distribution, is by Prof. Wolcott Gibbs, of New York,
and Dr. F. A. Genth, of Philadelphia, entitled ‘‘ Researches on the
Ammonia-cobalt bases.’’ It consists of a laborious series of investi-
gations relative to a very interesting part of chemistry. This memoir
is chiefly important from a theoretical point of view, though it will
probably be found to possess many important practical applications.
Chemists have long recognized the existence of a class of bodies called
bases, which possess the property of neutralizing acids, and of form-
ing with them what are commonly called salts. These bases are
usually oxides of metals, or of substances which play in combination
the part of metals. Thus the protoxide and sesquioxide of iron are
in this sense simple bases, while quinine, morphine, strychnine, &c.,
form examples of complex bases, or oxides of what chemists term
compound radicals. It usually happens that metals which belong to
the same natural family or group form oxides which have an analo-
gous constitution. Thus iron, manganese, chromium, cobalt, and
nickel all form sesquioxides as well as protoxides. The protoxides of
these metals are strong bases. The sesquioxides of chromium, iron,
and manganese are also bases, while those of cobalt and nickel rarely,
if ever, exhibit basic properties. Under these circumstances, it is very
interesting to find that the union of the sesquioxide of cobalt with a
few equivalents of ammonia, or of ammonia and deutoxide of nitrogen,
confers upon it the property of forming stable combinations with acids,
or, in other words, salts. In the memoir referred to, four distinct
classes of such compound bases are described. Of these, two are en-
tirely new, while the others had, up to this time, been very imper-
fectly investigated.

The bases described in the memoir are termed conjugate, from the

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY, 2g

fact that they contain substances in a manner yoked together. Such
compounds are not altogether new, and chemists have long assumed
or admitted the existence of both conjugate acids and bases. In its
most general form, the idea of a conjugate body implies that two or’
more substances are united in such a way that the properties of one
or two of these substances are lost or become insensible, while those
of another are more or less essentially modified. Thus the body A
may either increase or diminish the acid or basic properties of the
body B, but its own properties are at the same time lost, or at least
do not appear in those of the compound. The ammonia-cobalt bases
furnish the best defined and most instructive class of conjugate bodies
yet discovered, and have abundantly repaid the very great labor which
has been bestowed upon them. It can scarcely be doubted that their
_ study will give an impulse to chemical science, and will be followed
by that of other bodies of the same character. 'The remarkably beau-
tiful and brilliant colors which many of these compounds exhibit lead
to the hope that some, at least, may find direct practical applications
indyeing. Drs. Gibbs and Genth propose to continue their researches,
and to present the fruits of an extended study in a second part of their
memoir.

This paper is illustrated by a number of wood engravings of the
forms of the crystals, drawn under the direction of Prof. Dana,
to whom the authors are indebted for the determination of the
systems to which many of the crystals belong, and of their principal
forms. ‘They have also been furnished with facilities in the line of
their researches from the Smithsonian fund, which renders it proper
that the results should first appear in the ‘‘Contributions’’ of the In-
stitution, although the paper will probably be republished in some of
the scientific periodicals of the day.

In the reports for 1850 and 1852, accounts are given of a work
prepared for the Smithsonian Institution by Professor Harvey, of the
University of Dublin, on the Alge found along the eastern and south-
ern coasts of the United States. Two parts of this work have been
published, and have received the approbation of the scientific world,

In reference to the first part, I may be allowed to quote the follow-
ing remarks of the late Professor Pie of Edinburgh, than whom
no better authority could be cited :

“¢ Professor Harvey is one of the ablest and most shilesophteal of
living botanists. His fame with the multitude is, however, very
small compared with the honor assigned to him by his scientific

30 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

peers. * * * A more proper person than Professor Harvey could

not have been selected for the elaboration of a ‘Nereis Boreali- Ameri-
cana,’ and most honorable is it to the directors of the Smithsonian
Institution of North America that they should have selected this gen-
tleman for the task of which we have now the first fruits. The trus-
tees of that establishment are pursuing a course which is sure to do
much towards the wholesome development of science in the United
States. In the present instance they have done what is both wise and
generous, and, in seeking the best man to do the difficult work they
require done, have recognized nobly the truth that science belongs to
the world, to all mankind, laboring for the benefit of all regions and
races alike.’’

Professor Harvey has lately returned from an exploration around
the shores of the Pacific ocean, and has promised to complete the
third part of the work during the present year. It will include an
account of the Alge along the coasts of Oregon and California. The
labors of the author, including the drawings of the plants on the stone,
are entirely gratuitous ; yet the publication of the work is very ex_
pensive, and itis proposed to lessen the cost to the Institution by
striking off a number of extra copies for sale to individuals. This
may be done without risk, since a growing taste is manifested in the
study of this interesting branch of botany, and a number of copies
have already been ordered by booksellers.

The three papers mentioned in the report for 1855, on surface
geology, by Professor Hitchcock, are now in the press. By a reduc-
tion in the size, and a re-arrangement of the plates under the super-
intendence of Professor Baird, the cost of the publication of these
communications will be much diminished. The plates require to be
colored, and the reduction of expense, as well as an increased beauty
of efiect, is produced by adopting the chromo-lithographic process. The
author proposes to apply to the legislature of Massachusetts for an
appropriation to purchase copies of this work as a supplement to his
report on the geology of that State.

Since the last meeting of the Board, the paper previously men-
tioned on the ‘‘ Relative Intensity of the Heat and Light of the Sun,
by L. W. Meech,”’ has been published and partially distributed. The
following propositions are discussed in this memoir, viz: The propor-
tion of a planet’s surface which is irradiated by the sun ata given
time, as deduced from the relative size and distance of the two bodies.
The sun’s intensity upon the planets in relation to their orbits. The

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY, 31

law of the sun’s intensity at any-instant during theday. Determina-
tion of the sun’s hourly and diurnal intensity. On local and climatic
changes of the sun’s intensity. On the diurnal and annual duration
of sunlight and twilight. These are all mathematical deductions
from well established principles, and constitute the preliminary prob-
lems towards a logical solution of the phenomena of the meteorology
of our earth. The author offers to continue his interesting investiga-
tions in this line of research, provided the Institution will employ
a person to make the arithmetical calculations, or, in other words, to
deduce from the formule the numerical values of the quantities
required. His own time must be principally occupied in other duties,
though he will cheerfully devote his leisure hours to the investigations,
with a view of extending the bounds of knowledge. He considers most
of the memoirs which have been published in the transactions of
different learned societies as preparatory to a more complete solution
of the problem of terrestrial heat. He has succeeded in bringing the
formule of the theory of heat in closer connexion with observation
than heretofore, and thinks there is now an opportunity presented
for increasing our knowledge of meteorology on the ‘‘ theoretic side.’’
From a consideration of the interesting problems which have been
discussed in the memoir just published, and the manner of their solu-
tion, it can scarcely be doubted that valuable results will be produced
by an appropriation for the continuance of these researches.

The first part of the paper on Odlogy, described in the last report,
is now in the hands of the printer. very possible pains has been
taken to make the illustrations as accurate representations of the
objects as can be accomplished by art. The globular shape of the
eggs, and the receding aspect of their markings, have heretofore
baffled all endeavors to represent them correctly. The best and most
artistic works of this kind, involving a very expensive operation, are
but partially successful. The desideratum has been obtained by the
employment of photography in making the original delineations, and
this has furnished an exact and available basis, which the engraver
can copy at his leisure, and which represents with fidelity, otherwise
unattainable, the appearance to be perpetuated. These improvements
have been made by Mr. L. H. Bradford, of Boston, to whom the en-
graving has been entrusted. The plates will be printedin colors. An
order has been received from England, in advance, for a number of
copies of this work, the proceeds of which will be devoted to lessening
the cost of the illustrations.

32 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

The publication of the paper mentioned in the report for 1854,
relative to the Zapotec remains in Mitla, Mexico, was delayed on ac-
count of the absence of Mr. Brantz Mayer, who undertook to prepare
an account of the drawings made by Mr. Sawkins, with general ob-
servations on Mexican history and archeology. It has, however,
been published since the date of the last report, and will form a part
of the ninth volume of the contributions. It was referred to Mr.
Haven, of the Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Massachusetts, and to
Dr. E. H. Davis, of New York. This paper, as well as that of Mr.
Haven on the archeology of the United States, possesses much more
popular interest than many of the Contributions published by the In-
stitutions, and is therefore in greater demand.

Reports on Progress of Knowledge.—One of the propositions embraced
in the plan of organization is the publication of reports on the pro-
gress of knowledge; but the portion of the fund which could be ex-
pended in printing has been so much more advantageously employed
in giving to the world memoirs consisting of original contributions to
science, that but little has been done in regard to this part of the
original plan. It has not, however, been entirely neglected. Besides
the work of Messrs. Booth and Morfit on the progress of the Chemical
Arts, the last annual report of the Regents to Congress contains an
account of late researches relative to Electricity. Another part of the
same work will be given in an appendix to this report.

The report on forest trees by Dr. Gray, of Cambridge, is still in
progress, but has been delayed principally on account of the more
pressing engagements of the author in preparing his description of
plants collected by different expeditions undertaken by the govern-
ment, and in part from the difficulty of obtaining the necessary
drawings for its illustration. Some of these can only be made at
particular seasons ot the year, during fructification, and other periods
of the different phases of the parts of the trees.. A sufficient number
of the drawings have been prepared to form a considerable portion of
the work; but as these in many cases belong to different genera, they
cannot properly be published until the others are prepared, which are
necessary to complete definite series. Nevertheless, it is expected
that the first part of the work will be ready for the press during this
year. Instead, however, of presenting it in the form of a report, it
has been thought advisable to publish it as a part of the quarto series
of original Contributions to Knowledge. For, though the facts it
contains are not entirely new, the work will in no sense be a compi-

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 33

lation ; the drawings and descriptions will all be original, and it will
probably contain a series of experiments and observations on the
economical uses of our trees, which have never before been published.
Besides this, the quarto form is best adapted for the illustrations.

The Report on education, mentioned at the last meeting of the Board
as in progress of preparation by the Hon. Henry Barnard, of Con-
necticut, has not yet been completed. We hope, however, to be able
to obtain the article during the present year, and to give it to the
public either as an appendix to the annual report or in a separate
form. |
The printing of the second and enlarged edition of the Meteoro-
logical and physical tables, which was announced in the last report
as having been commenced, has been delayed on account of an error
detected by the author in the reduction of one of the formulas, which
required the recomputation of a considerable number of pages. We
regret that much disappointment has been felt at the long delay of the
appearance of these tables, which has been owing to the many pres-
sing engagements of the author. We have now directed the printer
to strike off such portions of the work as are stereotyped, and these
will probably be ready for distribution to our meteorological observers
before the publication of this report.

These tables will serve to form a part of a great work suggested
by Mr. Babbage, entitled ‘‘The Constants of Nature and Art,” in-
tended to contain all facts which can be expressed in numbers, in the
various branches of knowledge, such as the atomic weights of bodies,
specific gravities, elasticity, tenacity, specific heat, conducting power,
melting point; weight of different gases, liquids, and solids; the

strength of different materials; velocity of sound of cannon balls; elec-
tricity, light, animals, &c., &c., &c. Such a work would be perpetu-
ally useful in original investigations, as well as in the application of
science to the useful arts ; but to carry out fully the idea of the author,
the co-operation of a number of institutions would be necessary. It, -
however, consists of parts, any one of which will be considered of im-
mediate value. An account and examples of this work are given in
the appendix.

The materials for a new edition of the Report on Libraries have
been collected, and are now being arranged and prepared for the press
by Mr. Rhees, chief clerk of the Institution. Considerable difficulty
has been experienced in obtaining answers to the circulars first issued,
but the distribution of a second edition has called forth a large amount

>

0 §

84 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

of interesting information. The work will exhibit the rapid progress
which this country is making in the means of acquiring knowledge,
as well as indicate the kind of books which receive most attention.
It was at first proposed to publish it as a part of the appendix of the
Report to Congress; but it has been found impossible to complete it
in time for that purpose, and it will, therefore, be printed by the In-
stitution in a separate form.

~ Hexchanges.—The system of international exchanges has been carried
on during the year 1856 with unabated activity, but with increasing
expense, notwithstanding the liberal assistance which has been con-
tinued by the several transportation companies mentioned in the last
report. A large room, occupying nearly the whole of the first floor
of the east wing, 75 feet long and upwards of 30 feet in width, has
been devoted entirely to the business connected with the exchanges.
It has been fitted up with cases, shelves, and boxes, similar in ar-
rangement to a post office, in which a separate space is appropriated
to each country and each institution. ;

This part of the general operations of the Institution continues to
joe received with much favor by literary and scientific societies and in-
dividuals in this country and abroad, and is increasing every year in
extent and usefulness. We hope, however, hereafter to render it more
perfect and useful, particularly by increasing the frequency of trans-
missions. %

I regret that at this time I am not able to give the exact statistics
of the amount sent and received during the past year, since a second
invoice is now in the course of preparation, containing many articles
which should properly be included among those of the present year.

Meteorology.—In the last report of the Board of Regents it was
announced that an arrangement had been made with the Commis-
sioner of Patents by which the system of meteorology, established
under the direction of the Institution, would be extended, and the
results published more fully than could be done by the Smithsonian
income alone; that a new set of blank forms had been prepared by
myself, and widely distributed under the frank of the Patent Office ;
and also that an appropriation had been made for the purchase of a
large number of rain-gauges, to be presented to observers in different
parts of the country. This copartnership, as it may be called, has
produced good results; the number of observers has increased, and
the character of the instruments and of the observations has been

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY, 35

improved, The reduction of the registers has been continued by
Prof. Coffin during the past year. He has completed those for 1854
and 1855, and is now engaged on those for 1856. A summary of the
more important reductions for 1854 and 1855 was given in the last
Report of the Patent Office, and hope was entertained that an ar-
rangement could be made by which the whole series would be pub-
lished at the expense of the general government. But this expectation
has not been realized, and the Institution has commenced to stereo-
type the work on its own account. Copies of the stereotype impres-
sions will be forwarded, from time to time, to observers, as they
become ready for distribution.

During the past year many additions have been made to the
number of observers, and increased interest has been awakened in the
subject of meteorology. Quite a number of observers have furnished
themselves with full sets of standard instruments, and the system has
thus been increased in precision as well as magnitude. It is to be
regretted, however, that the observers are not more uniformly distri-
buted over the whole country ; while the northern and eastern States
are abundantly supplied the southern and western are deficient,
particularly Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas,
Louisiana, and Texas.

Several of the observers publish the results of their observations in
the newspapers of their vicinity, and we would commend this custom
to general adoption. It serves to direct attention to the importance
of precise records of the weather, to awaken a greater public interest
in the subject of meteorology, and to gratify a laudable curiosity in the
comparison of the variations of the different seasons. We would also
recommend to the observers generally the plan adopted by some of
them, of the construction of diagrams, exhibiting to the eye, at a
single glanee, the peculiarities of temperature, moisture, and direc-
tion of the wind, for different seasons and years.

All the materials possessed by the Institution relative to the direc-
tion and force of the wind, derived either from its, own system or
found in works received by exchange, have been placed in the hands
of Prof. Coffin, to enable him to prepare a supplement to his valuable
memoir on the ‘‘ Winds of the Northern Hemisphere.’’ This work
requires a large amount of laborious arithmetical calculation, to defray
the expense of a part of which a small sum has been granted from
the appropriation for meteorology. The fact was also mentioned
in the last report, that a valuable series of observations made in Texas
and Mexico, by the late Dr. Berlandier, was placed at our disposition

36 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

by Lieutenant Couch, late of the United States army; and I am
happy to state to the Board that these observations are at present in
the process of revision, and that they will be published, at least in
part, if not entirely, during the next year. The Institution is now
also prepared to publish a number of series of observations continued
for considerable periods of time, which will be of importance in the
comparison of the weather of different years.

The great object in view in regard to this branch of science is to
furnish materials which all who are so disposed may study, and from
which deductions may be made as to the peculiarities of our climate,
or the general meteorological phenomena of the globe. It is highly
desirable that as many minds as possible should be employed on this
subject, and it is consequently important that the greatest procurable
amount of authentic data should be furnished to them as the basis of
their investigations. The continent of North America presents a field
of peculiar interest in regard to geography, geology, botany, zoology,
and meteorology, which has been cultivated more industriously since
the establishment of this Institution than at any former period; and
now, with the proper co-operation of the medical department of the
army, by means of observations made at the different military posts on
the west, the system about to be established in Canada on the north,
and that of the Smithsonian and Patent Office on the east, with that
of the National Observatory on the sea surrounding our coast, more
extended and accurate means than were ever before in existence will be
offered for the solution of some of the most interesting problems of
climatology. In order, however, to full success in this enterprise, all
considerations of personal or institutional aggrandizement should be
entirely discarded, and each party be impelled alone by the desire to
advance as much as is in its power the cause of truth. The policy of
this institution has ever been of a character as liberal as its means
would permit, and we trust it will not cease to extend a generous co-
operation to every well devised plan intended to promote knowledge.

We cannot hold out the idea that great results are at once to be
obtained for the improvement of agriculture, and the promotion of
health and comfort, by a system of meteorological investigation,
There are no royal roads to knowledge, and we can only advance to
new and important truths along the rugged path of experience, guided
by cautious induction, We cannot promise to the farmer any great
reduction in the time of the growth of his crops, or the means of pre-

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. Oo”

dicting, with unerring certainty, the approach of storms. But in the
course of a number of years the average character of the climate of
the different parts of the country may be ascertained, and the data
furnished for reducing to certainty, on the principle of insurance, what
plants can be most profitably cultivated in a particular place ; and it
is highly probable that the laws of storms may be so far determined
that we shall be able, when informed by the telegraph that one has
commenced in any part of the country, to say how it will spread, and
whether it may be expected to extend to our own locality. Wemake
these remarks in order to prevent disappointment and the evils pro-
duced by exciting expectations which cannot possibly be realized.

Terrestrial Magnetism.—Nearly a continuous record of the changes
of magnetic declination has been kept up by the photographic method,
during the greater part of the past year, at the magnetic observatory
established by the Institution and the United States Coast Survey.
The series was interrupted, in December, by some improvements in
the arrangement of the building, and by preparations for the mount-
ing of additional instruments for recording the changes of horizontal
and vertical force. The apparatus was constructed, at the request of
Professor Bache, under the direction of Charles Brooke, Esq., of Lon-
don, who originally designed this method of registration, and who
kindly undertook to adjust all the delicate compensations. Similar
instruments are in operation at the magnetic observatories of Green-
wich, Paris and Toronto; and itis hoped that a continuous correspond-
ing record will in future be made here, which will prove of great
interest and utility in the study of the phenomena of terrestrial mag-
netism.

The set of portable magnetic instruments for absolute determina-
tions belonging to the Institution are placed in’ charge of Baron
Muller, who is making a scientific expedition to Mexico and Central
America. Recent investigations having shown that magnetic obser-
vations in those regions, where none have been made since Humboldt
visited them, more than fifty years ago, would have a special value in
determining the law of distribution, the Institution availed itself of
the opportunity offered, by Baron Muller’s expedition, to forward this
branch of knowledge by furnishing instruments, and appropriating an
amount adequate to cover the additional expenses occasioned by these
observations. ull copies of the records are transmitted to the Insti-
tution as opportunity offers. The results of the observations, as far as

38 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

received, are given in the appendix to this report ; they will be pub-
lished in detail when the series is complete.

Laboratory.—lt was stated in the last report that, in conformity
with the act of Congress incorporating the Institution, a laboratory
had been fitted up with the necessary apphances for original research
in chemistry and other branches of physical science. During the past
year, besides the examination of minerals and other substances sub-
mitted to the Institution, a series of experiments have been made re-
lative to the strength of materials for building purposes, to some points
of meteorology, and to electrical induction. The results that have
been obtained from these investigations will, in due time, be given
to the public.

Library.—During the past year the library has received, by ex-
change, a larger accession than during any previous year. The
whole number of volumes, parts of volumes, and other articles ob-
tained by this means, is 5,361.

The series of transactions and scientific periodicals is gradually be-
coming more and more complete; and, in the course of a few years,
this collection will be as extensive as any to be found in the Old
World. A second part of the catalogue of transactions, now in the
library, has been published, and distributed to foreign institutions.
In this the deficiencies of the library are pointed out, and in many
cases these have already been supplied by the liberality of the
societies having duplicates of the desired articles.

Though the books received by donation and exchange are of the
most valuable character, and such as cannot, in many cases, be pro-
cured by purchase, yet, as they are generally presented in parts of
volumes in paper covers, they require a large expenditure for binding.
During the last two years, the sum of three thousand dollars has been
paid for this purpose.

Among the liberal donors to whom the Smithsonian Library is
indebted, principally on account of the system of exchange, special
acknowledgment is due to the Prussian government for the continua-
tion of the celebrated work, by Lepsius, on Egypt; to Baron Korff,
of the Imperial library of Russia, for the volumes of the monuments
of the Cimmerian Bosphorus; to the Board of Health of London, for
a full set of its reports; to the Imperial Society of Naturalists of
Moscow, for 21 volumes, 8vo, of the Bulletin of its proceedings; to
F. A. Brockhaus, of Leipsic, for 151 quarto volumes of the Ency-
clopadie der Wissenschaften ; to Justus Perthes, of Gotha, for ninety-

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 39

two volumes of maps and other geographical publications; to R.
Lepsius, for a nearly complete series of his philological and ethnolo-
gical works ; to the Naturforschende Gesellschaft, at Basle, for seventy-
three volumes of rare scientific journals ; to the Geological Society of
France, for eleven volumes of its Bulletin, and four volumes of its
Memoirs ; to the Observatory at Milan, for fifteen volumes of Hffem-
eridi ; to the University of Athens, for thirty-four volumes of modern
Greek works; to the University of Tubingen, for twenty-eight folio
and quarto volumes of rare and curious incunabula; to the Riks-
bibliotek of Stockholm, for three hundred volumes of proceedings of
the Swedish Diet; to the London Admiralty, for ninety charts, pub-
lished from August, 1855, to August, 1856; to Dr. Thomas B.
Wilson, of Philadelphia, for a set of Buffon’s works, 28 volumes, and
Nouveau Dictionnaire d’ Historie Naturelle, 30 volumes; to the Duke
de Lugnes, for a fac-simile of the inscription on the Sidonian sarco-
phagus, and the volume describing it, which were furnished at the
request of the Institution, for the use of some of our oriental scholars,
by its liberal author.

In regard to the last mentioned donation the following account
may, perhaps, be interesting: A sarcophagus, bearing a long Pheeni-
cian inscription, having been exhumed in the vicinity of the ancient
Sidon, in the beginning of the year 1855, the American missionaries
on the spot, with praiseworthy zeal for learning, took copies of the
writing and transmitted them to this country and to Hurope, and
scholars on both sides of the water immediately entered upon its
study and gave their interpretations to the world. Meanwhile, the
sarcophagus itself was purchased by the Duc de Lugnes and presented
to the French government, who deposited it in the gallery of the Louvre.
It had become evident that the copies of the inscription on which the
first interpretation was based, owing to the imperfect means at com-
mand, were necessarily, in several respects, unreliable. At the re-
quest of Prof. H. EH. Salisbury, of Yale College, and William W.
Turner, Librarian of the Patent Office, who had chiefly occupied
themselves with the study of the monument in this country, applica-
tion was made to the Duc de Lugnes, who, with generous promptness,
presented to the Institution exceedingly well executed fac-similes of
the inscriptions on the lid and on the sides of the sarcophagus, and a
copy of the work illustrating the same, published by himself for
private distribution. Thus American scholars are afforded the same
opportunity as is possessed by their compeers in Kurope of making

40% . REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

an independent study, with authentic materials, of this highly inter-
esting relic of antiquity.

We have frequently stated that the principal object of the library
is to furnish the colaborators of the Institution with the means of
ascertaining what has been accomplished in the particular line of
their research. For this purpose, under certain restrictions, we have
forwarded books to different parts of the country, and this we are
enabled to do, without much risk of loss, by means of. the system of
express agency which now forms a net-work of intercommunication
over all parts of the United States. A volume may, it is true, be occa-
sionally lost; but itis better to hazard an occurrence of this kind than
that the books should not be used. The library is also consulted by the
officers of the army, the navy, of the Coast Survey, and the men of
science who have been connected with the several exploring expedi-
tions ; and in this way, it has been made to subserve the general object
of the Institution in the promotion of knowledge. The expense of
this part, however, of the operations of the library is small, in com-
parison with that which is in reality of little importance. I allude
to the cost of keeping up a reading-room, in which the light publica-
tions of the day, obtained through the copyright law, are perused
principally by young persons. Although the law requiring a copy
of each book for which a copyright is granted, to be deposited in the
library was intended to benefit the Institution, and would do so were
it designed to establish a general miscellaneous collection, yet as this
is not the case, and as some of the principal publishers do not regard
the law, the enactment has proved an injury rather than a benefit:
The articles received are principally elementary school manuals and
the ephemeral productions of the teeming press, including labels for
patent medicines, perfumery, and sheets of popular music. The cost
of postage, clerk-hire, certificates, shelf-room, &c., of these far exceeds
the value of the good works received. Indeed, all the books pub-
lished in the United States, which might be required for the library,
could have been purchased for one-tenth of what has been expended
on those obtained by the copyright law. Similar complaints are
made by the Library of Congress and the Department of State; and
it is therefore evident that this subject requires the attention of gov-
ernment. ‘Three copies of every work are now required to be sent to
Washington, but in no one of these cases is the intention of the copy-
right law fully carried out. If the books are to be preserved as
evidence of title it would seem most fit that they should be deposited

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 4}

and preserved in the Patent Office with other samples of the protected
products of original thought, namely: models of invention and speci-
mens of design.

Two douole cases, each fifty feet in length, have been provided
during the present year, which, with the previous shelves, will be
sufficient to hold the books at present in the library and those which

may be received for some time to come. ag

Musewm.—lt has been stated in previous reports that it is not the
design of the Institution to form a general museum of all objects of
natural history, but of such as are of a more immediate interest in
advancing definite branches of physical research ; and in view of this,
special attention has been bestowed on developing the peculiarities of

the productions of the American continent, with a view to ascertain
what changes animals and plants have undergone, how they differ in
their present as well as their past forms from those on other portions of
the globe, and also the distribution of the same species, and the rela-
tions which they bear to the soil and climate where they are found.
The great object of studies of this class is to determine the laws of the
production, growth, and existence of living beings. The nature of life
itself is at present unknown to us, except in its relation to certain or-
ganic forms and changes going oninthem. Itis, to our apprehension,
inseparably connected in this world with transformations of bodies
chemically composed of a few elementary materials, which are con-
stantly being combined and decomposed, in accordance with laws
peculiar to the living being. In reference to the forms which these
materials assume, the whole animal kingdom has been referred to
four great types or plans of structure, the Vertebrata, the Articulata,
the Mollusca, and the Radiata. From these four types all the varieties
that are found on the surface of the earth are derived. It appears to
be a principle of nature that the most diversified effects are made to
follow from a single conception, a fact which is well expressed by the
terms ‘‘ multiplicity in unity.’’? Whilst every part of the earth is
peopled with animals constructed in accordance with these types, the
fauna of no two parts of the world are precisely alike. Difference in
conditions of climate or soil, or difference in original character, have
produced a diversity, the nature of which is an important object of the
naturalist to investigate. For example, fishes of the same name, and
apparently of precisely the same character, found on the east and west
sides of the Rocky mountains, present peculiarities which, though
slight, are invariable, and which mark a difference of origin or of

49 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

condition. But itis not sufficient for the full investigation of the
subject to provide the means of studying the living faunas and floras
which now characterize different districts ;—science also requires the
collection of materials for the investigation of the animal and vegetable
forms which existed at the same and different localities at various
epochs in the past history of the globe, or, in other words, it is de-
sirous to obtain data for the investigation of the phenomena of life, as
it is exhibited in timeas well as in space; and hence attention is also
given to the collection of complete suites of the organic remains, par- —
ticularly of the hitherto unexplored parts of this country.

In reference to the solution of some important questions now pend-
ing in relation to natural history, Professor Agassiz has called our atten-
tion to several special collections, and as his suggestions are of general
interest, I will here mention them. First, he commends to attention
the tertiary shells, on account of their bearing on the problem of the
mean annual temperature of the globe at different periods anterior to
its present geological condition. Different species of these animals exist
at present each in water of a given temperature; and by ascertaining
the temperature congenial to each species from actual observation on
different parts of the coast, a thermometrical scale would be given by
which to determine the climate of any place in the past geological
periods in which these animals existed. The United States is most
favorably situated for the solution of this question. Its eastern coast
extends north and south over more than 23 degrees of latitude, along
which shells are everywhere common, and present remarkable changes
in their distribution and mode of association. A large collection of
these fossil shells from the tertiary beds in different latitudes from
Maine to Georgia, properly arranged, would, in time, afford as precise
data for ascertaining the mean annual temperature of these shores
during the different periods of the tertiary times as an actual series of
instrumental observations.

Another collection to which the same distinguished naturalist has
called our attention is a series of embryos and young animals of
different species. It is a well established fact that animals of a higher
type pass from the first inception of life in the embryonic state
through a series of forms resembling the lower animals, so that even
in the case of man himself the embryo assumes the form of the fish
or the reptile. The study, therefore, of a series of animals, selected
at different periods of gestation, is of the highest importance in tracing
the progress of their separate developments, and also of ascertaining
the probable forms under which organized beings may be exhibited in
different parts of the present, or in the remains of the past ages of the

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 43.

world. A collection which might be readily made at one of the great

centres, where hundreds of thousands of swine are killed, would enable

us to clear up the history of the growth of this animal, and to estab-

_ lish the true relations between the living and fossil quadrupeds of this

class, or, perhaps, afford the means of tracing a correct outline of
those types which have become extinct, and the forms of which are,
perhaps, only preserved in our day in some transient state of the off-
spring, uncompleted inthe womb of our living species. Indeed, so far
does Professor Agassiz carry this idea, that he entertains no doubt of
the practicability of drawing correct figures of the fossil Paletherium
and <Anoplotherium from the embryos of our present allied animals,
viz: of our hogs and horses.

The museum continues to receive large addbbions from the govern-

- ment surveys and other sources. According to the statement of Prof.

Baird, the specimens catalogued at the end of the year 1856 were as
follows, viz: Of mammals, 2,046; of birds, 5,855; of skulls and skele-
tons, 3,060, making in all an aggregate of nearly eleven thousand
articles, besides 2,000 mammals in alcohol, and at least 1,200 skins
of birds not yet entered on the museum registers.

However valuable these collections may be in themselves, they are
but the rough materials from which science is to be evolved; and so
long as the specimens remain undescribed, and their places undeter-
mined in the system of organized beings, though they may serve to
gratify an unenlightened curiosity, they are of no importance in the
discovery of the laws of life.

The collections of the Institution are intended for original investi-
gation, and for this purpose the use of them, under certain restric-
tions, will be given to any person having the knowledge and skill
necessary to the prosecution of researches of this character. It is not
the policy of the Institution to hoard them up for mere display, or for
the special use of those who may be immediately connected with the
establishment. Cdéoperation, not monopoly, as we have stated in
previous reports, is the motto which expresses our principle of action.
It is an object of the Institution to induce as many persons as possible
to undertake the study of special branches of natural history, and to
furnish them, as far as possible, with the means of knowing what hag
been done, as well as of adding to the stock of existing knowledge.
The only return which is required is that proper credit in all cases
should be awarded to the Institution for the facilities it has afforded.

Included in the additions to the museum during the last few years
from government#exploring parties and private individuals have been
a number of living animals. Among these were two bald eagles, an

44 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

antelope, monkeys, raccoons, two wild cats, a jaguar, and a large
grizzly bear, the latter from the Rocky Mountains. Though these
objects are of importance in serving as models for drawings by the
various artists engaged in figuring the collections of the different sur-
veying and exploring expeditions, it is neither compatible with the
means of the Institution, nor the duties of the Secretary and his
assistants to take the custody of specimens of this character. We
have, however, been relieved from this unenviable charge by the kind
cdoperation of Dr. Nichols, Superintendent of the Government Insane
Asylum, who has provided suitable accommodations for the animals
on the extensive grounds of that institution, and rendered them sub-
servient to its benevolent object in the amusement and: consequent
improvement of its patients. As they are in the immediate neighbor-
hood of this city, they are readily accessible to strangers, and students
of natural history, who visit the seat of government. While presents
of this kind evince kind feelings, and are complimentary to the manage-
ment of the Institution, the expense of transportation in some cases has
been rather a heavy tax, and while we cannot very well refuse dona-
tions of this character, they would be much more acceptable were
they received free of cost.

In connexion with this subject it may be stated that we have
frequent applications for exchanges of specimens with foreign institu-
tions; but while we are anxious to diffuse as widely as possible a
knowledge of the natural history of this country, and to distribute
articles which may serve to verify the Smithsonian publications, still
it is not the policy with the present income to collect specimens other
than those directly intended to illustrate the productions of the North
American continent.

For a detailed account of the operations of the museum, the explo-
rations which have been undertaken during the year at the expense
of the government or otherwise, and the sources from which donations
have been received, I will refer to the report of Prof. Baird, herewith
submitted.

— Gallery of Art.—The room apropriated to the gallery of art is still
occupied by the series of interesting Indian portraits, by Mr. Stanley.
It is to be hoped that Congress will make an appropriation for the
purchase of these illustrations of a race of men rapidly disappearing
betore the advance of civilization. The collection should be kept to-
gether and carefully preserved as a faithful ethnological record of the
characteristics of the aboriginal inhabitants of the western portion of
our continent. It is the most complete collection ef the kind now in
existence, and it would be a matter of lasting regret were the pictures

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 45

sold to individ uals, and thus separated. Mr. Stanley, though possess
ing much enthusiasm and liberality in regard to his art and com-
mendable pride in this collection, will feel compelled, in justice to his
family, to dispose of it to individuals, unless Congress becomes the
purchaser.

The Institution possesses a valuable collection of engravings, well
calculated to illustrate every epoch in the history of the art, as well as
the style of the greatest masters. It is desirable that a catalogue be
prepared, under the names of the engravers, in alphabetical series and
with references to the volume and page, of the authors by whom the
pieces have been described and criticised. The smaller engravings
should be mounted in portfolios or volumes, and the larger regularly
arranged, and where necessary, mounted on sheets of thick paper or
paste-board, and placed in portfolios. A sufficient number to illus-
trate various styles, and also such as are of extraordinary merit, rarity,
or cost, ought to be framed as a means of preservation as well as of
exhibition.

It was a part of the original programme of organization, to furnish
accommodations free of expense for the exhibition of works of art, and
since there is no city of the Union visited by a greater number of in-
telligent strangers than Washington, particularly during the session
of Congress, it is, perhaps, one of the best places in our country for
this purpose. A few artists during the past year have availed them-
selves of the advantages thus afforded, and perhaps others would em-
brace the opportunity were the facts more generally known.

Lectures.—Arrangements have been made for the usual number of
lectures during the present session of Congress. The plan previously
adopted has been adhered to, namely, to give courses of lectures on
particular branches of knowledge, interspersed occasionally with single
lectures on particular topics. It may be proper to mention that the
amount paid the lecturer is merely intended to defray liberally his
expenses, and not as full remuneration for his services. Frequent
applications have been made, as in previous years, for invitations to
lecture ; but as a general rule, the honor has not been extended to
those who appeared most solicitous to obtain it. Men of standing
and established reputation have principally been chosen, and the dis-
courses which they have delivered have been such as to improve the
moral and intellectual character of the audience. All subjects of a
political or sectarian character have been excluded.

.

46 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

The following is a list of the lectures* which were delivered during
the winter of 1856-57 :

Three lectures by Prof. Jos. Le Conte, of Georgia, on “Coal,’’ and
and three lectures on ‘‘ Coral.”’ .

One lecture by J. R. Thompson, Esq., of Richmond, Virginia,
on ‘‘ Huropean Journalism.”’

One lecture by Dr. J. G. Kohl, on ‘‘The History of American
Geography.”

Five lectures by Rev. J. G. Morris, M. D., of Baltimore, on the
*¢ Habits and Instincts of Insects.’’

Six lectures by Prof. Benjamin Pierce, of Cambridge, Mass., on
*¢ Potential Physics.”’

1. The elements of potential physics. The material universe con-

sidered as a machine, as a work of art, or as the manifest word of God. -

2. Potential arithmetic.

3. Potential algebra.

4, Potential geometry.

5. Analytic morphology, or the world’s architecture.

6. The realization of the imaginary, and the powers of justice and
love.

One lecture by Rev. Geo. W. Bethune, D. D., of Brooklyn, N. Y.,

on ‘‘ The Orator.”’

Three lectures by W. Gilmore Simms, Hsq., of South Carolina:

1. On the Professions.

2. Ante-Columbian History of America.
- 8. Ante-Colonial History of the United States.

Hight lectures by Dr. D. B. Reid, of Edinburg, on the ‘ Pro-
gress of Architecture in relation to Ventilation, Warming, Lighting,
Fire-Proofing, Acoustics, and the general preservation of Health.’’

The operations of the Institution have been continually expanding,
and it is with difficulty they can be kept within the limit required by
the Smithsonian fund. So far, therefore, from wanting general fields
of usefulness, the opportunity of doing good is only restricted by the
amount of means which can be employed.

Respectfully submitted.
JOSEPH HENRY.
Wasuineton, January, 1857.

* Tn order to complete the list for the winter of 1856=’57 the lectures delivered after
the date of the report have heen added. ;

APPENDIX TO THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

SMITHSONIAN Instrrution,
December 31, 1856.

Sin: I beg leave to present herewith a report for the year 1856 of
Operations of such departments of the Smithsonian Institution as have
been intrusted by you to my care.

Respectfully submitted.

; SPENCER F. BAIRD,

Assistant Secretary.
JosupH Henry, LL.D.,
Secretary Smithsonian Institution.

1.—Pvusiications.—The eighth volume of the Smithsonian Contri-
butions to Knowledge was published and distributed during the year.
In size it exceeds any of those preceding it in the series, embracing
556 pages of text and nine plates. A large portion of the ninth
volume is also printed, and it 1s expected that the rest will be finished
early in 1857.

The octavo publications during the year consist of the tenth annual »
report to Congress and Coffin’s Psychrometrical Tables.

II.—Excuanors.—The receipts by execnange during 1856, both
for the Smithsonian Institution itself and for the other parties for
whom it acts as agent, have been unusually great, considerably ex-
ag those of any previous year, as will be shown by the following
table :

The following table exhibits the total of receipts as compared with 1855.

1855. 1856.
Wi Gltmes——Octayios\s selniues sls s-cin's o\¢s « o)« 717 966
CG QiurancOrpererosavorerereieroreererssclatele 233 329
WY loliotelletalclslelers cileielels\es}aiatelers 87 61
—- 1,037 — 1,356
Parts of volumes and pamphlets—
MEW o omcoooagcacoocboods 1,427 1,413
Gia Loa yorcvelelalete;sictayeroisamisiela)s 239
icliGeiecfelaielalejan is ial ain/s siciaealela'e Al 38
; — 1,707 — 1,834
Maps, charts, and engravings. . 26
Ota sn nioip en a s\c/aja a dlenieicicsis «« 2,770 3,339
Number of distinct donations. ...00e: Delite. 2,331

The copies of the eighth volume of Smithsonian Contributions to
Knowledge were all duly forwarded to such addresses in the United
States and Europe as were entitled to receive them. Those for Hurope.

48 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

were accompanied, as usual, by the publications of all the American
societies, and filled 36 large boxes. The Institution did not receive
enough copies of its separate memoirs for distribution at that time,
and the transmission to minor societies and individuals was deferred
until the begining of 1857. The statistics of the whole will be pre-
sented altogether in the next report.

III.—MUSEUM.
A.—Increase of the Museum.

In my last report I had occasion to call attention to the very large
increase in magnitude of the collections received in 1855 compared
with those of preceding years. As many of these had been gathered
by parties engaged in government surveys, of which few were in the
field in 1856, it was not expected that this year would equal the last
in the extent of additions to the museum of the Smithsonian Institu-
tion. On the contrary, however, there has been no year in which so
many valuable accessions have been made; the pre-eminence consist-
ing not only in the number of specimens, but in their intrinsic value
and variety. For details on this subject I must refer to subsequent
portions of my report, and shall here only present a comparative table
of receipts for the three past years:

1854. 1855. 1856.

Number of articles received—

(Barrels And Kegs a eh s sa ce Gaevle seatiadaa ns 39 26 19
Cacia Me LT ese La seme, Ato aR MEP E H pay 26 18 23
TGS ES OU atl aU ebig saa tinct 175 187 127
Boxes scm: i iicmchiss obi vase oGuinueacite ce aa aazer 94 159 234
Dahesh east ah tas meh tnek sane ua wasdmleales — a 1
PACA CES week’ Ane t centers uaa abberoriaeateatiuaaes 32 79 87

Dota mnaveaai shout ecu sneee wma: 362 476 AQ1
PERATALE COMALIONS .uycosoerai scence anes 130 229 274
ONO sees dala Sige alte demipiecise ae atta 85 130 160

From the above table it will be seen that the increase in the number
of packages of donations, and of donors, during 1856, has been almost
as marked as that of 1855 over 1854. I shall now proceed to advert
briefly to the most important sources whence these collections were
derived, and then mention the principal additions in the different.
branches of the museum. Asin past years, the bulk of the specimens
received were collected by government parties, and deposited with the
Smithsonian Institution in pursuance of the act of Congress which
directs this disposition of all natural history property of the United
States which may be in the city of Washington.

a.—THE MEXICAN BOUNDARY LINE.

Survey of the boundary line between the United States and Mesxico—
Major W. H. Emory, U. 8. A., commissioner.—In my last report the

REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 49

return of the main party under the commissioner was announced, and
‘brief mention made of the important collections gathered during the
survey. The party engaged on the western portion of the line, under
Lieutenant N. Michler, arrived in Washington early in the present
year. The natural history collections were made by Arthur Schott,
-esq., and were in very great variety, embracing many species new to
the fauna of the United States; thus rendering still more just the
remarks made in my last report upon the comprehensiveness and
value of the natural history results of the United States and Mexican
boundary survey.

Fort Yuma.—An important addition to our knowledge of the zool-
ogy of the Mexican boundary line was made by Major G. H. Thomas,
United States army, assisted by Lieutenant Dubarry, United States
army, in a sezies of the animals of Fort Yuma. This embraced sev-
eral new species; the most important of which was a Phyjllostome bat,
the first member of that family ever found within the limits of the
United States.

- 6.—REGIONS WEST OF THE MISSOURI.

The government parties engaged in the regions north of the Mexi-
can boundary line and on or west of the Missouri river, and from
which collections have been received in 1856, are three in number ;
the results of which were important and satisfactory in a high degree,
The labors of other parties of a more private character working within
the same field have also yielded fruits of great value.

1. The exploration of the Llano Estacado, under Captain J. Pope,
Umited States army.—Tnis expedition was sent out in 1854 for the
purpose of testing the practicability of artesian borings for water
in the desert plains of Texas. It returned in October, 1856, atter
having succeeded in accumulating a large mass of facts and ob-
servations respecting the geology, geography, topography, mag-
netism, meteorology, and other physical features of the climate
and soil of the staked plains. But the results of most interest here
consist in a very extensive collection of the animals of that little
known region, embracing full series of its vertebrata and insects.
The collection, in respect to the latter, is indeed of hitherto unexam-
pled extent in the history of government expeditions ; Captain Pope
having directed particular attention to specimens in this obscure de-
partment of American zoology. The result is to be found in sixty
boxes of pinned insects of all orders, in great excellence of preserva-
tion, and furnishing, not only ample materials for the study of geo-
graphical distribution, but likely to throw much light on the charac-
ter, habits, and changes of many species of western insects, already
possessing a painful prominence for their devastations of plants of
both wild and cultivated growth.

Complete collections of the mammals, birds, reptiles, and fishes of
this region were also made; among them several species entirely new,
and others not previously known, except in very different localities.

4s

50 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

Large collections in botany, mineralogy, and geology were also made,
but have not been received at the Institution.

2. Exploration of the Missouri und Yellowstone rivers, under Lieut.
G. K. Warren, United States army.—This expedition, accompanied
by Dr. F. V. Hayden as geologist and naturalist, left St. Louis in
April, and returned in November, having in the mean time explored
the whole Missouri, from Council Bluffs to a point eighty miles above
the mouth of the Yellowstone, and up the latter to the mouth of the
Powder river. Short as was the time actually occupied in the field—
scarcely six months—the party not only made the regular astronom-
ical and topographical observations, but also contributed in a high
degree to the advancement of natural science, by securing the largest
collection in natural history ever obtained by any one government ex-
pedition to the West. Some idea of the extent of these collections may
be formed from the fact that they embraced one hundred and fifty
mammals, six hundred birds, (one hundred and thirty-five species,)
skulls in large number, with several skeletons of each of the large
quadrupeds of the plains; about forty boxes of selected fossils, weigh-
ing several tons, among them an extensive series of the remarkable
plants of the tertiary, first discovered in North America by Dr. Hay-
den on a previous exploration, together with numerous plants, Indian
implements, dresses, &c. All the large mammals of the plains, buf-
falo, elk, deer, bears, wolves, antelope, bighorn, &c., are represented
in full by a series of skins, skeletons, and skulls, in perfect condition,
fitted at any time to be mounted and placed on exhibition.

3. Hxpedition for the construction of a wagon road from Fort Riley
to Bridger’s Pass, under Lieutenant F. T. Bryan, United States
army.—This party, accompanied by W. S. Wood, esq., of Philadel-
phia, as collector and naturalist, left St. Louis in May, and returned
in November. The collections of the expedition, though exceeded in
magnitude by those of Lieutenant Warren and Captain Pope, were
yet of very great extent, and embraced a number of species larger
than usual in proportion to that of the specimens, owing to the care-
ful selection rendered necessary by the limited amount of transporta-
tion. A peculiar interest attached to this party from the fact of its
route having been in part along or near that of Major Long’s expedi-
tion in 1819, who, as is well known, was accompanied as naturalist
by the eminent Say. Thirty-seven years had elapsed, and many of the
species observed on that occasion, and shortly after described, were
either obscurely known or altogether overlooked, owing to the loss in
one way or another of the original specimens. It will, then, be a
source of no little gratification to those interested in the natural his-

tory of America to learn, that in the collections made by Mr. Wood

are to be found nearly all the vertebrate species gathered by Say in
the way out to the Rocky mountains; those on Say’s return route
having also been collected by Captains Marcy, Whipple, Gunnison,
and Beckwith, a few years ago.

The most important collections made under Lieutenant Bryan con-
sist of the mammals, birds, reptiles, and fishes. Specimens of nearly

?

REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 51

all the species observed were obtained, embracing, as did those of the
two explorations previously mentioned, several new species. ©

Haploration of the Upper Missouri to the mouth of the Judith, in
1855, by Dr. F. V. Hayden.—Numerous collections made on this
occasion by Dr. Hayden were received during the year, and included
very many specimens of vertebrata, insects, and fossils of much the
same character as those referred to under head of Lieutenant War-
ren’s expedition. It was on this occasion that Dr. Hayden made the
discovery on the Judith river of a peculiar formation which, by its
reptilian remains, would seem to represent the wealden of England,
as suggested by Dr. Leidy.

Explorations of Dr. J. G. Cooper and Dr. George Suckley, United
States army.—The final collections of Dr. Cooper made in Washing-
ton Territory and California were received in 1856, and closed the
important labors of this naturalist, commenced in 1853. These em-
braced all the departments of natural history, including many species:
before unknown. This gentleman, as mentioned in a previous report,.
went out as surgeon and naturalist to Washington Territory with the:
western division of Governor Stevens’ Pacific railroad party, under
charge of Captain George B. McClellan; and after the expiration of
his engagement remained in the country, chiefly at Vancouver and.
Shoalwater bay, spending a short time, previous to his return to the
Atlantic coast, near San Francisco.

Dr. Suckley, atter returning on leave to the United States in 1855,
weut back in November of that year to Washington Territory in com-
pany with a detachment of United States troops. Stationed most of
his time at Steilacoom, on Puget Sound, the scene of his former labors,
in fact, Dr. Suckley renewed many of his previous collections, and
added considerably to his list of species; and sent to Washington
many boxes of specimens.* ‘To these two gentlemen, in connexion
with J. K. Townsend, esq., we are indebted for a knowledge of the:
entire natural history of the coast regions of northern Oregon and.
Washington Territories such as is possessed by but few States—by
their labors the vertebrate animals being, not only well known, but.
the geographical distribution of the species minutely ascertained, and
the fullest notices of the habits and peculiarities placed on record..
Indeed, it is a serious question whether the species of the Atlantic
coast and its adjoining regions are as well known as those of the Pa-
cific slope, through the labors of Drs. Cooper, Suckley, Townsend,
Gambel, Heermann, Kennerly, Webb, Newberry, and J. F. Ham-
mond; Lieutenant W. P. Trowbridge and his assistants, Messrs.
James Wayne, A. Cassidy, T. A. Szabo; Major G. H. Thomas,
‘Lieutenant Dubarry, and Messrs. Nuttall, Bell, Bowman, Schott,
ees Gibbons, Taylor, Gibbs, Grayson, Samuels, Hutton, and
otners.

From Dr. J. F. Hammond, United States army, many valuable

* Among these were some skins of mountain goats, presented by Lieutenant Nugen,
United States army.

52 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

collections, gathered in southern Oalifornia, were received, furnishing
not only several species not previously in our collections, but also
supplying most important materials for determining the distribution
of the animals of the western slope generally.

Mr. A. 8. Taylor, of Monterey, has furnished a variety of species,
while A. J. Grayson, esq., has supplied a number of birds of much
interest.

Other California collections, of greater or less extent, were received
from Capt. Stone and Dr. Antisell, and A. Campbell, esq.

Heplorations in the vicinity of Petaluma, (Cal.) by #. Samuels, esq.—
Brief mention was made in my last report of the fitting out of Mr.
Samuels by the Boston Society of Natural History and the Smithsonian
Institution, aided by the liberality of the United States mail line to
California, via Panama. Mr. Samuels returned in July last, having
thoroughly explored the field of his labors, and gathered a rich
collection of specimens, embracing many rare and new species. The
liberal promises of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, the Panama
Sjailroad Company, and the United States Mail Steamship Company,

“hawe been more than realized in the free passage home given to Mr.
~ Samuels and all his large collections—an act of generosity which may
well excite the attention and recognition of the lovers of science.
' Nor should less meed of praise be awarded to Messrs. Wells, Fargo
& Co. for their free transmission to San Francisco of Mr. Samuels’
boxes, thus facilitating their semi-monthly despatch to Washington.

it may, perhaps, not be out of place here to state that the above
mentioned mail line still continues its kind offices by transporting,
free of charge, all packages of the Smithsonian Institution containing .
books of specimens of natural history. The United States mail line,

also, has furnished free freight of a similar character from Cuba and
New Orleans te New York.

The results of Mr. Samuels’ explorations will shortly be published

in connected form in the journal of the Boston Society of Natural
History, illustrated with the necessary plates and figures.

Oollections in Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, and Utah.—In addition to
the great collection made by Capt. Pope, Lieut. Bryan, Lieut. War-
ven, and Dr. Hayden in these territories, several others have been
received, of more or less importance, which will be referred to under
their appropriate head. A collection of plants from the vicinity of
Fort Belknap, made by Dr. Vollum, United States army, and of
plants and animals from Fort Chadbourne, by Dr. H. Switt, United
States army, have added to our knowledge of the natural history of
Texas. A collection of reptiles and birds from Fort Riley, Kansas,

was also received from Dr. W. F. Hammond.
¢.—REGIONS HAST OF THE MISSOURI.
_ Jt will be impossible, with the limits assigned me, to go into detail

respecting the collections from this portion of the United States,
although much of great value’has been received. The principal con-

REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 53

tributors will be referred to hereafter, under the head of special
departments of the museum, as well as in the alphabetical list of
“¢ additions to the museum.”’

d.—OTHER PORTIONS OF THE WORLD.

The year 1856 has witnessed the safe and successful return of the
twonaval explorations sent out in the early part of 1853, and dili-
gently occupied ever since in fulfilling the objects of their mission.
These were, the expedition for the survey of the China seas and
Behring Straits, (first under command of Capt. C. Ringgold, United
States navy, and subsequently under Capt. J. Rodgers, United States
navy,) and the expedition for the exploration of the La Plata and
its tributaries, under Capt. T. J. Page, United States navy.

The Behring Straits expedition, accompanied by Wm. Stimpson as
zoologist and Charles Wright as botanist, visited the island of Ma-
deira, Cape of Good Hope, China seas, Japan, Kamtschatka, Behring
Straits, and the coast of California, returning from Tahiti, via Cape
Horn, in the very short time of seventy-four days. The natural
history results were of great magnitude, filling many boxes and
barrels, and embracing very many new and rare species. Some idea
of the value of the collection may be formed from the following brief
enumeration of the animals brought home:

VSS LE IMAL, cde siden vais ccis clans oie eel 846 species.

AS ECUSE (sali walt ce ceeaie ee cthr ms AQ Oars

(CHPDISREE GH RES ROE RO IEA NS GSQo! ace

J Ton aTSTO UA IRA OI ANE Rat SI 22 (i) ee

JTOLUNCISCE Ne aE ARR: ron nme hae 2, OO Se he

1 EHO MIEN UE RPC AM Tae RSet Se a AGH es
POU eet a tlata edd BN Hal i a

Of these, itis probable that more than one-half are undescribed.
The plants have not yet been assorted, but it is believed that they
will be not inferior in extent to the animals. They occupy in the
original boxes and bales a bulk of over 100 cubic feet.

Mr. Wright left the vessel at San Francisco, and returned via Nic-
aragua. He there made a valuable collection of plants and animals,
but was prevented from completing his explorations by the internal
troubles of the country. He has since gone to Cuba, to investigate
the botany of that island.

It may be proper to remark here, that the whole of a very rich col-
lection of invertebrates made in the Arctic seas was dredged from
the vessel under the immediate superintendence of Captain Rodgers
himself, while the scientific corps was engaged in another portion of
Bebring’s Straits.

The exploration and survey of the La Plata and its tributaries,
under Captain T. J. Page, though consisting of but a single steamer,
the Water Witch, of only 400 tons, and unprovided with naturalists,
has yet accomplished mach for natural science in the collection of very
full series of the birds, reptiles, fishes, insects, and plants of the

54 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

country, with many interesting specimens of minerals, fossils, woods,
and other native products. <A point of special attention was that of
plants useful in the materia medica, and of these many new and rare
kinds were obtained, which cannot fail to be of economical importance,

In making these collections, Captain Page was ably seconded by
Dr. Carter, surgeon of the vessel, Lieutenant Powell and the other
officers, as well as by EH. Palmer, horticulturalist. In addition to the
‘specimens themselves, many valuable notes on the habits and pecu-
liarities of the species were obtained.

Mr. Palmer left the expedition before its return on account of ill
health, and while waiting a passage home made some additional col-
‘iections of reptiles, fishes, and insects, of much interest.

At the present time, all of the collections of these two naval expe-
ditions are stowed in the Smithsonian building, waiting some action
of Congress by which they may be published to the world: Funds
are needed to make the necessary drawings of new or unfigured
species, and to compensate naturalists for preparing the different
reports.

€.— SYSTEMATIC STATEMENT OF ADDITIONS TO THE MUSEUM.

Under the present head, I can only mention, in brief terms, the
most important additions made in the different classes of animals, ©
referring for particulars to the alphabetical list of contributions.
The collections made by the government expeditions will be discussed
at length in their official reports. In the systematic catalogues also
of the collections of the Institution, in preparation for publication,
as soon as their extent will warrant, will be found a careful and de-
tailed indication of the donor and locality of every specimen. It may,
however, be well to extend the table of catalogue specimens, given on
page 54 of last year’s report, to 1856, for the sake of exhibiting the
increase in several departments.

_ | 1952. | 1853. ss. | 1854. | 1855. | 1856.

“cruel alba gia lie teal AEE hl Ba earn bee: 4,353 | 4,495 | 5,855
1,074] 1,190| 1,275 | 2,050| 3,060

To the above enumeration, however, must be added nearly 2,000
mammals in alcohol, and at least 1,200 skins of birds, not yet entered
on the museum register.

No count has been made of the jars filled during the year with
specimens in alcohol. It is believed, however, that the number of
9,171, may be safely increased to nearly 12,000.

Mammals.—It is in this class that the additions have been most
extensive and important, the number of the larger species especially,

REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

being very great.

55

Out of the whole number of additions already

catalogued, 846, the following are those of the larger animals.

Black Bear, Ursus americanus....-++0+- 1
Cinnamon Bear, Ursus cinnamomeus ....
Grizzly Bear, Ursus ferox....ceesceee. lL

Jagan, Helts ONZE, ornate euiarcln « nleiete meee
Prairie Dog, Cynomys ludovicianus....... 50
Beaver, Castor canadensis....scccccrees @
Common Deer, Cervus virginianus.....+. 18

1
0
Racoon, (two species) .-cecsesccerssers §
Wolf, Lupus occidentalis.....20..-..-+- 10
Prairie Wolf, Lupus latrans..ssce eveee 6
Red Fox, Vulpes fulvus......+ wisieelne ses

Gray Fox, Vulpes Virginianus .......2+2 6
Badger Taxidea labradoria ....eceeecee 5
Wild Cat, of three species .....ececeeee 19
Panther, Felis concolor....sessescsress OD

Black Tail Deer, Cervus columbianus..-. 17
Mule Deer, Cervus macrotis...eseccees IL
Elk, Cervis canadensis.......ceceeesscee 12
Antelope, Antelope americana.....++.+. 18
Bighorn, Ovis montana......+..ssese0e 5
Mountain Goat, Capra montana......... 4
Buffalo, Bison americana.....cecccsccees 5

As might readily be inferred, most of the above mentioned speci-
mens were received from Captain Pope, Lieutenant Warren, Lieu-
tenant Bryan, and Dr. Hayden; those collected by Lieutenant Warren
being of extraordinary variety and number.

' Continuations of the collections on the west coast, both of mammals
and birds from Doctors Cooper, Suckley, and Hammond, Mr. Samuels
and others, have been of much interest. Messrs. Kennicott, Jenks,
Pastel, Wilson, Curtis, and others, have contributed many specimens
from the Atlantic region.

Several rich collections of Huropean and Siberian mammals have
been received, and furnish the much desired opportunities of com-
parison with American species. Among them may be mentioned
Dipus jaculus, acontion, sagitta; Meriones opimus, tamaricinus; Sper-
mophilus guttatus, eversmanni, erythrogenys; Cricetus arenarius, fru-
mentarius; Myodes novegicus, torquatus, obensis, lagurus, obscurus,
schisticolor; Arvicola rutilus, oeconomus; Lagomys alpinus; Tamias
pallasu.* Mustela sibirica, Feliscatus, dc.—These have been received
from Dr. George Hartlaub, of Bremen, Dr. F. Brandt, of St. Peters-
burg, and Maximilian, Prince of Wied.

A deficiency in the collection last year of the Geomys pinetis, or
pouched rat of Georgia, sometimes called ‘‘salamander,’’ has been
supplied by specimens received from Dr. Baldwin, Dr. Gesner, and
Mr. Burgwyn.

Birds.—Many specimens of birds have been received from various
parts of the world, and among the North American specimens are
several new species. A collection of nearly 100 Australian species
was presented by Mr. Warfield. Some rare birds from Bolivia were
‘deposited by Mr. Evans.

Reptiles.—Among many, the most interesting specimens of reptiles
added during the year are two of Lepidosiren annectens from the

* By this name I denote the species of ground squirrel found in Siberia by Pallas, and by
-him considered the same with the ground squirrel of the United States. The most superfi-
-cial comparison of the two shows them to be distinct, and as the American animal was first
described by Linnaeus as Tamias striatus, it must retain the name. In the necessity for a
‘new name for the Siberian species, I propose that of the discoverer, in the absence, as far as

I can ascertain, of any other.

56 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. ,

west coast of Africa, presented by Sir William Jardine. This almost.
completes the rich series of ichthyoid reptiles in the Smithsonian
collection, the only deficiency being that of the gigantic salamander’
of Japan, (Sviboldia.):

fshes.—The number of fishes received has not been very great,
compared with previous years, as but few portions of the United States.
lack representatives in the Smithsonian museum at the present time.

Insects.—But few insects have been added during the year, with
the exception of those already referred to under the head of govern--
ment expeditions.

Other Invertebrates—A large collection of 100 species of Achats-.
nella, from the Sandwich Islands, was presented by Dr. Newcomb,
and of shells and crustacea of Florida and Michigan, by O. M. Dor-.
man, Hsq.

Plants.—The principal plants received have been from Texas, col-.
lected by Drs. Swift and Vollum, of the United States army.

Fossils and Minerals.—The principal private collections under this:
head, besides those contributed by Dr. Hayden, were received from I.
Lippman, of Saxony, the K. L. C. Akademie of Breslau, and the
Naturforschende Gesellschaft, of Hmden.

Inving animals.—These consisted chiefly of a Prairie Dog (Cyno--
mys ludovicianus,) Sage Rabbit (Lepus artemisia,) and Prairie Fox
(Vulpes macrourus,) collected by Lieutenant Warren and party.
Some living animals were brought home by Captain Page, as a Ja--
guar, and Nutria (Myopotamus coypus.) The latter has since died.
Mr. David Miller presented a Pennsylvania Fox Squirrel (Scirus:
cinereus.) Many specimens of Arvicola and Hesperomys (mice) were
transmitted by Robert Kennicott.

Several hundred living turtles were received and transmitted to
Professsor Agassiz for examination.

The living animals received from time to time have been found oF i
great use, as studies for the artists engaged in making drawings for
the various government reports. Several of the specimens, as the
Spermophiles, Prairie Dog, Prairie Fox, Antelope, &c., had never-
been figured previously, except from distorted, dried skins.

In the following tables will be found references to the regions from
which collections have been received, and to the nature of the speci-
mens; and at the end a full list of all the donations, arranged
alphabetically by donors. In some cases it has been impossible to»
ascertain the source of collections, owing to the omission by the donor~
of his name and address.

REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 57

I.—GE0GRAPHICAL INDEX TO SPECIMENS RECEIVED.

Vancouver’s istand.—Turner.

Washington and Oregon.—Carter, Cooper, Newberry, sl Se Suckley..

California.—Antisell, Campbell, Cooper, Dubarry, Emory, Grayson,
Hammond, Samuels, Stone, Suckley, Taylor, Thomas, Trow-
bridge.

Utah.—Carrington.

Nebraska.—Atkinson, Bryan, Hayden, Stevens, Walker, Warren,
Watson.

Kansas.—Bryan, Carleton, Hammond.

Missourt.—Agassiz, Engelmann, Riddell, Wilson.

Texas.—Antisell, Pope, Swift, Vollum.

New Mexico.—Bowman.

Arkansas.—Burke.

Mississippi.—Bellman, Teunigon.

Florida.—Baldwin, Burgwyn, Churchill, Dorman, Savery, Smith,

Welsh, Wiirdemann.

Georgia. —Churchill, Gesner, Glover, Jones, Leconte, Postell, Wilson.

South Carolina.—Agassiz, Curtis,

North Carolina.—Bridger, Hunter.

Virginia.—Brakeley, Brooks, Cabanis, Haster, Hall, Hotchkiss, Jenks,
Joynes, McCue, Massy, Tompkins, Tuley.

Maryland and District of Columbia.—Lowndes, Moss, Newberry,
Younger.

Pennsylvania.—Baird, Brickenstein, Brugger, Cassin, Mackey, Miller,
Stauffer, Thickstun.

New Jersey.— Ashmead, Baird, Brown, Cooper.

New York.—Baker, Benton, Byram, Davis, Guest, Hale, Howell,
Reid, White.

Massachusetts.— Atwood, Brewer, Jenks, Jenkins.

Vermont.—Thompson.

New Hampshire.—Harvey.

Maine.—Hanalin.

Michigan.—Dickinson, Dorman, gael Reynolds.

Wisconsin.—Bell, Hoy.

L linois.—Dorman, Kennicott.

Jowa.—Bidwell, Glover, Odell.

Ohio. —Kirtland, Luther, Merrick, Newberry, Newton, Spence.

Indiana.—Cox.

Tennessee.—Mitchell.

Kentucky.—Bibb.

Nova Scotia.—Dawson, Downes, Gilpin, Ross, Willis.

Newfoundland.—Skues, Stabb.

Mexico.—Bobadilla, Hartlaub.

Nicaragua.—Anderson, Smith, Wright.

Cuba.—Poey.

Panama.—Cooper, Evans, Raymond, Rowell, Suckley.

Paraguay.—Page, Palmer.

Brars!.—Cabanis, Page.

58 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

Bolivia.—Evans, Fry.

Jamaica.— Wilson. \

England.—Denny, Jardine.

Germany.—K. L. C. Akademie, Breslau, Lippmann, Max., Pr. Wied,
Naturforschende Gesellschaft, Emdon.

Siberia.—Brandt, Hartlaub.

Africa.—J ardine.

Sandwich Islands.—Newcomb.

North Pacific seas. ree

Ayustralia.—Warfield.

II.—Systematic INDEX To SPECIMENS RECEIVED.

Mammals.—Antisell, Atkinson, Baird, Baker, Baldwin, Bell, Bid-
well, Byram, Brakeley, Brandt, Brewer, Bridger, Bryan, Burgwyn,
Carleton, Cooper, Curtis, Davis, Dawson, Denny, Downes, Dubarry,
Easter, Emory, Engelmann, Gesner, Gilpin, Glover, Grayson, Hale,
Hall, Hammond, Hartlaub, Hayden, Howell, Jardine, Jenks, Jones,
Kennicott, Leconte, Lowndes, Luther, Massey, Max., Pr. Wied, Mil-
ler, Moore, Mitchell, Newberry, Newton, Nugen, Odell, Page, Poey,
Pope, Postell, Reid, Riddell, Rodgers, Rowell, Samuels, Savery,
Skues, Smith, Stabb, Stevens, Swift, "Suckley, Taylor, Teunison,
Thickstun, Thomas, Thompson, Trowbridge, Tuley, Warfield, War-
ren, Watson, Wilson.

Birds.—Bidwell, Bryan, Cabanis, Cassin, Cooper, Davis, Haster,
Hmory, Evans, Glover, Grayson, Hammond, Hartlaub, Hayden,
Kirtland, Luther, Page, Pope, Rodgers, Samuels, Savery, Stabb,
Swift, Suckley, Trowbridge, Warfield, Warren, Wiirdemann.

Reptiles.—Agassiz, Antisell, Ashmead, Baldwin, Brakeley, Brick-
enstein, Bridger, Baird, Bryan, Cabanis, Churchill, Denny, Dickin-
son, Emory, Gesner, Glover, Jardine, Jones, Kennicott, Mitchell,
Newberry, Page, Palmer, Poey, Pope, Reynolds, Rodgers, Rowell,
Samuels, Smith, Stauffer, Swift, Suckley, Taylor, Teunison, Thick-
stun, Thomas, Walker, Warren, Wilson, Wright, Wiirdemann,
Younger.

Fishes.—Baird, Bibb, Brugger, Bryan, Churchill, Cox, Denny,
Emory, Engelmann, Evans, Guest, Jardine, Kirtland, Mitchell,
Page, Palmer, Pope, Rodgers, Samuels, Suckley, Taylor, Tennison,
Trowbridge, Warren, Welsh, Wurdemann.

Insects.—Baldwin, Bowman, Bryan, Cooper, Emory, Mackey, Moss,
Palmer, Pope, Raymond, Rodgers, Rowell, Samuels, Swift, Suckley,
Taylor, Walker, Warren.

Other Invertebrates.—Antisell, Atwood, Bellman, Bibb, Bidwell,
Bryan, Dorman, Luther, Newcomb, Plant, Pope, Rodgers, Samuels,
Smith, Stone, Suckley, Willis.

Plants.—Brown, Carter, Churchill, Cooper, Joynes, Raymond,
Rodgers, Swift, Vollum, Wright.

REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 59

Fossils and Minerals.—Bidwell, Bobadilla, Brooks, Burke, Camp-
bell, Carrington, Denny, Fry, Hammond, Harvey, Hayden, Horner,
Hotchkiss, Hunter, Jenkins, Jenks, K. L. C. Akad., Lippmann,
McOue, Merrick, Naturf. Ges., Emden, Newberry, Ross, Spence, Tay-
lor, Thickstun, Turner, Warren, Wilson.

Miscellaneous.—Hamlin, Hoy, Swift, Tompkins, Triibner, White,
Wilson. |

B.— Work done in the Museum.

The various collections of the year have been unpacked, assorted,
and catalogued as fast as received. Books have been opened for the
registry of the fishes and invertebrates of the series, which will be
- labelled and entered as rapidly as circumstances will admit.

C.— Distribution and use of the Smithsonian Collections.

As in the previous years, the collections of the Smithsonian Insti-
tution have been freely open to the use of any persons engaged in
original research, and many specimens also distributed as exchanges.
The entire series of turtles has been sent to Professor Agassiz, to be
used in the preparation of his work, and many hundreds of living
ones were procured for him. Dr. Wyman has had many specimens
and preparations of salamanders and ichthyoid reptiles. Hggs of
North American birds have been furnished to Dr. Brewer, coleoptera
to Dr. Leconte, neuroptera to Mr. Uhler, hymenoptera to M. Desaus-
sure; seeds to the United States Patent Office; shells to Dr. Gould,
Mr. Lea, Hugh Cuming, and Mr. Cooper; birds to the Bremen
museum and to Dr. Hoy; living reptiles to the Zoological Society of
London ; fossils to Dr. Leidy, &c., &c.

D.—Present Condition of the Museum.

The present condition of the museum of the Smithsonian Institu-
tion may be summed up as follows:

Ist. Its collection of the vertebrate animals of North America, in-
cluding skins, specimens entire in alchohol, and skeletons and skulls,
is in every department, the richest in the world in materials for illus-
trating species and their geographical distribution.

Of invertebrate animals—as insects, shells, crustacea, &c., plants,
minerals, rock specimens, and fossils—its collections from the western
half of the United States are incomparably superior to all others, while
from the eastern portion of the continent it has very good series, though
surpassed in the extent of the different divisions by a number of others,
both public and private. A single exception may perhaps be found in
the private cabinet of coleoptera belonging to Dr. Leconte,-which is by
far the richest known in the species of North America generally. It

60 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

will, however, be a comparatively easy matter to complete the defi-
ciencies of the Smithsonian coliection so as to furnish, in a few years,
as perfect a collection of the natural productions of North America
generally as could reasonably be expected. In most cases, it will be
merely necessary for the Institution to express a desire to possess such
collections from the Atlantic and middle portions of the continent to
have them offered spontaneously. Hitherto it has not been consid-
ered expedient to throw the doors open very wide for the reception of
the more common and better known species.

Of collections from other parts of the world, the Institution possesses
excellent series in many branches of natural history from Paraguay,
Chili, Europe, Siberia, China, Japan, South Africa, and the Pacific
ocean generally.. The results of the Paraguay expedition under Cap-
tain Page, United States navy, and the Behring Straits expedition,
first under command of Captain Ringgold, and then under Captain
Rodgers, are of pre-eminent magnitude and value, far exceeding, in
many respects, those of any previous exploring parties to the same
region.

In illustration of the preceding remarks respecting collections in
North American zoology, it may be stated that the series of verte-
brata is almost complete, very few known species being wanting.
Skins of all the more prominent mammals, as buffalo, elk, deer of
five species, antelopes, mountain goats, bighorn or mountain sheep,
black, cinnamon, and grizzly bears, wolves, foxes, beaver, badger,
otters, prairie dogs, and marmots, peccaries, panther, jaguar, ocelot
or tiger cat, lynxes of four species, wolverine or carcajou, &c., are
now packed away within the walls of the Smithsonian Institution,
ready at any time to be mounted. All the species interesting to the
hunter, the traveller, the farmer, or the man of science can here be
examined or studied. The total number of North American species
cannot be less than two hundred, exclusive of bats, seals, and ceta-
.ceans. Messrs. Audubon and Bachman describe about one hundred
and fifty North American species of mammals. This Institution pos-
sesses about one hundred and thirty of these; and about fifty addi-
tional species have already been detected, although the examination
of the entire collection has not yet been completed.

Of North American birds, the Institution possesses nearly all de-
scribed by Audubon, and at least one hundred and fifty additional
species.

The registered and catalogued specimens of quadrupeds amount to
2,040, of birds to 6,055, of skeletons and skulls to 3,060, nearly all
North American. ‘To these, however, must be added at least 2,000
North American quadrupeds in alcohol, and 1,200 birds not yet entered

Of reptiles, the North American species in the museum of the
Smithsonian’ Institution amount to between 350 and 400. Of the
150 species described in Holbrook’s North American Herpetology, the
latest authority on the subject, it possesses every genuine species,
with one or two exceptions, and at least two hundred additional ones.
It has about 130 species of North American serpents for the 49 de-
scribed by Holbrook.

REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 61

Of the number of species of North American fishes, it is impossible
toform even an approximate estimate, the increase having beenso great.
It will not, however, be too much to say that the Institution has be-
tween four or five hundred species either entirely new or else de-
scribed first from its shelves.

Of skeletons and skulls of North American vertebrata, the Smith-
sonian series is very full, embracing, as shown by a preceding tabk,
over 3,000 specimens.

The collection of minerals and fossils, (including those gathered
by nearly all the United States geological surveys, as by Dr. D. D.
Owen, OC. T. Jackson, Foster and Whitney, Evans, &c.,) are all
carefully classed and catalogued, so as to correspond with and fully
illustrate the reports of these gentlemen. There is also a large col-
lection of geological specimens, made many years ago in New Mexico
and Texas, as well as in Sonora, Chihuahua, and other portions of
northern Mexico, which, with the accompanying notes, furnish indi-
cations of many mineral regions and mining localities now totally
unknown to the people of the United States. Hints are to be derived
from a careful study of this collection of the highest importance in
the development of the mineral region along the Mexican boundary
line.

It may, perhaps, be well here briefly to mention the government
expeditions, by which these collections were made from time to time,
under the authority of the departments. The present and preceding
reports contain much fuller details concerning them.

A.—Geological Surveys.

1. The survey of Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and a portion of
Nebraska. by Dr. David Dale Owen.

2. The survey of the Lake Superior district, by Dr. Charles T.
Jackson. ;

3. The survey of the same region, by Messrs. Foster and Whitney.

4. The survey of Oregon, by Dr. John Evans.

B.— Boundary Surveys.

5. The survey of the line between the United States and Mexico,
first organized under honorable J. B. Weller, as commissioner, and
Major W. H. Kmory, as chief of the scientific department, then under
John RK. Bartlett, commissioner, and Colonel J. D. Graham, chief of
the scientific corps, succeeded subsequently by Major W. H. Emory,
then under General R. B. Campbell, commissioner, and Major W.
H. Emory, chief of the scientific corps.

6. The survey of the boundary line of the Gadsden purchase,
under Major W. H. Emory, commissioner.

62 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY.
C.—Surveys of a Railroad route to the Pacific.

7. Along the 47th parallel, under Governor I. I. Stevens.

8. Along the 38th and 39th parallel, under Captain J. W. Gun-
nison.

9. Along the 41st parallel, under Captain E. G. Beckwith.

10. Along the 35th parallel, under Lieutenant A. W. Whipple.

11. In California, under Lieutenant R. 8. Williamson.

12. Along the 32d parallel, western division, under Lieutenant J.
G. Parke.

13. Along the 32d parallel, eastern division, under Captain J.
Pope.

14. In a portion of California, under Lieutenant J. G. Parke.

15. In northern California and Oregon, under Lieutenant BR. S.
Williamson.

D.—WMiscellaneous Hapeditions under the War Department.

16. Expedition along the 32d parallel, eastern division, for experi-
menting upon artesian borings, under Captain Pope.

17. Exploration of Red river, under Captain R. B. Marcy.

18. Survey of Indian reservation in Texas, under Captain R. B.
Marcy.

19. Exploration of the upper Missouri and Yellowstone, under
Lieutenant G. K. Warren.

20. Construction of a wagon road from Fort Leavenworth to
Bridger’s Pass, under Lieutenant F. T. Bryan.

H.—WNaval Expeditions under the Navy Department.

21. The United States naval astronomical expedition in Chile,
under Lieutenant J. M. Gilliss.

22. The Japan Expedition, under Commodore M. C. Perry.

23. Exploration of the China seas and Behrings Straits, first under
command of Captain C. Ringgold, then under Captain J. Rodgers.

24. Hixploration of the La Plata and its tributaries, under Captain
T. J. Page.

25. Exploration of the west coast of Greenland and Smith’s sound,
under Dr. H. K. Kane.

The preceding enumeration embraces the government explorations,
by which collections of various kinds were made to a greater or less
extent, and deposited with the Smithsonian Institution, in pursuance
of the law of Congress. The government expeditions, the collections
of which are now deposited at the Patent Office, are as follows:

1. The United States Exploring Expedition, under Captain Wilkes.

2. The geological surveys of the northwest in 1840, under Dr. D.
D. Owen.

3. The exploration of the Salt Lake valley, under Captain H.
Stansbury.

4, The exploration of the Creek boundary line, and of the Zuiii river,
under Captain L. Sitgreaves.

REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 63:

5. The Amazon expedition under Lieutenants Herndon and Gibbon.

It will thus be seen, that of thirty government explorations, the-
collections of five-sixths or twenty-four, are now deposited with the
Smithsonian Institution; the remaining ones, one-sixth in number,
are still in the Patent Office, though not all onexhibition. The same
proportion as above will pretty nearly indicate the comparative mag--
nitude of the collections in the two buildings. The disproportion in
favor of the Smithsonian collections will be still greater if we except
the extensive series of implements, utensils, clothing, and fabrics.
generally of the Pacific islands, as collected by Captain Wilkes.
To realize the-difference between the two collections, it must be un-
derstood that at the present time all the Smithsonian collections are-
packed away in the smallest possible compass, very few specimens:
mounted, the alcoholic collections crowded closely together m five or
six different rooms; the shells, minerals, fossils, &c., necessarily

boxed up and stowed away in basement rooms.

E.—Alphabetical Index of Additions to the Museum of the Smithsonian.
Institution during the year 1856.

Professor Agassiz.—Three specimens Hmys serrata from Charleston,
South Carolina; L. belli, E. troostu, and E. elegans from Osage river ;
£. mobilensis from Mobile.

Tneutenant Anderson.—One Dryophis, two Istiophorus, and ten skins:
of birds from Greytown, Nicaragua.

Dr. Antisell.—Two boxes fossils and minerals from California ;
skeleton of rattlesnake and spermophile; skin of toad from the Gila
river ; Hermit crab from Matagorda, Texas.

Charles Ashmead.—Salamandra tigrina from Beesley’s Point, New
Jersey.

EH. G. Atkinson.—Skin of spotted buffalo calf from Fort Pierre.

Captain N. Atwood.—Three fresh specimens of EHuryale from Cape
Cod.

S. Ff. Baird.—FVishes in alcohol; skeletons and jaws of fishes 3
small mammals from Beesley’s Point, New Jersey, and Carlisle,
Pennsylvania.

M. Baker.—Skins of fisher or black cat (Mustela canadensis) and
weasel, skulls of bear, deer, minks, otter, fisher, and martin, from
Essex county, New York.

Dr, Baldwin.—Bottle insects, living Testudo polyphemus or gopher
and Geomys pinetis or salamander, from Jacksonville, Florida.

J. G. Bell.—Box with two rabbits (Lepus sylvaticus) from Wis-
consin.

C. Bellman.—Mollusca from Biloxi, Mississippi.

Dr. J. H, Benton and W. E. Guest.—Lucioperca, with tumor on
head.

Dr. George . Bibb.—Blind fish and crustacea from the Mammoth
Cave, Kentucky.

Dr. EH. C. Bidwell.—Skins of birds and mammals, fossils, and
shells, from Lowa.

G4 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

Don J. B. Bobadilla.—Fragment of tusk of mastodon from Mexico,
called by Dr. Weidner Duranzotherium bobadillense.

Captain A. Bowman, U. S. A.—Specimens of cochineal collected
near Fort Stanton, New Mexico, lat. 34°.

J. and A. Brakeley.—Skins of deer and other mammals, skulls of
mammals, living rattlesnakes, young Lynx rufus in flesh, bones of
deer, turkey buzzard, from western Virginia.

Dr. F. Brandt.—Twelve skins Siberian mammals from eastern
Siberia.

Dr. T. M. Brewer.—Mammals from Massachusetts...

J. H. Brickenstein:—Living terrapins from eastern Pennsylvania.

J. L. Bridger. —Living snakes, terrapins, fox squirrels, from North
‘Carolina.

J. S. O. Brooks.—Crystallized salt from Kanawha, Virginia.

Dr. George G. Brown.—American amadou from New J ersey.

Samuel Brugger.—One can reptiles and fishes from Potter county,
Pennsylvania.

Ineutenant F'. T. Bryan, U. S. A.—S8ix boxes, one keg, containing
valcoholic specimens, birds, mammals, and skeletons, from United
States wagon road expedition to Bridger’s Pass.

W. H. K. Burgwyn.—Geomys or ‘‘salamander’’ from Florida.

Rev. John Burke.—Minerals and fossils from Fort Washita.

Dr. George Cabanis.—Living land turtle, roots of Tuckahoe from
‘Virginia.

‘ Dr, J. Cabanis.—Skins of Vireo from Brazil.

EH. N. Byram.—Mice and moles from Long Island.

Albert Campbell.—Fossil plant from Santa Inez, California.

Major J. H. Carleton, U. S. A.—Two foetus of buffalo from the
plains.

: Albert Carrington.—Coals from Utah.

M. Carter.—Ceanothus occidentalis from Oregon.

J. Cassin.—Skins of Loxia leucoptera and Americana.

General Churchill, U. S. .A.—¥our living gophers, (Testudo poly-
phemus,) four Lmys terrapin, Hchineis, Syngnathus, and serpents ;
seeds of plants, from Georgia and Florida.

Dr. J. G. Cooper.—Mammals, birds, and plants from California
and Washington Territories. Living turtles from Panama.

William Cooper.—Bighteen skins of mammals.

-H. T. Cox.—Skin of Labrax from Indiana.

Rev. M. A. Curtis and Sons.—Skins of Sigmodon, Leithrodon, and
Hesperomys, mammals and reptiles in alcohol, from South Carolina.

HI, Davis.—Mammals and birds from Waterville, New York.

J. W. Dawson.—Specimens of Jaculus from Nova Scotia.

H. Denny.—Mammals, reptiles, fishes, and fossils, from Hng-
land.

W. C. Dickinson.—Menobranchus from Portage Lake, Lake Supe-
rior.

O. M. Dorman.—Shells from Michigan and Illinois. Shells and
crustacea from Florida.

J. Downes.—Skin, Lepus glacialis, from Newfoundland. Hespe-
romys from Nova Scotia.

REPORT OF ASSISTANT ‘SECRETARY. 65

Dr. J. D, Easter.—Three skins of mice from Virginia. Oardinalis
Virginianus (red bird) in flesh from Harper’s Ferry.

Major W. H. Emory, U. S. A.—Mammals and birds, reptiles and
fishes, insects and shells, collected by Arthur Schott, from San Diego,
via Camp Yuma, to El Paso.

Dr: Engelmann. —Cask of fishes and, six skins squirrels from St.
Louis.

M. Evans.—Hemiramphus and Ailurichthys from Panama. Box
of Bolivian birds. Deposited.

W. A, Fry.—Sulphate of lime encrusted with quartz from the
Andes.

D. W. Gesner.—Jar reptiles and mammals, skulls, from western
Georgia.

A. J. Grayson.—Birds, mammals, fishes, and eggs, from Cali-
fornia.

Dr, S. H. Hale.—Skins and skulls of mammals from Essex county,
New York.

Dr. John P. Hall.—Deformed pig from Fairfax county, Virginia.

A, C. Hamlin.—Cast of ancient inscriptions on rock from Maine.
Casts of fossil cetacean from Bangor.

Dr, J. F. Hammond, U. S'..A.—Birds and mammals from ‘California,

Dr. W. A. Hammond, U. S. A.—Box of minerals and jar of alco-
holic specimens from Kansas.

Dr. G. Hartlaub.—Skins of Sibecan mammalia, skins of birds of
Mexico and Cuba.

M. Harvey.—Minerals from Hampshire county, New Hampshire.

Dr, F. V. Hayden.—Skins of birds, skins and skulls of black-tail
deer, antelope, mountain sheep, beaver, prairie dogs, and other mam-
mals ; reptiles, fishes, and mammals in alcohol ; shells, fossil re-
mains, &c., collected in 1854 and 1855, on the Upper Missouri.

John Hitz.—Cones and seeds of Pinus cembra trom Switzerland,

Dr. Horner, U. S. N.—Box of minerals.

J. Hotchkiss.—¥ossil bone of deer from Virginia.
aa Howell.—Specimens of mammals from Tioga county, New

ork

Dr, P. R. Hoy.—Box Indian antiquities from Wisconsin.

Dr. C. L. Hunter.—Rutile and Lazulite from North Carolina.

Sir W. Jardine.—Mammals, fishes, reptiles, &c., from England.
Lepidosiren annectens from Africa.
ae T. A. Jenkins, U. S. N.—Minerals and rocks from Gay

ea

J. W. P. Jenks.—Mammals from Middleboro’, Massachusetts.

W. Jenks.—Silicified wood from Alexandria, Virginia.

Dr. Joseph Jones.—Reptiles and mammals in ‘alcohol, from Colonel’s
island, Georgia.

Buk. Joynes.—Living plants from the eastern shore of Virginia.

K. L. 0. Akademie der Naturforscher, Breslau.—Minerals from
Germany.

Robert Kennicott.—Mammals, reptiles, and fishes, skins and in
alcohol, living serpents, salamanders, and mammals, from I]linois.

55s

66 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

Dr. J. PL. Kiriland.—Skins Bombycilla garrula, 1 jar of fishes,
skin of wolf and squirrels from Cleveland, Ohio.

J. Lippman.—Minerals, (148 specimens, ) from Schwarzenberg,
Saxony.

B. O. Lowndes.—Arvicola pinetorum (field mouse) from Bladens-
burg, Maryland.

S. 1. Luther.—Egegs, shells and skin of mink from Portage county,
Ohio.

J. IM. Cue.—Fossil bones of deer and woodchuck from Augusta
county, Virginia.

R. B. Marcy, U. S. A.—Box of minerals and fossils from Fort
Belknap.

A. W. Massey.—Skins of raccoon, gray fox, and jar of mammals
from Spottsylvania, Virginia.

Maximilian, Prince of Wied.—Skins of European mammals.

Professor F. Merrich.—Fossil fishes from Delaware, Ohio. De-

osited
: Dr, Hd. Merrill.—2 packages moss from Louisiana.

D. Miller, jr.—living fox squirrel from Pennsylvania.

Mr. Milton.—Coins from Michigan.

Professor Mitchell.—Reptiles, fishes and mammals from Tennessee.

Carlion R. Moore.—Deformed antlers of Cervus virginianus.

W. IMoss.—Specimens of Scarabeus tityus from near Washington.

Dr Is 8. Newberry.— Minerals, fossil fishes, and reptiles from
Ohio, skull of beaver from Lake Superior, skins of cinnamon bear,
black bear, and young grizzlis from Oregon.

Dr. Neweomb.—100 species and 40 varieties of Achatinella from the
Sandwich Islands.

Judge C. Newton.—Arvicola and Hesperomys in alcohol from Ohio.

New Orleans Academy of Natural Sciences.—One keg of serpents,
gene Ane of squirrels from New Orleans.

Nichols.—Racoon from California.

Son {, Nitchie.—Box minerals (Lead ores) from Shelburne, New
Hampsbire.

Lieutenant Nugen, U. 8S, A.—Skins of mountain goat from Cascade
mountains, Oregon.

B. F. Odell.—Box with skins of mammals, lynx, rabbit, &c., from
Towa.

Captain Page, U. S. N.—Skin of ant-eater and goat, tank of alco-
holic specimens, 4 bales plants from Paraguay, box birds, keg con-
taining skin of Jaguar, Myopotamus, and armadillo from the Salado
river, Paraguay.

Edward Palmer.—Reptiles, fishes and insects from Paraguay.

J. T. K. Plant.—Shells and miscellanea from Washington.

Professor Poey.—Solenodon paradoxa. Skull of Capromys, Eimys
decussata, and rugosa, from Cuba.

Ca aplain Pope, U. S. A.—14 boxes of collections in all departments
of natural history from the Llano Estacado, of Texas.

J. 2. Postell.—Skins and skulls, mammals, shells, from Georgia.

J. W. Luymond.—Living plant, Espirito santo, from Panama.
Large grasshopper from Aspinwall.

REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 67

Peter Reid.—Portions of three specimens, Tamias striatus, from
New York.

J. L, Reynolds.—Menobranchus, from Portage Lake.

Dr. J. L. Riddel.—Skin of Sciwrus magnicaudatus from Missouri.

Captain Rodgers, U. S. N.—20 boxes, 9 kegs, one bale natural his-
tory collections from the Pacific coast.

Alexander P. Ross.—Slab sandstone from Pictou, Nova Scotia.

Joseph Rowell.—Box of shells, sloth and reptiles in alcohol, from
Panama.

EH. Samuels.—Birds, mammals, skeletons, plants, reptiles, and
fishes, from Petaluma, California.

Mr, Savery.—Specimens of birds and mammals from Florida. (De-
posited in part.)

Dr. B. F. Shumard.—Salamandra glutinosa from Missouri.

Dr. J. M. Skwes.—Skin Lepus glactalis from Newfoundland.

J. W. Smith —Crustacea, and young rabbits from Florida.

W. A. Smith.—Two Iguanas from Nicaragua.

William Spence.—Large slab with coal fossils from Coalport, Ohio.

Dr. H. H. Stabb.—Two polar hares, 4 ptarmigans, 1 pine grosbeak,
in flesh, from Newfoundland.

J. Stauffer.—Bottle of reptiles from Lancaster county, Pennsyl-
vania,

Dr. C. W. Stevens.—Skull of grizzly bear from upper Missouri,
{Deposited.)

Captain Stone.—Shells from near Santa Barbara, California.

Dr, Swift, U. S. A.—Dried, plants, reptiles, insects, skins of birds,
five mammals, sediments of rivers, from Fort Chadbourne, Texas.

Dr. George Suckley, U. S. A.—2 boxes rmiammals, birds, reptiles,
fishes, and insects trom Steilacoom; box of shells, skins, birds, mam-.
mals, from Panama and San Francisco.

A, §. Taylor.—Specimens of sediments, insects, reptiles, and fishes,
gophers and minerals from Monterey, California.

Miss Helen Tewnison.—Reptiles, fishes, and mammals, from Monti-
cello, Mississipp1.

J. #. Thickstun.—(For the institution of Natural History, Mead-
ville, Pennsylvania.) Can mammals and reptiles in alcohol, box
minerals, froma Meadville, Pennsylvania.

Major @ . H. Thomas, and Lieutenant Dubarry, U. S. A.—12 jars
mammals and reptiles, one Phyllostome bat from Fort Yuma, Cali-
fornia.

Professor Z, Thompson.—Specimens in alcohol of small mammalia
from Burlington, Vermont.

Dr, 7. Tompkins. —Perforated stones, used by Indian in games.
From the banks of the Roanoke river.

Lieutenant W. P. Lrowbridge U. 8. A.—Skins of birds and mam-
mals, can of fishes, from San Miguel, California; skeleton of sea lion
from San Francisco,

repared by A.
Heeger, Micniia, .

Colonel Tuley.—Fresh skin of Cervus dama, (Fallow deer,) from
Clark county, Virginia.

68 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

Dr Thomas T. Turner.—Cretaceous fossils from Nanaimo, gulf of
Georgia, Vancouver’s island.

Dr. Vollum, U. S. A.—Plants from Fort Belknap, Texas.

Rev. L. Vortisch.— Ancient German antiquities from Saxony.

M. Walker.—Jar reptiles and insects from Nebraska.

HI. Mactier Warfield.—100 specimens of birds from Australia, Or-
nithorhynchus and Petaurus.

LTieutenant G. K. Warren, U. S. A.—48 boxes, collections in all
departments of natural history, from the upper Missouri.

Mr, Watson.—Miscellaneous bones and part of skeleton of horse
from Nebraska.

David Welsh.— Jaws of Myliobatis and gophers from Florida.

A, White.—Specimens of filterings and sediments for microscopic
examination from Cazenova, New York.

John R. Willis —Box of shells from vicinity of Halifax, Nova
Scotia.

Mr. Wilson.—Specimens of vegetable fibre from Jamaica.

Dr. D. D, Wilson through Dr. J. S. Newberry.—Coal plants and
fossil remains, from Missouri.

Dr. S. N. Wilson. —Skins, mammals, alcoholic specimens, and.
shells, living terrapins, from Georgia. ,

W. S. Wood.—See Bryan.

Charles Wright.—Seeds and dried plants, 12 jars reptiles, and in-
sects from Nicaragua. ;

G.. Wirdemann.—Shells, eggs, and alcoholic specimens from
Florida.

Washington Market.—Sargus ovis from Norfolk. Living Emys
rubriventris, young sturgeon, fresh white fronted goose, muskrat, Pu-
ligula collaris, from Potomac river.

Ed. C. Younger.—Reptiles from Washington.

Unknown.—Box of Kuropean birds.

?.—Fishes from Puget’s sound,
-—?.—Box water-worn pebbles.

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS. 69 .

LIST OF METEOROLOGICAL STATIONS AND OBSERVERS

FOR THE YEAR 1856,

NOVA SCOTIA AND CANADA.

Name of observer. Station. County. N. lat. |W. long. | Height.
Oe it Fret.

HSCODE es apa Montreal spy Ou ean es 2 ae 45 30 | 73 36 57
Bauanbs Aw Paseo. ole Wolfville------- Horton N. S.---- 45 06 64 25 95
Smallwood, Dr. Chas_-| St. Martin._..-- Wsarvialls Mes sees 45 32 73 36 118
Magnetic Observatory-| Toronto.-------|-..--.---------- 43 39 79 21 108

MAINE

Barrows, Geo. B.----- Fryeburg------- Oxiordeesseeee ZOU | ALO Meese sees
Bell, John J -_.__-..- Carmel_...-----| Penobscot .....- 44 47 69 00 175
Dana, W. D---------- Rerhyy a see Washington ----| 45 00 67 06 100
Eveleth, Sam’] A----- Windham ---.--- Cumberland --.-| 43 49.| 70 17 |_.------
Gardiner yh. Hoss. 2: Gardiner -..-.-- Kennebec --..-- 44 11 | 69 46 90
Gupwll Gwe 22222 Cornishville ...-| York --.-.....- 43 40 | 70 44 800
Parken de Oe a ok 2) Steuben---.---- Washington -.--| 44 44 | 67 58 50
Willis, Henry_------- Portland)= 222222 Cumberland .-.-| 43 39 | 70 15 87
Wilbur, Benj. F_----- Monson ...----- Piscataquis see \asee ee A ee et ven es Seep te

NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Bell, Sam’1 N .3------ Manchester-.--- Hillsborough.---| 42 59 | 71 28 300
Brown, B. Gould- ----| Stratford ----_-- Cooss 2-5. Bagcee 44 08 | 71 34 1, 000
Hanscam, R. F_------ North Barnstead.| Belknap-------- ABW SOw lie Ok Wana eet
Macks, Rii@iee tn 2h e8 Londonderry-_---| Rockingham ----| 42 53 | 71 20 |_-------
Odell, Fletcher_--..-- Shelbourne -.---| Coos....---.--- 44°93 | 71 06 }.-...--2
Prescott, ey Wane 2s Concord se ease Merrimack. -_.-- 43 12) 71 29 374
Purmort, Wathenn. ss West Enfield__--| Grafton ---_-_-- A BAO 124 (XD eoososes
Sawyer, Geom 1h Salmon Falls_.-.| Strafford -_...-. 3 UG il OO jeoseses-
Sawyer, Henry E.---- Great Falls -_--- Strafford -..-.-- 43 17 HOMO 2i) | peeereterete
4
VERMONT
PMSEMGCO S.-i Shelburne .-__-- Chittenden ___-- 44 23 | 73 00 150
PS ds WV mmm oe in Bradford = 222 2-- (Ofer waned agaie 43°55 |) V0 iD) |e aes
Buckland, David_ -.-.| Brandon_______- Rutland: 22.2022 43 45 To O0N ons
dackman, A)... Norwich. 22 v0.0 Nimans oS aro 43 42°)" (2. 20.) te

Paddock, Jas. A-__--- Craftsbury- ----- Orleans --..-.-- 44 40 | 72 30 1,100

76 METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS.

MASSACHUSETTS.
Name of observer. Station. County. N. lat. | W.long.| Height.
Coe Qt Feet.
Allin ueiusses = eae Springfield _ .--_| Hampden ---.-- 42 06 | 72 35 199
Bacon, William --.--- Richmond .----- Berlsshire/e 5-42 42 23 | 73 20 1,196
Bond’ Prof WiC. 225- Cambridge------ Middlesex -.-..- 42220) 20k Olin See
Brooks, John .--_---.- IRnimecetonse= aaa Worcester ---=-=- 42 28 Ws 3 3,113
Whranline, BE.WA cea Sac Bridgewater ----| Plymouth -__--- 42 00 | 71 00 142
Divas; REV. Bins cs: Westfield__..-.. Hampden -..-.- 42106'| (2: 48522 3aaee
Holcomb, Amasa ----- Southwick._---- Hampden -....- 42 02 | 72 10 265
Wie, 877777 t| Williamstown...| Berkshire... 42 431 73 13 720
Metcalf, John Geo.---| Mendon__-._---- Worcester ___-__ 42 06 NZ 2330) Eee
Mitchell, Hon. Wm-_--| Nantucket. __--- Nantucket.____- 41 16 | 70 06 30
Perkins. Dr. H C._--- Newburyport -_-| Essex__._-.-_-- 42 47 | 70 52 46
Huce, Henry 22-2 02/52 North Attleboro’.| Bristol _-..-_..- 41 59 | 71 22 175
Rodman, Sam’!______- New Bedford_._.| Bristol] _-_.._--- 41 39 | 70 56 90
Rice! “Krank His 222 |
Smith, Edw. A_---- Worcester -..... Worcester ...-.- 42 16 | 71 48 536
Sargent, John S___-
Snell Prof by Ss 22226 Arinersti= eee Hampshire .----| 42 22 | 72 34 267
Schlegel, Albert___._- Pani bonis =) ass Bristoliz 2s. 25 41 49") F109) 2 ae
Tirrell, Dr. N. Quincy-| Weymouth ----- Nortolikiseese 25 43 00 | 71 00 150
RHODE ISLAND.

Wrnold> Hi Geos: 222 Acqnuidueset 2222)" Washington -- |= > ee es hose le eee
Caswell, Prof. A...-.. Proyidence ~-..- Providence ----- 41 49 | 71 25 120
CONNECTICUT.

Edwards, Rev. T. ----| New London._--| New London..--| 41 21 | 72 12 90
Harrison, Benj. F.----| Wallingford ~...| New Haven----- 41 26 72 50 133
Hall, Aaron Be = 2 - Georgetown ----} Fairfield --_---- 41 15 | 73 00 300
ra 1) b a3e 2 se Fomfretss222252 Windham __._-- AY 52°" “72 28 596
Rankin; Jase: 22.2. 22 Saybrook.-...-- Middlesex -....- 41 18 | 72 20 10
Scholfield, N.---.---- Norwich’) 223224 Nev) Wondons =a) r4a a 20) 9 a2) Osis eee
Yeomans, W. H_----- Columbia..----- ollanidees see AD 200 27 AG ieee ares
NEW YORK.

Aubin, Johneesessee5 Wordham’s- 424 Westchester -.--| 40 54 |_---__-- 147
Alba, Dre BOMe2 ee Angelica .-2.2-: Alleghany .....- 42/15 | 78 0D 1,500
Arden, Thos (ate -e ee Beverly 24552252 Pina esse lees Al 22) 72 12 180
Bowman, John---.--- Baldwinsville -.-| Onondaga ....-- AS O4 ot TESale ee eae
Breed, J. Everett_---- Smithville...... VWesikesqsonel oo ae 44 00 | 76 O1 |---.----
Byram, We) Nee ose Sag Harbor ----- ret H Re fl Pampa e er 41 00 | 72 20 40
Chickering, J. W----- Ovidsenen nn heal Seneca: omaeae 4QAl.) 16) 52 |pcwssnms
Dayton, H. A ----.--- Madindee =. oo. St. Lawrence..--| 44 43 | 75 33 280
Denning, W. H ------ Fishkill Landing.| Dutchess ---.._- 41 34 | 74 18 42
Dewey, Prof. Chester_..| Rochester .....- Monroe ee esse = 43 08! 77 51 516

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS. 71

NEW TORK Adshtinued.

Name of observer. Station. County. N. lat. |W. long. | Height
SIN i Oar Feet.
Belt. Johns yo. akon ib ertiynrst cen Sullivan......-- 4145 | 74 45 1, 474
French, John R-.---- Wextco ea aaa Oswego. .--....- BIE PAT 76 14 423
Gorton, J. S -------- Westfarms- ----- NieStChester oe EO Vos asa 150
Greene, Prof. Dascom._| Troy.---------- Rensselaer... .- 42 44 |______. Be ais deg
Guest, W. E--------- Ogdensburgh._..| St. Lawrence.---| 44 43 | 75 26 j.-_._._-
House, J. Carroll----- Lowville.------- JIG WAS Sa) ates ooo ZONLO, || el OLoS) loc
Johnson, EH W------- Cantonese sees St. Lawrence...-| 44 38 | 75 15 304
' Kendall, John F__---- Rompey Ee oes Onondaga: sa oe eee eels 1, 737
Lefferts, John-------- odie ees eae Seneca =e eam AS Gh OlSp || a a earetes
Lobdell, Mrs. M. J....-| North Salem__..| Westchester ---.| 41 20 | 73 38 361
Malcolm, Wm. §.----- Osweroe eee. OSweCows ss ssc 43 28 | 77 34 232
Morehouse, A. W----- Spencertown ~---| Columbia_-...-- 42 19 | 73 41 800
Morris, Prof. O. W..--| New York....-- New York.._.-- 40 43 74 05 159
Norton, dj. He. -.-2 Plainville. ..._-- Onondaga. -_.--- ATi) OD ara, SN cM ane
Pernot, Claudius.....- Fordham ..._.-- Westchester. ---- £05 4s | ogee 147
jeri, MWe Cob eee eas Rochester. ....-- Monroe.-tt 222: 43 08 Ue Ou 516
Reed, Edward C.....- Homers 2522 aos Courtland -....- 42 38 76 11 1,100
etd wheter sae wc. Walker Rs O72 suis Washington. ---- AS MUD alt Uso sears ocr
Riker, Walter H..._-- Saratoga.-...... Saratoga._....-- 42 00 | 74 00 960
Root; sProf.O) 22... 2-22 @linton 2 222es. Oneidaees22 22" 43 00 | 75 20 500
Sanger, Dr. W. W-.-.--| Blackwells Island|._.------.--.-.-- 40 45 | 73 57 29
Sartwell, Dr. H. P.-..| Penn Yan._....- NUE A eee AD AD. Nee ee ee 740
Spooner, Stillman. --_-- Wampsville --.-| Madison_------- 43 04 |* 75 50 500
Smith, J. Metcalf____- McGrawville....| Courtland _.---- EU Na. Esl Fe Ml
Taylor, Jos. W_.----- Plattsburgh -.--| Clinton -_--_--- 44 40 |.------- 156
Tourtellot; Dr. L. A...) Utica ...22..-2- Oneidat= 2225-2" 43 07 U6) U5) 500
Van Kleek, Rev. R. D-| Flatbush ---._.-- Mingsee sci. eee 40 37 | 74 OL 54
White, Aaron_..._-... Cazenovia .....- Madison... - 42 55 75 46 1, 260
Williams, Dr. P. O_.--| Watertown __--- Jefferson ---.-.- 23) D6 Me tele oes
Wilson, Rev. W. D-.--}| Geneva __..---- Ontario. cases eee 42538 | 77 02 567
Woodward, Lewis-_-.-_-- West Concord_-_-| Erie _._.._.-...- 43 00 79 00 2, 000
Yale, Walter D..._._- Houseville____-- Wewishst/4 so2 522 AS VA OG aioe |= = sess
NEW JERSEY.
Cooke Ra Twas 5522. Bloomfield...... IRIBSO eis sok as 40 49 74 11 120
Dodds Chips ee oe Salem... seh Salem. 2.22 2-522 39 34 Wisiod (Gers ae
Sata toa mat Burlington. --__- Burlington. ----- 40 00 75 12 26
Whitehead, W. A.__-_- Newark ..-..--- Misge mye eh \ iia 40 45 | 74 10 30
PENNSYLVANIA.
Brown, Samuel______. Bedford -...-.-- Bedford -...---- 40 O1 7830) |b eReeS
Baird, John H.-_----- Tarentum ....-- Alleghany ___.-- 40 37 |-------- 950
Brickenstein, H. A.___| Nazareth ...___- Northampton --.-| 40 43 TH ‘De 5 see
Brugger, Samuel__.___| Fleming..._.__. @entre.... 5. Su? 40 55 77 53 780
Chorpenning, Dr. F.-.| Somerset _..__-- Somerset --.---- 40 02 | 79 02 1,997
Darlington, Fenelon --; Pocupson.--..-- @hester .2ueal-- 39 54) 75 37 218°
Edwards, Joseph _---- Chromedale ...-| Delaware. -..--- 39 55 75 25 196
Eggert, John....----- Berwick .._.2-2- Columbia -...-- 41 05 TELS 7 ee
TL TEA RN ai a Shamokin -....- Northumberland.| 40 45 |__..._-- 700
Hance, Ebenezer.--..-- Morrisville .._-- Bucks s.2 0a noe 40 12 | 74 53 30
Heisely, Dr. John .---| Harrisburg ..-.- Dauphin. —. 2 AQ NG) 06) OO eee eee

72

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS,

PENNSYLVANIA—Sontinued.

Name of observer. Station. County. N. lat. |W. long.| Height.
; Fe (i lene Feet.
Hobhs, OM bea ssc chase Randolph.---.-- Crawford -..-.-- 41 28 | 80 10 1,720
Jacobs, Rev. M_---.-- Gettysburg -__-- PAGLELTINSS eee 39 51 CA ae Us
James, Charles § _-_-- Lewisburg.--.-- Winton eeees 40 58 76 58) |. Seen
Kirkpatrick, Prof. J. A.| Philadelphia __--.| Philadelphia_.--| 39 57 75 i 60
Kohler, Edward.-_-..-- North Whitehall | Lehigh__--_---- AO AO Soe see 250
Ralston, Rev. J. Grier-| Norristown ----- Montgomery.---| 40 08 | 75 19 153
Schreiner, Francis -.--| Moss Grove-.--- Crawford --...-- 41 40 19 eo ee eee
NeniaewVAICbOr = sooo. Troy Hill_------ Alleshany, 2-2 ole. se ie So oe ee
Smith, Prof. Wm----- Canonsburg. ---- Washington -.---| 40 25 80-07. 14 sao
Sito Dre halos oon West Haverford.| Delaware....... 40 00 1d Zile gies ees eee
Mhickstun, J Hiss. Meadville _.___- Crawford ..----- 41 39 | 80 11 1, 088
Wilson, Prof. W. C.--| Carlisle._.._---- Cumberland ..--| 40 12 77 Al 500
Warlson; WiWe aes o-ce Pittsburgh. -.--- Alleghany--...- 40 32 80 02 1, 026
DELAWARE.

Crawford, W. A-..--
Craven, Thos. J..-- Newark ...0--. New Castle. ._.- 39 38 | 75 47 120

Martin, R. Ay 22222

MARYLAND.
Baer, Miss H. M____-- Shellman Hills._} Carroll_....---.| 39 23 76 57 700
Goodman, W. R.-.--- Annapolis ------ Anne Arundel-_-| 38 58 | 76 29 |_--__--.
Hanshaw, Henry E.-.-| Frederick.....-- Frederick...-22.| 39 24.) 77 18 |isceleee
Lowndes, B. O------- Bladensburg .---| Prince George---| 38 57 | 76 58 |_-------
Pearce, James A., jr.--| Chestertown --.-| Kent ---_.----- 39 14) W602" eee
Stage’. Geet: .-i244 Ridges = Sa cesaes Sti Mary’sostee|e4se |e ee a ee eee
Zumbrock, A., M. D..-| Annapolis ------ Anne Arundel__-| 38 58 | 76 29 34
VIRGINIA.

Astrop, Lieut. R. F.--| Crichton’s Store-| Brunswick.----- 36 40 | 77 46 |_--_----
Beckwith, T. 8., M. D.| Garysville --...- Prince:George:. jes ones. see ee ee
Clarke, James T..-.-- Mount Solow. 22) "Augusta. oo 0'5 20 eh ee | oe
Couch, Samuel..------ Agiland eee Putnam. -2-2--2 38 38 BENS 74 eerie
151) Cie D1 5 Wel een er Crack Whip. .--- Hardy aes a. 39 B00 2 ee ee eee
Fauntleroy, H. H_---- Montrose...---- Westmoreland..-| 38 07 | 76 54 Z00
Hallowell, Benjamin--} Alexandria. ----| Alexandria. -..-| 38 48 17 01 56
Hott. Josiag, Wee =.= ViVi eK Cn ara ps Wirt eee ete BOS) ee eee al a ee
Hotchkiss, Jed..--.-- Mossy Creek...-| Augusta.-..---- 39 35 UMN Sees 5s
Kendall, James E. ---- Charleston . ----| Jefferson- ------ 38 20 B1Y2iy eee
Kownslar, Miss Ellen..| Berryville ._..-- Clark) {2c ueeee 39 09 78 00 575
Marvin, John W.----- Winchester. __-- Frederick......- 39 15 78) 10 pee ese
Patton, Thomas, M. D.| Lewisburg------ Greenbrier..---- 38 00 80 00 2, 000
Purdie, John Bit -- 22 Smithfield....-- Isle of Wight...| 36 50 | 76 41 100
Gaincy, Wi ls27 . 2 West Union.---- Doddridge. ..--- 39 15 | 81 00 1, 100
Ruffin, Julian C.----- Ruthyen.,.~-.<+= Prince George..-| 37 21 | 77 33 |....--..
Ruffner, David L .---| Kanawha-.-.--.... Kanawha.....-- B10 188) Joon eee ce
Skeen, WiJliam..-..-- Huntersville...-| Pocahontas. -.--| 39 30 |-------- 2, 640
Webster, Prof. N. B_..| Portsmouth..--- Norfolk... 5/4022 36 50 | 76 19 34

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS.

NORTH CAROLINA.

73

Name of observer. Station. County. N. lat. | W. long.| Height.
Oe? Orne Feet.

McDowell, Rev. A----| Murfreesboro’_--| Hertford...--~-- 836) 30, |n-22 5525) ee
Moore, Geo. F., M. D-|} Gaston_-------- INO CAM COM ss | eee oe |
Morelle, Daniel.-_---- Goldsboro’. .---- AWeniyy ra es Se I Se
Phillips, Prof. James_-| Chapel Hill_--_-- Oranves sae aee do) 54) 79 17 essere

SOUTH CAROLINA.

Fuller, E N., M. D---| Edisto Island -_-} Colleton. -_----- 32 34 | 80 18 23
Glennie, Rey. Alex’r_-| Waccaman. -_--- All Saints ---.-- Sia} 0) i 8) ly 20
Johnson, Joseph, M.D.| Charleston. ._--- Charleston. ----- 32 46 | 80 00 30
Ravenel, H. W_..---- Aen 2 eee Barnwell........ 33 32 81 34 565
White, Prof. J. B-_--- Colambia. -..--- ive hall ana die epee 33) 50 SNOT ts See
Young, J. A., M. D---| Camden___----- Kershaw..--=..- 34 17 | 80 33 275

GEORGIA.
Anderson, Jas., M. D--| The Rock__-_.-- pson sees eas 32 52 | 84 23 833
Gibson, R. P.-------- Whitemarsh Is’d.| Savannah. -_...- 32) 0405 (SLO 5a) saa
Haines, William------ ANUEANS BEES Ss 3a e Richmond...---- Bey 28) | lL Gb eae ee
Pendleton, EH. M., M.D.|} Sparta. --.----- Hancock -_----- 33 17 | 83 09 550
Posey. Job Helos: Savannah, _._..- Chatham =22" "5 32 05 | 81 07 42
f FLORIDA.
Bailey, James B_----- Garrisville___.-- Alachua==----+- 7S) GxB) |) 329. HG Nose S Ie
Baldwin, A.G.,M.D--| Jacksonville --.-} Duval.--.------ 30 30 | 82 00 13
Wenmis i We Coseso. oe Salt Ponds...--- Key West --.--- ZAP S3i psi Ae ae sae
Fry, Lieut. Joseph_---| Pensacola. ------ Escambia---- --- 30 20] 87 16 12
Mauran, P. B., M. D_-| St. Augustine.._| St. John’s__-_-- 29 481 81 35 8
LECle AUC mee aaa Cedar Keys-_---- ILE AoE eee 29 07 | 83 02 12
ALABAMA.
Alison, H. L., MD- --| Carlowville. --.-| Dallas._--.----- 32 10 |. 87 15 300
Darby, Prof. Jobn_---} Auburn -------- (Viaiconape ayaa 33 37 | 88 038 821
TMutwiler,) His. 25222248 Greene Springs.-| Greene__------- 32 50 87) 46). 1. ees
Waller, Robert B.---- Greensboro’... -- Greene_ 25.) 22. 32 30} 87 10 350
MISSISSIPPI.
Elliott, Prof. J. Boyd.-_| Port Gibson. ~--- Claiborne ---.--- 31 50 | 91 00 500
Harper) Dr. ls. Soe (@pxiko rly Lupus pe Lafayette. ------ 34 20} 89 25 338
Lull, James §-------- Columbus......- . Lowndes. ------ 33 30 | 88 29 227
Smith, J. Edwards.---.| Natchez-----..- Adams. -------- 3134-1) 91 24 jn sea

74 METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS.

LOUISIANA.
Name of observer. Station. County. N. lat. |W. long | Height,
a a Feet
Barton, H. H., M. D --| New Orleans_-_-.-) Orleans -------- 29a 9/90 O00 e eee
Kilpatrick, A. R., M.D.) ‘Trinity. ----- ..-| Catahoula -.-.-- 31 30} 91 46 108
Merrill, Edward, M. D.| Trinity. ...---.- @Catahoulajees-—— |. 3h. oi = Sica areal eee ¥
Taylor, Lewes, B- -.--| New Orleans.---] Orleans...------ 29 57 90) 00) | -a=eeaee
TEXAS
Brightman, John C_--| Helena__------- Karnes. .c.7ci ae V2 ee Ain | wa SlGRS
Blane. do tue Je 2 Sek New Wied.----- @omeal: 22 yaease 29 42 98 15 owas
Jennings, 8. K., M.D} Austin..--.--.-- PDA VASC eee ates 300200) Io 46| 2 ees
Rucker, Bs ti se. 2.88 Washington. .--- Washington ._.-|-----.-- | woh SU
TENNESSEE.
Bean Jas. Bi oes 5502 Walnut Grove --| Greene--------- 36 00} 82 53 1,350
Griswold, Prof. T. L _-| Knoxville _._.-- Kenoxee. eave 35 59 | 83 50 1, 000-.
Stewart, William M._-| Glenwood --..-.- Montgomery----| 36 28 | 87 13 481
KENTUCKY.
Beamtypn Osea ees sats Danville; a Boyden 2 Wich 37 40 | 84 30 950
Raabe Coe Viel): sie Iams ae as aie Bourbon eee es Ss MG EO |e sso-sc-
Savage, Geo.S., M. D.-| Millersburg. _... Bourbon ------- 38 40 | 84 27 804
Swain, John, M. D.---| Ballardsville-._--| Oldham ____--_. 38 (26) YS 5108 |e aee eae
OHIO.
Bennett, Henry -.-..-- Collingwood. =-|Tuucasenecosec. ot on So ae os ee
Binkerd, J. Si. 22... Germantown.-.--| Montgomery----| 39 39 | 84 11 |__.-_---
Bosworth, R. §...-.-- College Hill. -_.- Hamilton ------ 39 19 | 84 25 800
Cunningham, Miss A.-| Unionville-.._-- 1 LE es ma pH 41 52 |) 81 00 650
Payton, NAPE. of Zanesville ...--- Muskaan guinal 228/139 (5805) 9 SZ elO) || eee
Haienild, U-vHyt.-.22 Oberlin, 2 === ==25 Loraine .-.-.<-- 41 20 82 15 800
Fischer, Jas. C., M. D_| Dayton.---.-_-- Montgomery.-.-| 39 44 89) DT | ees
Groneweg, Lewis----- Germantown. ..-| Montgomery----| 39 30 | 84 11 720
Hannaford, Ebenezer_-| Cheviot -------- Hamilton .. ---- 39/407 9) 84934122 eee
Harper, George W.---| Cincinnati_----- Hamilton _- -_-- 39 06 | 84 27 150
Herrick, James D.__-_- Jefferson _.-.--- Ashtabula —__--- 42 00 SiO 0g Aes aes
Hillier, Spencer L. ---.- Bora 2 oo 222 Portage -.-.-.-- 41 20 | 81 15 675
Hollenbeck, F. & D. K-| Perrysburg .-.-- Woodie sssaseo2 ALB 9a S8VL0 ene
Holston, J.G.F., M.D.-| Zanesville ---.-- Muskingum -.--| 39 58 | 82 29 700
Miyde,- Gil Ae tk 2 ee Cleveland -...-- Cuyahoga ...... 41 30 | 81 40 665
Ingram, John, M.D -.| Savannah..__-_- AN) 0 Fe hoo byes pos ys 41 12 bj pees} Hl eh ae ean
Livezay, G. W. --.--- Gallipolis... -- Galante nee 39 00} 82 O1 520
Mather 7S: Me esas irae eee Ronlage mee saeee 41 20] 81 15 675

Mathews, J. McD.-..- LEhIN foo Sse Eiehland cea 39 13 3 30 1,000

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS.

OHIO—Continued.

75

Name of observer. Station. County. N. lat. | W. long.| Height.
koh ae Ore Feet.
McCarty, H. D. ------ West Bedford. -_-| Coshocton ------ 40) 18% 182 (01) Sasa
Hoe; James Ey S. - = eh Portsmouth. ---+| Scioto --..-.--- 38 50 | 82 49 468
Sanford, Prof. §. N..--| Granville. ....-- re aneyee a 40 03 | 82 34 995
Schenck, W. L., M. D-} Franklin ------- Warren. /4 ses 4s ae oo Nan bo jl ene
Shaw, Joseph -------- Bellefontaine ---} Logan --------- 20) AE Be 440) egos
Williams, Prof. M. G -| Urbana __._---- Champaign -.--- 40 06 | 83 43 1,015

MICHIGAN.
Andrews, Seth L.& G.P.| Romeo.--..-.--- Macomb. -.-.-- 42 44 83 00 730
Campbell, Wm. M.---| Battle Creek__._| Calhoun.-_-.---- 42) ZOU NSS TeONE. Baie
Currier, A. O.-------- Grand Rapids..-| Kent .....----- 43 00 | 86 00 7152
Duffield, Rev. Geo----| Detroit. ..---.-. Wiaynes= Ses 42 24 | §2 58 620
Goff, Mrs. M. A. -----| Eagle River_--_-- Houghton _-_---- Eat Ay a ey
Strang, James J. ----- St. James.------ Beaver Island.--| 45 44 | 85 27 598
Sireng, Lh. Hoss. a. Saugatuck....-. Alleghan .. =--- AO aD 5) 0) ee ers ies
Walker, Mrs. O. C.---| Cooper-..---.-- Kalamazoo _.-.-- BOY AO. | i S's SI | hey a eee
Whelpley, Miss H.---- Monroe ---..--- Monroe ----.---! 41 56 | 83 22 590
Mihuttlesey,, Chas: §..2| Copper Walls-2ijo/2240 2-022 2... | 47 25 | 88 16 1, 230
Winchell, Prof. A...-- Ann Arbor ..... Washtenaw ----- 42 16 3 44 891
Woodruff, Lum.-_--.-- Ann Arbor -..--| Washtenaw- ._-- 42 16 | 83 30 850
Bammess Cupse sas. 2 Aue New, Albany -esiMloyds < 252 BAUR fs Sees a SS
Chappellsmith, John--| New Harmony--| Posey--.------. 38 08 87 50 320
Moore, Joseph --.---- Richmond -_---- Wayners 2s 22252 . 39 47 | 84 47 800
Smith, Hamilton. -.--- Cannelton -___-- {Sst gesies Sg ele p90 8) AM Sn IA 8
ILLINOIS.
Babcock, H. -..------ Riley oo eee McHenry------- 42 08 | 88 33 650
Brendel, Fred., M. D. | Peoria _-...---- (Peoria. 2 catego eye a ee | ee
Hidredge, William V. -| Brighton -._-.-- MEKeo WO Ge seo bea ee ee lee a
Grants Johnie. 25-2. - Manchester. ---- Scotts ata vale a) ais} 90 34 683
Haier doe! 2. oe 2c Athens soo 5 oe Menard ._...-.- 39 52 GY) SOyissoone--
Banvishade On. Mow D2 =| Ottawa ~.so phe JUG K ISHN NEE Es ee Al 20 88 47 500
HiscoxiG Diese au52 Chicago 4222232 Cooly fs 22422 41 53 | 87 41 600
James, John, M. D.---| Upper Alton..--]| Madison -...--- 39.00! |) 89) 36) 22 ee aee
Mead), §. B:., M. D.--2) Augusta . ...2.: Hancock ..----- 40 12 | 89 45 200
Bogers, O. 9k. So.) 2b Marengo ~_-_.-- McHenry..----- Ad \14.)|| 88 yda hee seer
Titae, Henry A._-.--- West Silem___._ Edwards -....-- 38 30 SSL OO sa eee eas
Whitaker, Benjamin--| Warsaw._--.-.- an cocky=/...sewisleewe 2.2 ulti Ses ees

76

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS.

MISSOURI.

Name of observer. Station. County. N. lat. | W. long.| Height.
Oe Oi Feet.
Chandler, Chas.Q.,M.D.) Rockport.------ Boone 23222 2- * 38000! 920 38i haa eee
Duffield, Edw., M. D.-| Hannibal-.----- Marion..-.----- 39 45 91000 eee See
Engelmann,Geo., M.D.| St. Louis------- Sie Mousse ae 38 37 90 16 481
Wislizenus, A., M. D.-| St. Louis-_----- bin ie PT URN ca AE aN 461
—<ehineae—

IOWA.
Beal, Dexter. 22.52.22 Fairbanks —----- Buchanan .--...- AD IAS (8 Gis he ae
Bidwell, E. C., M. D--| Quasqueton_-_--- Buchanan.....-- 42 23 91 43 890
@onnel, Townsend M--|' Pleasant, Plainv.-|\Jefferson .- 2.3) 00. bs)
Fairall, Hermann H.--| Iowa City..----- Johnson eee AGI oe Aes ea EE elle ee
Fory, John C.._------- Bellevue =e sae Jacksons sas. SG oe oh ee
Goss, Geo. C. & Wm. K.} Border Plains,...| Webster.......-|..------|.-------|--------
McCready, Daniel----- Hort Madison 223) Weeks sees 40: 87 | 91 23 eae
Parker, Nathan H_-.--| Clinton......_.- C@limbomys ok SC ee oc Me ee
Banyan. cE taesee sae Muscatine ..---- Muscatine -_---- 41 26 91 05 586
Seheeper, He Hick 2k (Pella.2 2.2 aees Marion .--- ._-- 41 30 | 72 55 730
batter, J. Wl. 22. 228 Fairfield._------ MeMersOm ern = LL oe el SP

WISCONSIN.

Beans Prot o7iNe ae Waukesha. ----- Wierik simian a) afi ea NG Sp
Breed, J. Everett__--- INewy Io nGloro, 5 -|| WRN OCR) oO beelososococclaooe aoe olocds on
Durham) W. do22222- Racine. 56 cee" Racine..------.. Ly ANS AL) Weegee
Himoe, John H_____-- Norway ----.--- RACE. mee eee 42 50 88) 10S eee eee

Horing, ©) jri ee. ats i
Sane as b t Superior. -.--.-- Douglas... /._- 46 38 | 92 03 658
Mason, Prof. R. Z.---- Appletonyaeeees Outagamie.__--- 44 10 | 88 35 800
Park, Rev. Roswell -.-| Racine .-.___-.- Racine eae seen s 42 49 Bhi AQ Neier nees
Pickard, J. L., M. D--| Platteville____.- Grantee se ee see 42 45 OM OO Wes ss
Romteroy, Hi Cle---a- Milwaukie_----- Milwaukie... -- 43 04 | 87 59 658
Porter, Prof. Wm.--_-- Beloitss)2s44a5 Rockese Bec ob Luo 42 30 | 89 04 750
Seibert, Samuel R.---- Cascade Valley.-| Buffalo.....-.-- 44 30 | 92 00 |---.----
Senne, Ay) M. D.L 3... Madison cee nee Danese ee aie e sie A3 05 89 25 892
Sterling, Prof. di; W.2-| Madison... (24:\\Danev 22202. 2 = 43 05 89 25 892
Winkler, C., M. D----| Milwaukie_...-- Milwaukie__--.- 43 04 | 87 57 593
Wallardiiy. Wate 2 oe Janesville..._.. PDMRO es ce ue 42 42) 89 91 768

CALIFORNIA.

Ayres, W. O., M. D.--| San Francisco. .-| San Francisco..-| 37 48 | 122 23 115
Logan, Thos. M., M. D.| Sacramento----- Sacramento----- 88 35 | 121 40 49
Reid- oR; 1K. Meeps e|sStockton. 222% San. Joaquin, sla ee2. 8 ee ee eee

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS. Th

MINNESOTA.
Name of observer. Station. County. N. lat. | W. long.| Height.
Oris Oi Leet.
Brooks, Rev. Jabez -.-| Red Wing-.---- Goodhue. ------ 44 34} 92 30 |_--.----
Garrison, O. H.-..--- Princeton.-.---- Benton.-------- 4.5. (50) \a5sl2424)|b eee
Qdell, Rev. B. F_----- Cass Lake Mission|..--------------|---- oe oh. e wel neal eee
PUSAS i Won oot aS Hazlewood. in) nn | |

HUDSON’S BAY TERRITORY.

Gunn, Donald-.-.---- Red River Settle- |_-.--.---------- 50 06 | 97 00 ies
ment.
c MEXICO. e
Bee Prof. L. C.} Mexico.-------- | is See oe 19 30; 99 00 7 ie
VENEZUELA. he
Fendler, tg re Sane Tovar. joa 22" -| Aragua Province.| 10 20 67 20 ae
SURINAM.

Hering C2 Tea. Catharina Sophia

SANDWICH ISLANDS.

Hillebrand, Wm., M.D.} Honolulu. le PASC a a is ca | ponte
JAMAICA.
ead James @__| Up Pak comp Sh echonaadl - =
TRINIDAD.
eae yon) i Portottpnate’, (th. tas aaa | as
PERSIA.

Rev. Mr. Stoddard_...| Qroomiah.....--

78 REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

The Executive Committee submit the following report of the state
of the finances of the Smithsonian Institution, the expenditures during
the year 1856, and an estimate of receipts and appropriations for 1857.

The whole sum appropriated for the current expenses of the Insti-
tution for the year 1856, including the remaining payment on the
building, was thirty-nine thousand dollars. The actual expenditures
for the several items do not materially differ from those specified in
the estimate submitted by the committee and adopted by the Board.
The whole sum expended was $38,158 90, which is less than the
amount appropriated by $841 10.

A committee was appointed February 24, 1855, consisting of Messrs.
English, Pearce, and Mason, to consider the best means of investing the
extra fund, Mr. Corcoran having signified his intention to relinquish
the charge of the money deposited with him. After due consulta-
tion, the committee concluded to recommend the purchase of State
stocks. This being agreed to by the Board, at a subsequent meeting
the Secretary was instructed to make the purchase under the direction
of the Finance Committee. An account of the transaction under this
resolution is given in the report of the Hon. Mr. Huglish of that com-
mittee.

It will be recollected that the extra fund amounted to one hundred
and twenty-five thousand dollars, and from the report of Mr. Eng-
lish it will be seen that of this sum one hundred and nineteen thou-
sand four hundred dollars have been expended in the purchase of
State stocks; that six hundred dollars remain in the hands of
Messrs. Riggs & Co.; and that five thousand dollars of that fund,
applied in 1855 to the payments on the building, is now in the treas-
ury. There is, therefore, five thousand six hundred dollars of the
extra fund uninvested. It is, however, not advisable to invest this
immediately, because the half-yearly income of the Institution is not
receivable until the first of July, and it is necessary to retain a suffi-
cient sum in the treasury to meet the payments for paper, printing,
&c., for the next volume of Contributions, which cannot be post-
poned.

The following is a general statement of the fund:

The whole amount of the Smithsonian bequest deposited
in the treasury of the United States (from which an
annual income, at 6 per cent., of $30,910 14 is de-
TAU CONES ie ee EEE OES cin aioe ding dediieey me Aiouet «eupmieenle Mee $515,169 00
Extra fund from unexpended income, now
invested in State stocks, yielding an an-
NUAL WMPerest) Ole Pi poOW ripe ove ses csvcarierees $119,400 00
Extra fund deposited with Riggs & Co.
to-be Invested ..ccswistowrdevrvsveverenvedevesine 600 00

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY FOR 1857,

To the Board of Legents:

GENTLEMEN: It again becomes my duty to present to you the
history of the operations of another year of the Institution which
the government of the United States has entrusted to your care. In
an establishment of this kind, of which the policy has been settled
and is strictly adhered to, there must of necessity be much sameness in
the general form and character of the successive reports; but since
the field of science is boundless, and new portions of it are continually
presented for investigation, there will always be found in the details,
facts of sufficient interest to relieve the routine of the statements —

relative to the condition of the funds and the scrutiny of the receipts

and expenditures.

It might at first sight appear surprising that so constant a supply
of materials for the Smithsonian Contributions and so many objects of
interest, demanding the assistance of the Smithsonian fund, should
be presented, but it will be evident, on reflection, that this results
from the influence of the Institution itself in increasing the number
of laborers in the field of science, as well as in accumulating the
materials on which they are to be engaged. The tendency is con-
stantly to expand the operations, and much caution and self-control
are necessary to repress the desire to be more liberal in the assistance
rendered to worthy objects, than the income will permit. Indeed, a
charge is frequently made of illiberality for what is the result of re-
stricted means. It must be evident that nothing is more important to
the permanency and proper conduct of the Institution than the cautious
and judicious management of its funds. Any embarrassment in this
quarter would involve a loss of confidence in the directors, which would
be fatal to the usefulness and efficiency of the establishment.

I have from the first expressed the regret that the original law of
Congress directed the expenditure of so large a portion of the income
on objects of alocal character, and this feeling has been increased by
the experience which time has afforded in regard to the good which
could be effected by a more critical observance of the terms of the

14 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

bequest, as well as by the increasing expense of sustaining a large
building, a library, and museum. It is to be hoped, however, that
at least a partial relief will hereafter be afforded by an annual appro-
priation, which it is reasonable to expect government will make for
the keeping and exhibition of the collections of the various exploring
expeditions which have been entrusted to the care of the Regents.

At the last session of Congress an appropriation was made for the
construction and erection of cases to receive the collections of the
United States Exploring Expedition and others in Washington, and
also for the transfer and arrangement of the specimens. ‘This appro-
priation was granted in accordance with the recommendation of the
late Secretary of the Interior and the Commissioner of Patents, in
order that the large room in the Patent Office occupied by the museum
might be used for the more legitimate purposes of that establishment.
We presume that the other part of the recommendation will also be
carried out, namely, that the annual appropriation be continued which
has heretofore been made for the care of this portion of the govern-
ment property. While, on the one hand, no appropriation should be .
made which would serve to lessen the distinctive character of Smith-
son’s bequest, on the other it is evident that the government should
not impose any burdens upon the Institution which would impair its
usefulness or divert its funds from their legitimate purpose.

It was stated in the last report that the extra fund of the Insti-
tution, which had been saved from the accrued interest, was invested
in State Stocks. This investment was made because the fund was at
the time drawing no interest, and because, until action could be pro-
cured by Congress in relation to receiving said fund into the United
States Treasury, it was deemed the safest disposition of the money.
Though a temporary depreciation of these stocks took place during
the last year, there is no reason to regret the investment. Their
marketable value is at present about the same as it was at the time
they were purchased.

By reference to the report of the Executive Committee it will be
seen that the expenditures during the year, though less than the
amount of receipts, have somewhat exceeded the estimates. This has
been occasioned, first, by unexpected repairs which were found neces
sary to the building, in consequence of an unprecedented hail storm,
which destroyed several thousand panes of glass and did considerable
injury to the roof and other parts of the edifice; secondly, by an
expansion of the system of foreign exchanges, rendered necessary by
the large amount of material entrusted to the Institution by the

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 15

different agricultural and other societies of thé country; and thirdly,
the necessity we were under, on account of the financial pressure, of
paying bills for publications which will appear during the present
and the next year. The funds of the Institution are, however, still
in a prosperous condition, but great care is required to prevent the
accumulation of small expenses, which, individually, by reason of
their insignificance, are allowed to occur, but which in the aggregate,
at the end of the year, are found to have swelled into amounts of
considerable magnitude.

Publications.—The ninth annual quarto volume of Contributions to
Knowledge was completed and distributed during the first half of the
year. It is equal in size and importance to the preceding volumes,
and contains the following memoirs :

1. On the relative intensity of the heat and light of the sun upon
difterent latitudes of the earth. By L. W. Meech.

2. Illustrations of surface geology, by Edward Hitchcock, LL.D.,
of Amherst College.

Part 1. On surface geology, especially that of the Connecticut
valley, in New England.

Part 2. On the erosions of the earth’s surface, especially by
rivers.

Part 3. Traces of ancient glaciers in Massachusetts and Ver-
mont,

3. Observations on Mexican history and archeology, with a special
notice of Zapotec remains, as delineated in Mr. J. G. Sawkins’ draw-
ings of Mitla, &c. By Brantz Mayer.

4, Researches on the Ammonia Cobalt bases. By Professor Wol-
cott Gibbs and Professor F. A. Genth.

5. New tables for determining the values of the co-efficients in the
perturbative functions of planetary motion, which depend upon the
ratio of the mean distances. By J. D. Runkle.

6. Asteroid supplement to new tables for determining the values of

pe and its derivatives. By J. D. Runkle.

It was stated in the last report that Mr. L. W. Meech proposed to
continue his interesting investigations relative to the heat and light
of the sun, provided the Smithsonian Institution would pay the ex-
pense of the arithmetical computations. Though most of his time is
necessarily occupied in other duties, he would cheerfully devote his
leisure hours to the investigation with a view of extending the bounds

A;

16 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

of knowledge. During the past year an appropriation has been made
of one hundred dollars for the purpose here mentioned, and we are
assured, from what Mr. Meech has already accomplished, that this
sum will be instrumental in producing valuable results. He proposes
to determine, from several elementary formulas, the laws of terres-
trial temperature for different latitudes. The first formula has been
pretty thoroughly applied, and the annual temperature computed by -
it compared with the result of actual observation. The diurnal
temperatures have also been deduced and seem to agree with actual
observation within the presumed errors of the latter. The temper-
ature, however, of the surrounding medium, derived from the annual
temperature, differs widely from the results obtained by the diurnal
temperatures. The author is inclined to attribute this difference to a
defect in the law of radiation as generally received, which, deduced
from experiments in the laboratory, he thinks inapplicable to the ©
phenomena of terrestrial temperature. The second formula takes into
account another cause of the variation of temperature, namely, the
cooling due to the contact of the air; and the third formula includes
also the effect of the absorption of solar heat in its passage through
the atmosphere. The investigation will include the consideration of—
Ist, terrestrial radiation ; 2d, contact of air; 3d, the sun’s intensity ;
Ath, atmospheric absorption ; 5th, the difference in radiating power of
luminous heat by day and non-luminous heat by night. Among
other inferences to be deduced is the relative heating or radiating
powers of sea and continent, when the land is covered with foliage
and vegetation, and when it is covered with ice and snow. These
researches are intimately connected with the extended series of obser-
vations on the climate of the United States, now carried on at the
expense and under the direction of the Institution.

The paper of Professor Gibbs and Dr. Genth, which forms a part of
the 9th volume, has been republished in the American Journal of
Science and ‘in the London Chemical Gazette, due credit being given
to the Smithsonian Contributions, from which it was copied. We
regret to be informed by the authors of this interesting paper that
the sum appropriated by the Institution for assisting in defraying the
expense of the materials and apparatus employed in their researches
was scarcely sufficient to compensate for more than one-fourth of their
outlay. Limited means, and not a want of proper appreciation of the
labors of these gentlemen, prevented their entire reimbursement for
the pecuniary loss in the prosecution of their valuable researches.
They intend, notwithstanding this, to continue their investigations,

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY, 17

and to devote as much time to them as their other engagements and
the means at their disposal will allow. Since this memoir has met
the approval of the scientific world, it will be proper to make as
liberal an appropriation as the demands on the limited income of the
Institution will permit for the continuance of researches in the same
line. The publication of the paper was of comparatively little
expense, since it required no costly illustrations, and this may be an
additional reason for granting a larger appropriation for further in-
vestigations in the same line.

The ninth volume also contains the supplement to the tables by J.
D. Runkle, mentioned in the last report. The tables in this supple-
ment are intended to facilitate calculations with reference to the
asteroids. ‘The search for these bodies has been prosecuted with so
much vigor of late that their list now extends to more than fifty, and
the mechanical labor required to calculate their places is so great that
this can scarcely be expected to be accomplished, except by the use of
general tables. ‘The work of Gauss on the theory of the motion of
the heavenly bodies leaves little to be desired, so far as the deter-
mination of their orbits is concerned; but this is by no means the
case with regard to their perturbations by the larger planets. The -
tables therefore will afford an important means of facilitating the ad:
vance of our knowledge, particularly of this class of the members of
our solar system.

The third part of the Nereis Boreali-Americana, by Dr. William H:
Harvey, has been completed and will be included in the tenth volume -
of the Contributions. Two hundred extra copies of the text of the
preceding parts having been struck off before the distribution of the -
types, and the drawings on the lithographic stones having been pre-
served, an equal number of plates from the latter have been printed
and colored, so that we shall be enabled to make up two hundred
copies of the complete work to be offered for sale, which will serve,
it is hoped, to reimburse, in some degree, the heavy expense incurred
in the publication of this interesting addition to the science of botany.
It may be proper to mention that the work was published in numbers,
in order that the whole expense should be defrayed by the appro--
priation of different years, as well as to furnish the author the oppor--
tunity of rendering the work more complete by more extended re--
search.

For the purpose of classification, the sea plants have been grouped.

2s

18 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

under three principal heads which are readily distinguished by their
general color. :

They are as follows:

1. Melanospermese—plants of an olive-green or olive-brown color.

2. Rhodospermez, or plants of a rosy-red or purple color.

8. Chlorospermez, or plants of a grass, rarely of a livid purple
color.

The numbers of the work already published relate to the first two
divisions, and the third, now about to be issued, will contain the last,
with an appendix describing new species discovered since the date of
the former parts.

The text of the first part of the work on Oology, mentioned in pre-
ceding reports, has been printed ; but the publication of the plates to
accompany it will be so expensive that we were obliged to defer it
until the present year. In the meantime the author will proceed with
the preparation of the other parts of the memoir, and the whole will
be completed as soon as the funds of the Institution will permit.
From an accidental oversight in the preparation of the last Report, I
neglected to mention the fact that the author of this interesting work
is Dr. Thomas M. Brewer, of Boston. The omission of his name in
‘the reports would not only be unjust to himself, but might also pre-
vent him from receiving in some cases additional information relative
to his labors from correspondents who are engaged in the same line of
research. The announcement of the fact of the intended publication
of this memoir has induced a number of persons to enter into corre-
- spondence with the Institution on the subject, and we doubt not that
these remarks will tend to call forth other additions to our knowledge
- of this branch of natural history.

Since the date of the last Report a grammar and dictionary of the
Yoruba language of Africa have been accepted for publication. Thi
work is another contribution from the missionary enterprise of the
present day, and has been prepared by the Rev. Thos. J. Bowen, of
the Southern Baptist Missionary Board, from materials collected
during a residence of six years in Africa, and revised and rewritten with
the aid of W. W. Turner, esq., of Washington. The grammar and
dictionary are prefaced by a brief account of the country and its inhab-
itants. The long residence of the author in this part of the interior
of Africa has enabled him to gather more minute knowledge of its
topography, climate, and productions, and of the political, social, and
moral relations. of its inhabitants than has before been obtained. He

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 19

has collected interesting information as to the habits of thought and
action of the people, and their capacity for moral and intellectual
culture, which would have escaped the casual notice of the mere
traveller.

Yoruba is a country of Western Africa, situated to the east of
Dahomey, and extending from the Bight of Benin, in a northerly
direction, nearly to the Niger. It is between the countries explored
by the distinguished travellers, Barth, on the north, and Livingstone,
on thesouth. The author describes it as a beautiful and fertile region,
densely inhabited by a population devoted to agricultural pursuits,
who do not dwell on the lands they cultivate, but live clustered
together in villages and towns, some of which contain from 20,000 to
70,000 inhabitants. The people are generally of a primitive, simple
and harmless character, and governed by institutions patriarchal
rather than despotic. In their appearance they resemble the Cau-
casian race, while their mental powers and general moral impulses
are considerably advanced in the scale of intelligence. They have,
indeed, already attained no inconsiderable degree of social organiza-
tion, while they have escaped some of the more depraved incidents of
an advanced civilization.

The language, which is said to be spoken by about two millions of
people, is represented by Professor Turner to be very homogeneous in
its structure, almost all of it being derived from some five hundred
primitive words. ‘‘Its articulations are sufficiently easy to imitate,
and there is a system of vocalic concords recurring through the whole,
which, together with the multiplicity of vowels, renders it decidedly
euphonious. The great difficulty is found in the tones and accents,
which can be discriminated only by a good ear, and must be uttered
correctly to make the speaker intelligible. The Yoruba has neither
article nor adjective, properly so called, and it is almost wholly des-
titute of inflection. The verbal root remains unchanged through all
the accidents of person, mood, and tense, which are indicated by
separate pronouns and particles. The plurality of nouns is also indi-
cated by the aid of a plural pronoun. The numerals are based on the
decimal system, yet many of them are formed by subtraction instead
of addition or multiplication, as with us. Thus 15 is literally 10 +- 5;
but 16 = 20 —4,17 = 20—3, &c. Although this language is spoken
by a rude people, it abounds in abstract terms, and the missionary
finds no difficulty in expressing in it the ideas he desires to com-
municate.”’

20 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

It is believed that this work will be received by the student of
ethnology as an interesting addition to this science, and that its pub-
lication will not only facilitate the labors of the missionary, but be
productive of valuable commercial results. The country in which the
language is spoken is rich in natural and artificial productions, and
as the inhabitants are anxious to establish relations of trade with
other parts of the world, it would seem to offer a new and tempting
field to mercantile enterprise.

Under the head of publications, we may allude to the Appendix to
the Annual Report of the Regents. Previous to 1853 this report was
in a pamphlet form, and only in one or two cases were a few extra
copies ordered. Since that date an annual volume has been presented
to Congress, of which twenty thousand extra copies have been printed.
The liberal distribution of this work has met with general approbation,
the applications to the Institution for copies have been constantly in-
creasing, and, in connexion with the Report of the Patent Office, no
document has become more popular or is better calculated to advance
the cause of knowledge among the people. The object is, as far as pos-
sible, to distribute this volume among teachers, and through them to
diffuse precise scientific knowledge to the rising generation. It is made
also the vehicle of instruction, in the line of observations, to all who
are desirous of co-operating in the investigation of the natural history
and physical geography of this country. The wide distribution of this
report has tended, more than any other means, to make known the
character of the Institution, and to awaken an interest throughout
the whole country in its prosperity.

In order to render the series complete, the first volume—that for
1853—contained a reprint of the previous reports of the Secretary,
from which a connected history of all the operations of the Institution
from the beginning may be obtained. These volumes are illustrated
by a large number of wood cuts, which have been provided at the
expense of the Smithsonian fund. We have, however, to regret that,
from the rapidity with which Congressional documents are hurried
through the press, we have not been allowed in all cases revised copies
of the proof. We cannot, therefore, be held entirely responsible for
inaccuracies of the press any more than for the style of printing or
the quality of the paper.

It is a part of the settled policy of the Institution to appropriate
its funds, as far as the original law of organization will allow, to
such objects only as cannot as well be accomplished by other means ;
and accordingly, in several instances, the printing of papers previously

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 21

_ accepted for publication has been relinquished because it was subse-
quently found that the works could be given to the public, under
certain conditions, through other agencies. In such cases the favor-
able opinion expressed by the Institution as to the character of the
work, or the assistance rendered by the subscription on the part of the
Regents, for a number of copies to be distributed in exchange for
other books among our foreign correspondents, has been sufficient to
induce some liberal minded parties to undertake the publication,
rather as an enterprise connected with the reputation of their estab-
lishments, than as a matter of profit.

Among the works of this class is the ‘‘ Theory of the Motion of the
Heavenly Bodies,’’ by the celebrated Gauss, translated by Captain C.
H. Davis, U. 8. N., late superintendent of the Nautical Almanac,
which was originally accepted by us for publication, but was after-
wards relinquished to Messrs. Little & Brown, of Boston, who have
shown in this instance, as well as in others of a similar character, a
liberality which cannot be otherwise than highly appreciated by a
discerning public. This book, which is essential to the advance of
practical astronomy, was published in Latin, in Hamburg, in 1809,
and is now of difficult access, as well as of restricted use, on account
of the language in which it appeared. It gives a complete system of
formulas and processes for computing the movement of a body revolv-
ing in an ellipse, or in any other curve belonging to the class of conic
sections, and explains a general method of determining the orbit of a
planet or a comet from three observations of the position of the body
as seen from the earth. The essay was called for at the time it was
produced by the wants of science. The planet Ceres, discovered on
the first day of the present century by Piazzi, of Italy, had been
lost to astronomers in its passage through the portion of the heavens
illuminated by the beams of the sun, and could not be found by the
means then known, when Gauss, from a few observations of its former
place, calculated its orbit, and furnished an ephemeris by which it
was readily rediscovered. The methods employed in this determina-
tion were afterwards given in a systematic form in the work now
transJated. The copies subscribed for by the Institution, on account
of exchanges, and those paid for by the Navy Department, for the
use of the computers of the Nautical Almanac, were sufficient to
secure the publication of the work, which could not have been under-
taken without these aids. 7

In accordance with the same policy the Institution has subscribed
for a few copies of a work on ‘‘ The Pleiocene Fossils of South Caro-

a2 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY,

lina,’’ by M. Tuomey and F.S. Holmes. This work received the com-
mendation of some of the distinguished members of the American
Association for the Advancement of Science, at its meeting in Charles-
ton, in 1850, and its publication was undertaken at the risk and cost
of the authors. The actual expense, however, far exceeded their esti-
mate, and without the liberal aid of the legislature of South Carolina
they could not have escaped heavy loss, or been enabled to complete
the work in a proper style of art. To aid the same enterprise the
Institution was induced to make the subscription above mentioned for
copies to be distributed to foreign societies. We regret to state that
before the work was fully completed the science of the country was
called to mourn the loss of Professor Tuomey, of the University of
‘Alabama, who, during the past year, was prematurely snatched away
from his family and friends in the flower of his age. His works,
however, will remain as an inheritance to the cause of knowledge and
the best monument to his memory. We have been gratified to learn
that, at the late session of the legislature of South Carolina, a resolu-
tion was passed authorizing a continuance of the patronage of the
State to the publication of these researches, and consequently Professor
Holmes has signified his intention to publish two additional volumes
on the Eocene and the Post Pleiocene Fossils, to which the subscrip-
tion of the Institution will also be extended.

Another work, belonging to the same class, is the series of ‘* Contri-
butions to the Natural History of the United States of America,’’ by
Professor Louis Agassiz. It has been mentioned in a previous report
that this distinguished savan was preparing a series of papers to be
presented to the Smithsonian Institution, and that the plates for some
of these had been engraved. But the number of these contributions,
and the cost of their illustration, would have absorbed a larger portion
of the Smithsonian fund than could have properly been devoted to
the labors of one individual. Fortunately, however, the reputation
and popularity of Professor Agassiz have enabled his friends to pro-
cure subscribers for an independent work, containing the result of his
valuable investigations, in numbers unprecedented in the annals of
science of this or of any other country. In order to assist this enter-
prise in the beginning, and to relieve its own funds, the Institution
subscribed for copies, to be distributed among foreign libraries, in ex-
change for rare works of a similar character, with which to enrich its
own library.

The Institution has also facilitated the researches described in the
first two volumes of the work in question, and I may quote the

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 23

following sentence containing the acknowledgment of the author for
the services which have thus been rendered him: ‘‘ Above all, I must
mention the Smithsonian Institution, whose officers, in the true spirit
of its founder, have largely contributed to the advancement of my
researches by forwarding to me for examination not only all the
specimens of Testudinata collected for the museum of the Institution,
but also those brought to Washington by the naturalists of the dif-
ferent parties that have explored the western Territories, or crossed
the continent with the view of determining the best route for the
Pacific railroad. These specimens have enabled me to determine the
geographical distribution of this order of reptiles with a degree of
precision which I could not have attained without this assistance.’’
Besides this, the Institution caused special collections of turtles to be
made for Professor Agassiz, from those parts of the country from
which no specimens had previously been obtained.

Ié was originally intended, as announced in the prospectus, to issue
one volume a year, but the author found that the first volume was:
insufficient to contain all the matter which he had designed to give
init. Its publication was therefore delayed, that the whole of this
part of his general subject might be presented at once, and hence two
volumes have been issued together. The large subscription which
has been obtained has enabled the publishers to extend the original
plan, and to expend a much greater sum on the engravings than was
at first thought possible. The work will serve to increase and extend
the reputation of the illustrious author, as well as to afford a striking
example of the liberality of our country and its growing appreciation
of abstract science.

Under the head of publications, and in justice to the memory of a
distinguished naturalist, a profound scholar, and a worthy man, the
late Dr. Gerard Troost, of Tennessee, it ought to be stated in this
Report, that after his death, several years ago, a memoir he had pre-
pared on the organic remains known as Crinoidea, illustrated by a
collection of specimens, was presented to the Smithsonian Institution
for publication. It was submitted to two naturalists of high reputa-
tion, aud found by them to be an important addition to knowledge,
though left by its author in an unfinished condition. The gentlemen
to whom it was referred generously offered to supply the deficiencies,
and to prepare the work for the press. Their engagements, however,
have since been such as to prevent up to this time the completion of
the task which they undertook to accomplish. One of the gentlemen

24 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY,

to whom the paper was referred, Prof. James Hall, in whose posses-
sion the specimens now are, states that he had hoped long since to
put the memoir in such a form as to do justice to the memory of Dr.
Troost, and be in accordance with the latest views of the subject. To
do this, however, required an examination of other specimens, and for
this object he had never been able to find time. At present he is
engaged in a geological report of Iowa, in which there are several
plates of Crinoids, and any which may be identical with those de-
scribed by Dr. Troost will be accredited to him. We regret exceed-
ingly this long delay in the-publication of the labors of one so highly
esteemed in life and gratefully remembered in death. It has, however,
been caused by circumstances over which we had no control, and which
have given us considerable disquietude.

The new and extended series of Meteorological and Physical Tables,
which has been in course of preparation for several years, is at length
completed and ready for distribution. It forms a volume of 634 large
octavo pages, which may be divided into separate parts, each distinct
in itself. A copy of these tables will be sent to each of the meteoro-
logical observers, and it is believed that a considerable number may
be sold in this country and Europe, from which something may be
derived towards compensating the author, Prof. Guyot, for the un-
wearied labor and attention he has bestowed upon the work.

At the request of the Institution, Baron Osten Sacken, of the Bus-
sian legation, who has made a special study of Dipterous Insects has
prepared a catalogue of the previously described species of this con-
tinent, analogous to that of Melsheimer’s catalogue of the Cleoptera
of the United States, which was published some years ago by this
Institution.

It frequently happens that the same animal is described by different
naturalists under different names, and there may be among the species
enumerated in this catalogue some of this character, but in the pre-
sent state of the knowledge of American Diptera the publication of a
complete synonymical catalogue is impossible. Yet a list like the one
just completed is an indispensable preparatory work for the future
study of this branch of entomology. The catalogue includes the
species inhabiting not only the North American continent in general,
but also those in Central America and in the West Indies. It also
gives the principal localities where each species has been found,
In a list like this, says the author, completeness is the principal
merit ; the symmetrical arrangement is but of secondary importance.

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 25

The groups adopted by Meigen and Wiedemann are retained, avoiding
the subdivisions introduced by modern authors.

The publication of this list, we trust, will very much facilitate the
study of entomology, and it is a special object of this Institution to en-
courage individuals to devote themselves to particular subjects of re-
search. The field of nature is so extended that unless it be minutely
subdivided, and its several parts cultivated by different persons, little
progress of a definite character can be anticipated. To collect the
materials for wider generalizations, microscopic research is necessary
in every direction, and men enthusiastically devoted to one object are
required in every branch of knowledge in order that the whole may be
_ perfected. It is true, before entering on an investigation of this kind,
that it is desirable for the individual to havea general knowledge of the
different branches of science, since they are all intimately connected ;
and the student can then narrow his field of view until it comes within
the scope of his mental abilities, or the means which he may have at his
disposal for its advancement. As a general rule, however, the ability
to enlarge the bounds of science can only be obtained by almost ex-
clusive devotion to a few branches.

It is scarcely possible to estimate too highly, in reference to the
happiness of the individual as well as to the promotion of knowledge,
the choice in early life of some subject to which the thoughts can be
habitually turned during moments of leisure, and to which observa-
tion may be directed during periods of recreation, relative to which
facts may be gleaned from casual reading, and during journeys of
business or of pleasure. It is well that every one should have some
favorite subject of which he has a more minute knowledge than any
of his neighbors. It is well that he should know some one thing
profoundly, in order that he may estimate by it his deficiencies in
others.

In this connexion it may be proper to remark that the association
of individuals in the same community, each with a special and favor-
ite pursuit, each encouraging the others, each deferring to the others,
and each an authority in his own specialty, forms an organization
alike valuable to the individual, the community, and the public gen-
erally. ‘To induce and encourage the establishment of such associa-
tions is one of the objects of the Institution. . It is suprising what
interest may be awakened, what amount of latent talents developed,
and what dignity imparted to the pursuits of a neighborhood by a
society in which the knowledge of each becomes common property,

26 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

and the labors of each one are stimulated by the appreciation and
applause of his fellows.

IT am acquainted with no plan of adult education better calculated
to elevate the mental character of a community or to develop the
local natural history of a district than that of a well organized and
efficiently conducted association of this kind. Such establishments,
Iam happy to say, are now becoming common in every part of the
United States. They have taken the place, in many cases, of the de-
bating societies, which were formerly instituted for mental improve-
ment. To the latter it might justly be objected that they tend to
promote a talent of sophistical reasoning, rather than to engender an
uncompromising love of truth. The habit of fluent speaking may
undoubtedly be cultivated at the expense of profound thought, and
however promotive at times of the temporary interests of the indi-
vidual, can never be supposed to tend to the permanent advancement

of the species.

Meteorology.—The system of meteorological observations under the
direction of the Institution and the Patent Office has been so repeatedly
described in previous reports that it will scarcely be necessary to give
any more at this time than an account of the present state of the work.
The system was commenced in 1849, and has since then been gradually
improving in the number of observers, character of the instruments,
and the precision with which the records are made. The Institution
has awakened a wide interest in the subject of meteorology, and has
diffused a considerable amount of information with regard to it which
could not readily be obtained through other means. The manufac-
ture of instruments, compared with standards furnished by the Insti-
tution from London and Paris, has been an important means of
advancing the science. The work is still continued by James Green,
173 Grand street, New York, and during the past year an increasing
number of full sets has been purchased by observers. The Institution
has continued to distribute rain-gages, with which observations are
now made on the quantity of aqueous precipitation in nearly every
State and Territory of the Union.

We are indebted to the National Telegraph line for a series of
observations from New Orleans to New York, and as far westward
as Cincinnati, Ohio, which have been published in the ‘‘ Evening
Star,’’ of this city. These reports have excited much interest, and
could they be extended further north, and more generally to the
westward, they would furnish important information as to the ap-

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 27

proach of storms. We hope in the course of another year to make
such an arrangement with the telegraph lines as to be able to give
warning on the eastern coast of the approach of storms, since the
investigations which have been made at the Institution fully indicate
the fact that as a general rule the storms of our latitude pursue a
definite course.

The materials which have been collected relative to the climate of
the North American continent are as follows:

Ist. A miscellaneous collection of MSS. and other tables relative to
the climate of the United States. This series will be enriched by a
reference list to all the meteorological records, which are to be found
in the extensive library of Mr. Peter Force, of this city, and other
accessible sources of information.

2d. The observations made under the direction of this Institution
since 1849.

3d. A series of observations made by Dr. Berlandier in Mexico.

4th. Observations made in the British possessions.

5th. The record of observations made by government and other
exploring expeditions.

6th. Copies of the observations made under the direction of the Sur-
geon General at the military posts.

7th. Copies of the observations made at the expense of the States
of New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maine, and Missouri.

Sth. A series of observations from Bermuda and the West Indies.

Besides these, the Institution is endeavoring to obtain, by means of
its exchanges, a full series of all observations which have been made
in foreign countries, and to form a complete meteorological library.

Complaint has been made on account of the delay in publishing
deductions from the materials which have thus been collected, but,
with the limited means of the Institution, it should be recollected that
all objects enumerated in the programme of organization cannot be
simultaneously accomplished. The reductions have been steadily pur-
sued for the last five years, and all the funds, not otherwise absolutely
required, have been devoted by the Institution to this object.

It will be a matter of astonishment to those not practically ac-
quainted with the subject, to be informed as to the amount of labor
required for the reduction of the returns made to this Institution for
a single year. During 1856 the records of upwards of half a million of
separate observations, each requiring a reduction involving an arith-
metical calculation, were received at the Institution. Allowing an
average of one minute for the examination and reduction of each

28 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

observation, the amount of time consumed will be nearly 7,000 hours,
or, at the rate of seven hours per day, it will be 1,000 days or up-
wards of three years, or, in other words, to keep up with the reduction
of the current observations the whole available time of three expert
computers is required. This is independent of the labor expended in
the correspondence, preparation and distribution of blank forms, and
the deduction of general principles. The work has been prosecuted,
therefore, as rapidly as the means at the disposal of the Institution
would permit. Since the arrangement was made with the Patent
Office, from twelve to fifteen persons, many of them females, have
been almost constantly employed, under the direction of Prof. Coffin,
in bringing up the arrears and in reducing the current observations.

All the materials collected at the Institution are in the process of
being arranged and bound in accessible volumes, with proper indices,
to be used by all who may be desirous of making special investigations
on any point relative to the climate of this country.

During the past year the reductions for 1855 were printed in
pamphlet form and distributed to observers for criticism and sug-
gestions as to improvements which might be adopted in the subse-
quent publication of the entire series.

Exchanges. —The system of international exchange has been carried
on during the past year with unabated zeal, and we trust with undi-
minished good results. A large amount of scientific material has
passed through our hands in its transfer to and from societies and
individuals in this and other countries. The returns made to the
Institution during 1857 for its own publications consist of 555 vol-
umes, 1,067 parts of volumes, and 138 charts. These works embrace
most of the current volumes of scientific transactions, and are of the
highest importance as aids in original research. The number would
be very much increased if the contents of several large cases, which
were accidentally delayed until the beginning of this year, were in-
cluded.

The importance of the exchanges is not to be estimated by the com-
mercial value alone of the books received. In addition to this we
must consider the effect which it produces in bringing into immediate
communication the cultivators of literature and science in this country
with those abroad, of distributing among our societies publications of
a class, the existence of which would scarcely otherwise be known,
and of facilitating the diffusion of knowledge which, by the ordinary
modes of transmission, would not be attained, except, perhaps, in the
course of years.

fi

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 29

The system has now attained a great development, and increases
measurably every year. The expenses hitherto have been principally
borne by the Institution, but their amount has now become so great
as seriously to interfere with other operations, and I therefore think
it advisable that a charge be made, to the parties receiving a certain
amount of packages annually, sufficient to reimburse some of the
outlay of the Smithsonian funds. What would not be felt by each
one individually would, in the aggregate, materially lessen the burden
of expense connected with this part of the operations, which amounted,
in 1857, to about $3,000.

The expenses of the Smithsonian exchanges would be considerably
- greater than they are but for the liberality of various transportaticn
companies in carrying packages free of cost. No charge on freight is
made by the United States Mail Steamship Company, the Panama
Railroad, or the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, forming the mail
line from New York to San Francisco, while the agents of the line
in these two cities, Messrs. I. W. Raymond and A. B. Forbes, serve
the Institution in various ways. The California Express Agency
of Wells, Fargo & Co., has also acted with the greatest liberality,
and the same should be stated of the old line of Bremen and New York
steamers. None of the domestic agents of distribution—namely, Hick-
ling, Swan & Brewer, of Boston; D. Appleton & Co., New York; J. B.
_ Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia; John Russell, Charleston; B. M.

Norman, New Orleans; Dr. Wislizenus, St. Louis; H. W. Derby,
Cincinnati; and Henry P. B. Jewett, of Cleveland—make any charge
for services ; and the same may also be said of Messrs. Oelrichs &
Ltirman, of Baltimore.

The amount of labor involved in the exchanges is, of course, very
great, as will be readily inferred from an examination of the tables
of receipts and transmissions during the past year, given by Professor
Baird. The entries in the several record books fill over 700 pages ;
the circulars, invoices, and acknowledgments, exceed 4,300, in addi-
tion to over 600 receipts for packages. For a detailed account of all
the operations of the exchanges I would refer to the accompanying

report of Professor Baird. Se REN

\

Explorations, researches, &c.—It was stated in the last report that \
|

the magnetic instruments belonging to the Institution were given in
charge of Baron Miiller, for investigations in Mexico and Central
America. Two series of records of observations have been received,
but for nearly a year past nothing further has been heard from the
expedition. We should regret the loss of the instruments, although

30 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

the cost of them has been more than repaid by the services they have
rendered to science in the Arctic expedition under Dr. Kane, and in
the results which have already been obtained from them in Mexico.
The self-registering apparatus in the observatory on the Smithso-
nian grounds, established at the joint expense of the Coast Survey
and the Institution, has continued to record the variations in the
horizontal direction of the magnetic force during a considerable por-
tion of the past year. The interruptions which have taken place have
been principally caused by the impurities of the city gas, the exhala-
lations from which have interfered with the photographic process.
The records obtained, however, will furnish valuable data for study-
ing, in connexion with similar observations in other parts of the
globe, the character of the magnetic force, and to assist in determin-
ing how far the changes are merely local, or to what extent they
affect the whole earth.

Laboratory.—During the past year the laboratory has been under
the charge of Dr. H. W. Hilgard, recently appointed State geologist
of Mississippi. Among others, a series of experiments was made by
him, under direction of the Secretary, at the expense of the Navy
Department, relative to the vapor from a modification of bi-sulphuret
of carbon as a substitute for steam applied to mechanical purposes.
The result of these investigations was unfavorable to the substitution
of this material in the way proposed. Although a greater amount of
pressure is produced at the same temperature than in the case of
steam, yet the amount of work relative to the absolute quantity of
heat employed is by no means in accordance with this, the density of
the vapor and its greater specific heat require a corresponding amount
of fuel, and when we consider the fact that the bi-sulphuret of carbon
is not a natural but a factitious substance, of which the vapor, when
combined with air, is highly explosive and extremely offensive on
account of its odor and the greater complexity of the engine required
for its use, its application in the place of steam would be far from
advantageous.

Another series of investigations was conducted in the laboratory
relating to the prevention of counterfeiting bank notes, particularly
by photography; but as this was intended especially for private use,
the expenses were paid by the parties interested.

The Institution does not consider it a part of its duty to volunteer
an opinion as to the practicability of the new projects with which the
public mind is frequently agitated; but when directly called upon by
the government or other parties of influence to pronounce a judgment

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. on

on any point of practical or applied science, it does not shrink from
the responsibility, but, after diligent and cautious inquiry, gives the
conclusions, whatever they may be, at which it has arrived.

Library.—Extensive alterations are in the process of being made in
the wing of the building appropriated to the library, for the better
accommodation of the bocks. The shelving has been arranged in two
stories of alcoves, thereby more than doubling the space. Hach lower
alcove is separately secured by a door; a precaution which has been
* found necessary in the library of the Institution as well as in that of
Congress. It is a fact to be regretted, but which it is necessary to
mention in order to vindicate the restrictions imposed upon an indis-
criminate access to the books, that there is in some quarters a lamentable
want of honesty with regard to the use of property of a public character.
Not only are works in many cases mutilated, merely to avoid the labor
of copying a few pages, but valuable sets are sometimes broken by
actual theft.

The appropriation for the library must not alone be measured by
the sum assigned for the ‘‘ cost of books ;’’ 11 must be recollected that
the library is principally increasing by means of the exchanges ; that
every year the Institution sends abroad, besides all the public docu-
ments which it can procure, some hundreds of copies of the quarto
volumes of its transactions, the marketable value of which is several
thousand dollars. It therefore ought to be distinctly understood that
the library is constantly increasing by the addition of the most valuable
series of the transactions of literary and scientific societies in all parts
of the world, and that this is at the expense of what are denominated
the active operations of the Institution. {It is true the number of
books directly purchased is comparatively small, but indirectly pro-
cured in the way stated the annual addition is valuable.

Among the numerous donations received during the past year it is
of course impossible in this report to particularize more than a few
of the most important. The Academies of Science of Vienna, St.
Petersburg, and of Brussels, have all contributed largely both of their
older and more recent issues. The Real Sociedad Economica, of
Havana, has been particularly liberal in this respect, furnishing nearly
complete series for many years back, as have also the Horticultural
societies of Paris and Berlin. The most extensive single gift during
the year has been that of the Dictionnaire des Sciences Naturelles, in
72 volumes, and the Histoire Naturelle des Mammirfées, of Buffon
and Daubenton, in 15 volumes, from the Herzogliche Bibliothek der

32 : REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

Friedensteinschen Sammlungen, Gotha. The British Admiralty has
contributed a full set of all the charts published by it during the year.
We may also mention, as an object of special interest of this class, a
valuable set of historical maps, presented by Justus Perthes, the
celebrated geographical publisher of Gotha, exhibiting the political
condition of Europe from the beginning of the third century down to
the time of the crusades. The limits of the several empires are ex-
hibited by different colors, and the whole are on such a scale as to
be adapted for instruction in schools or academies. To render this
interesting work more generally known in this country, it is proposed
to exhibit the maps in the reading room and to translate and print
the pamphlet of explanations for the use of the visiters to the Insti-
tution. .

Among the curiosities of the library received during the past year
the most prominent is an ornamental album, presented through the
Department of State, from Miss Contaxaki, a native of the isle of
Crete. This work was designed as a contribution to the universal
exhibition at Parisin 1855, where it received a diploma for the artistic
merit displayed in its execution. The ‘‘ Classical Bouquet,’’ as if is
called, consists of illustrations of the principal monuments and places
in Greece, to which are added a few from the author’s native isle of
Crete. These illustrations are accompanied by quotations from the
most illustrious Greek authors, beautifully illuminated, while many
of the pages are adorned with pressed flowers culled from the places
which the drawings represent. The book itself is a large quarto,
covered with blue velvet heavily embroidered, and lettered with silver.
It is inclosed in a case, :nade of olive wood of the country, about a foot
and a half square, richly carved and ornamented with appropriate
devices. This work was transmitted to the United States through
Charles C. Spence, esq., and affords a favorable specimen as well of
the present state of the arts in that country, which was the birthplace
of the true and the beautiful, as of the talents, the taste, and the un_
wearied industry of the lady who devised and principally executed it.

The library possesses an extensive collection of pamphlets, in-
cluding the separate theses of the candidates for graduation or honors
at the German universities ; also a series of the annual reports of the
public institutions and societies in this country. During the past year
these have been classified, a large number of them bound, and the
remainder arranged in pasteboard boxes, labeled and placed on the
shelves as volumes.

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. ao

The binding of the books received through exchange continues to
be a large item of expense, and we have devoted the remainder of the
appropriation for the library, not expended in the purchase of books
or for clerical service, to this object.

In relation to the books received by the copyright law, I have but
little to say in addition to what has been stated in preceding reports.
The provisions of the act are still disregarded, to a considerable extent,
by the larger publishers, and, as a general rule, works are received of
but little value in themselves and inconsistent with the character of
the library of the Institution. Though the cost of postage has been
_ diminished by the law of Congress authorizing the free transmission
of copyrights, yet it has by no means exempted the Institution from
a large item of expense on this account. The publishers frequently
inclose within the packages letters relating to the proper direction of
the certificates and other matter pertaining to the copyright, and by
a decision of the Post Office Department all such communications are
charged with letter postage. Though the sum in each case appears
insignificant, yet in the aggregate it may amount, in the course of a
year, to several hundred dollars; and since the system from the begin-
ning has been of no real benefit to the Institution, we have addressed
a circular to each publisher who forwards a copyright and neglects to
pay the postage on the accompanying letters, apprising him of the fact.

In conclusion, I may state that though the copyright law was un-
doubtedly intended to enrich the library of the Institution, yet the
non-compliance with it of some of the principal publishers, and the
reception of a large amount of worthless matter involving expense in
its transportation and care has entirely defeated this object. The cost
of the system has been at least ten times greater than the value of the
books received; nor is thisall; a compliance with the act has constantly
subjected the Institution to unmerited censure. We have therefore
been a loser both in funds and in the friendly feeling of an influential
portion of the community, and it is to be hoped that Congress will, at
its present session, essentially modify the existing law. The deposit
of a single copy of each article in the Patent Office, instead of the
three now sent to Washington, would be sufficient to secure the
rights of the author, and answer all the objects of a complete collec-
tion of this class of American publications. ——

Museum.—The general plan and objects of the collections which |
have been assiduously formed through the agency of the Smithsonian
38

54 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

Institution have been given in several of the preceding reports, and it
will be sufficient, at this time, to repeat that they are intended to
exhibit the distribution and development of the plants and animals, as
well as to illustrate the geological and mineralogical character of the
North American continent. The number of specimens required for
these purposes is great, since all the varieties from every locality re-
quire attention. During the past year specimens have been collected
by ten government expeditions and six private exploration parties.
Some of the returns from these are now on the way, and will greatly
enhance the number and value of the materials before received. Ac-
cording to the statement of Professor Baird, hereto appended, the
catalogued specimens of animals at the end of the year 1857, amount-
ed to: mammals, 3,200; birds, 8,766; skeletons and skulls, 3,340;
reptiles, 239 ; fishes, 613.

During the year several persons have availed themselves of the use
of the collections and library in the prosecution of original researches,
and, as usual, several government expeditions, which have been sentout
for surveys, the construction of roads and for military purposes, have
been provided with instructions as to the mode of collecting specimens
and observing meteorological and other natural phenomena. No oppor-
tunity of adding to our store of information, in regard to the physical
geography and natural history of the western portion of this continent,
has been suffered to pass without being improved, and I way safely
say, that since the establishment of the Institution more has been
done to ascertain and make known the character of the less inhabited
portion of our continent than all which had been previously accom-
plished in this line. The survey of routes from the Gulf of Mexico
to the Pacific has served of late to add much to our knowledge of
Central America, and during the past year the British government
has sent out a party for the exploration of the country north of the
limits of the United States and between the great lakes and the Pacific
ocean. ‘This survey, in connexion with that along the 49th parallel of
latitude, now in progress for determining the boundary line between
the United States and the British possessions, will add to the natural
history of the northern portion of our territory, and will furnish the
data necessary to delineate more accurately the great mountain
system which determines the climate and physical peculiarities of the
western portion of this continent.

Smithson’s personal efects.—The bequest of James Smithson included
all his personal effects, and these were obtained by Hon. Richard Rush,

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 37

FPrmemiet

The following is a list of the lectures which were delivered during >

the winter of 1857-’58:

Seven lectures by Professor John LeConte, of the South ee
College, on ‘‘ The Physics of Meteorology.”’

One lecture by Hon. H. W. Hilliard, of Alabama, on the ‘ Lite
and Genius of Milton.’’

Two lectures by Dr. I. I. Hayes, of Philadelphia, on ‘* Arctic Ex-
plorations.’’

One lecture by Rev. T. J. Bowen, of Yoruba, Africa, on ‘‘ Central
Africa—the Country and People.”’

One lecture by D. K. Whitaker, esq., of Charleston, S. C., on the
“¢ Genius and Writings of Sir Walter Scott.’’

Two lectures by Professor C. C. Felton, of Harvard College, Cam-
bridge, Mass., on ‘‘ Modern Greece.’’

Four lectures by Dr. James Wynne, of New York, on the ‘‘ Dura-
tion of Life in Various Occupations.’’ ~

Three lectures by Professor J. P. Espy, on ‘*‘ The Law of Storms.

Five lectures by Rev. J. H. McIlvaine, of Rochester, N. Y., on
*¢ Comparative Philology in some of its bearings upon Hthnolosy,
and embracing an account of the Sanserit and Persian Arrowhead
Languages.’’

Three lectures by G. Gajani, on ‘‘ The Catacombs, the Coliseum, and
the Vatican of Rome.’’

One lecture by Professor Schele de Vere, of the University of Vir-

Car)

ginia, on ‘‘ John Law and the Celebrated Mississipfi Speculation.’’

From the foregoing’ statements we think it will be generally

acknowledged that the Institution is steadily pursuing a course of

usefulness well calculated to make the name of its founder favorably
known and the results of his bequest highly appreciated in every
part of the civilized world, that its funds are in a good condition, and
that the prospect of its futate influence in the promotion of know-
ledge is even more cheering than at any period of its past history.
Respectfully submitted.
JOSEPH HENRY,
Secretary 8. I,
Wasurneron, January, 1858.

A

APPENDIX TO THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY,

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION,
Washington, December 31, 1851.

Sir: I have the honor, herewith, to present a report, for 1857, of the
operations you have entrusted to my charge, namely, those which re-
late to the printing, to the exchanges, and to the collections of natural
history.

Respectfully submitted.

SPENCER F. BAIRD,
Assistant Secretary Smithsonian Institution.
JosepH Henry, LL.D., |
Secretary Smithsonian Institution.

PUBLICATIONS.

The publications of the Institution for the year consist of the ninth
volume of Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, embracing 484
pages of quarto text and 22 plates, and of the annual report to Con-
gress, an octavo volume of 468 pages. Considerable progress has
also been made with the printing of the tenth volume of Smithsonian
Contributions, 136 pages and five plates being finished.

The catalogue of North American Diptera, by Baron Ostensacken,
is nearly through the press and will include 112 octavo pages.

EXCHANGES.

The system of international exchanges so successfully prosecuted by
the Institution since its establishment has been carried on during the
year with the happiest results. A large amount of scientific material
has passed through its hands and has been promptly transmitted to
its destination. ‘The general details of the system will be presented
hereafter.

The returns made to the Smithsonian Institution for its own dona-
tions will be found in the following table:

A.—Tteceipt of books, cc., by exchange in 1857.

WOES —_OCUAY Omsesiepis seins an oe/aletnmln in lnlale\ainletotelaieisesiai= siefanista sie 404
TALLON Ges oe clisiets a: nisio[emin seein joe eieiieletton eeisete ieee aye 146
DRO a o6a60|s46o, Gave Ooab! GaooE osbadondes dansca ood 5
— 55d
Parts of volumes and pamphlets—
MIRSIO Chace hG5 COMES ADOOC CIOd DOICON BUGS HoGBON Mme 775
AWE) 54 cnc) Jode Caen Cen Dauner CnGGod dado ondods c- = 200
OOM es eee aee aisisicts ois ele Sa eisletinisine eestor oimiey nie aleeteietats 37
—— 1,067
Chaxtelandsmapsi- mere eeioeis -n io los ateloie ls siniccie mieten vee wielalete laleletatiet etal malo 138

REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 39

The works received embrace most of the current volumes of scientific
transactions, with some back series, and are of the highest importance
as materials of scientific research.

In the following tables are exhibited the chief statistics of exchange
during both 1856 and 1857. The last annual report did not fully
cover the subject, owing to the fact that a supplementary sending was
required in January, 1857, to complete that of July, 1856, and a re-
port for 1856 could not reasonably include what was actually not per-
formed till the ensuing year. In presenting the series of tables
throughout, those of transmissions for 1856 are to be understood as
embracing parcels forwarded in January 1857. ‘This will explain the
apparent disproportion in amount for the two years, as much of what
was sent in the beginning of 1857 would otherwise not have gone until
the ensuing summer.

B.

Table showing the statistics of foreign exchanges of the Smithsonian Institution in 1856.

mn ! = 1 ss vik}
a wen he RS aid Go eb Sane ene
a Soh s 3 tS) A
SSMS CN AIO Gen ee an yianie ie ue
Distributed through— =| 3 SSW eore 3S cs is ae
eh] as oa roy ae OF = a SB
so | So] °& aye | Site! fhe) Shame SN pa
IY PSI eee OE i tn man Pst esl neh
= cS) 5 3 ° |
ay hlll ce a Z Z = i scan
. Dr. F. Fliigel, Leipsic.
PSMVECLETIe elelale|nia cls) 1a)0/ sleiele eleie.e, «le/sie 8 Pk heooaades
Norway.. a Oohood 5 @soan ono
MGECTAMG UG tsleletelelelelsisiefaleilslelelojisiellelaisi(s I apopac| |oAeoooe
IDEM poonc poo. cdodao0 DOCnOG 6 8) eoadloage
RUSSIA. cn pece cn cccc sets ones cons 25 OT errettels
EUAN Cite elstoiiaicteteiasieicishelsialayststsiele 17 NAN Scaa6ac
Germany .. Blelaistcverd 155 LEM see Gace
SSIVILZOTI ANG ie). aleleielele(lalsiple/sialelel sls ele 15 AY Adoodboo
Belgium.,.. 9 15 |.... oe.
Totallstivciccatelele s vopod nddanbon 241 321 562 656 386, 1,042 42 340 10, 428
2. H. Bossange, Paris.
RINE ont oo cova orgnoe ono nqudee AOI ai 20 Yi heel rere Werth I ZBY coke eedel|sococallacunad|/eacdcoac
Mirella laletataletehslstclols|at-Yalsiiere{v'el cial ole'eiaisie 42 Beh losooudoe 95 J) aaedaosll Soccellacsaa Tlooooso00
Spuin and Portugal.............-- 6 Wi sdbodo0s 14 sea cadollaconsallaoodoallooso coud
|
PU OLalatnte eine elatursiefatalainlala(s'eigts/¢ 127 154 281 296 176 472 13 126 4,129
3. The Royal Society and H. Stevens,
London.
Great Britain and Ireland......... 176 |) WBBM 348 260 | 253 513 9 94 2,914
A. Otherichanmels .. ececeescsssce aus 26 10 36 39 10 49 6 26 800
Grand total ,..... wih eistalstaraies oll | 716) 1,227) 1,251 | 825] 2,076 70 | S86} 18,27]

40 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY,

C.

Table showing the statistics of foreign exchanges of the Smithsonian Institution in 1857.

R en 3 s 7) 2

n =) an 7 i} n 2 a=}

Ea Ue ale Ip ah 5 ate By sy 2

= wn A Sh 22) 15 n 3 Y =

=m w = o i) f=| be

BS ie uy © oO om Sn ir) 4 :

So | og S ao | a6 3 6 | a au

Fi % ~ © = igs} rey = or

Distributed through— || eae S Se ore g 1 eS | ee

na 7 ~] . =~

a ied iy = eA al < ao 2S

See | aS tS} 26 i) iS) oO = aa

so | Se = = 20 = 2 ©) oo

= een 3 =I f=) Ge} t=} ha _

= <9 = 5 r= =| =, (3)

a =} f=} =I i=} ls) = 3 t

a |< a Z Zz B Zales S

|

1. Dr. F. Fliigel, Leipsic.
SiMeUiN cibaooos pou aooppocdboouA 9 cidletetaatee 22 PE SHR Ara ISHne BPH sr lio cia; dino
NIGINWIEAT Sond boeba0 DandODOOos ONE 5 Ne Sesdiean 10 Tis ietajeieeis'| miele aio] hetasareleee | eleveteretesns
eA ernle ae Shbw Goode cdo doooD0o0OR Willeddeocitess snaos 8) llododosilcoag oda) icooodal|)odcw lnduaoda
[Dern <4onog5 soosboedce coud onas 6 MOD eres 12 Oe cats eretl nse te’ stevalictetaletered[Penepeniot cena
AUIISSEAelereieteteinicinieloleieialeieietsletalalstatelalers 25 2D oasapoos 47 ili Ml tsrateverroyerereil acoratatere “ateleyeiell fatetatshetwteta
BLOM ani eetetemteelslelelelalslalcleleleltetstelahsioi=is 17 Obata 32 D0 ee rare ciel lwtatatesovai| tetetevevetell etateteneestere
Germranyaemieeisicialslelsiterlosteyaters EE eT AOs Vee) G ON | rere cevns ORB) BBP soso aboollouonellsorosollacos Gros

ShumtzeleyGlasgcnaa Gooeas0bs0 ob0r 15 | seccocn 28 POU elevetoitelateyail tetsiatetel orsiehetertl aisten=tetate
Be] PIWIMN oe nisieie vis ec.cs secs sis wince « 7 NG floson ooo. 18 Be) WooducodolIncdoosh sacocljonco ano

DO ossa conbeosonobo cones |) 22a || Zax! 48] 465 | 382 847 19} 183 6,928

2. H. Bossange, Paris.
IMAI sdo0n coqnan dod soo9 0000Ke 69 GB) cog nade 114 Ge Ncasanbosiedcognllananas}ioogn cosas
UBWiyoagooos code moooob dono boa dbus 32 Qa sees 51 oP) lasga0ng loaagdnlloadenollacad aan
Sal etertedsteietatelatatsalsle(elolelsinieYelelelsleyels Bllngqoba\lonoooons NO Wacosaal\tbon odanilesoass|) agonalladoo seas
IRS a a00 conde Hagas0 06000 en 2 Welgosdbone 3 Wi legoodanoltiacgus|fscoadellocaoasa6

ANC sGatnaoosonancoeouonc|| Os 88 196 178 | 110 288 6 63 2,410

3, The Royal Society and H. Stevens,
London.
Great Britain and Ireland.........| 121 | 108 229 232 | 158 390 LON ee 3, 910

4. Other chanmels.....esaxreercercssoee,| 49 10 59 90 10 100 5 20 1,008

Granditofal eetselec<ictelleleieterl|O0ON A460 965 965 | 660} 1,625 40} 384) 14,248

REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

4]

D.—Packages received by the Snuthsonian Institution for foreign dis-

tribution in 1856 and 1857.

No. of packages,

Albany, N. ¥.—-
New York State Agricultural Society --------.--------.--.--
New Monks State MedicaliSocletyme ase) aie enews ie emia ae
PSO Lez ra Sh) I es a Ne Di al AN
Baltimore, Md. --
HE Fave npg LO) Rn eh UN ah Oe EN a SA UA 8 aT
Baton Rouge, La.—
: lisitiMcOn tor viutest ana vblimicdlis syn os ee ee See Saye
Boston, Mass.~-
American Academy of Arts and Sciences.-..----------------
Bostonpsocieny on Natural aistonyassce seen secs es seeee eee
HUISLOGe- Genealogical Societypece ae se oes se eee eae ee ee eee
ETisony DisciplimelSocletyesasee eran teense see eee eee
ID Yip. NAYS) ie as ae a ed ee a de eC

AW aU aD Res C0y Hse eM aba op ON A A
a Eeiie ObpAmoespEmmen WN I) Wiis. ce fy
- Cambridge, Mass.—

American Association for Advancement of Science-_---.------

Camlonid ce. Obsenvatonyiece cme ee a cee a ee oe oe

Me LD yy UBIQUITY SS a AIS ca ee La va

HESTOMaMP Ata Crticuivaeseep ier Sha ates a Siar he a a

ERO Dye Oreadwielilemma eta tia Ne Moe NR Ne ay Ne deel ea
Charleston, S. C.——

PETE Ves Ren ve tare [Ppa ae nanos sec em Ngan a NI MN a aan
Chicago, Lil. —

(Colles Veil Dy CBee Noten oy Ope S RN se eased ae epee egy aN
Cincinnati, Ohio—

YES? Type Fave Oy Ig aN ah ge ee ak ME

BD), Weer esi ss at a a I LL ge URN
Columbus, Ohio-——

Ohrostate Boardiom Acricultures2 2225522325222 0 sees ee
Lrankfort, Ky.— ;

Grolgeicalmutver ol mentucky / 222080 oben kee el
Georgetown, D. O.——

(Crsoneeionwi (Clo lateness at ee ese ees Rc Rl
Granada, Nicaragua—

Levis to aya VR fens sees ead ap RS EG a Re Us pe
Hartford, Conn.—-

Lely TB KS) anager BEE n MEG | yee Lat eee ee ae AN A SE

WYkip, Letaripnensls <5 1 yeses baja eit ae meta Me LBs Rn
Lansing, Mich.—

Michigan State Agricultural Society _...--..-.--.--2.-.----
Lebanon, Tenn.—

ENO OBLONG cesta aie ea ee ee ee STRESS era at eet Sei
Lowell, Mass.—

Vea Ss TB) LBW eRe EW SSI Raps pipe pe Ngee a Boy ane
Madison, Wis.—

Wisconsin State Agricultural Society --.......-.-..------«--

astoricall Society Of WISCONSIN. so assem econ lke cone
New Brunswick, N. J.—

ote CeO) (COOK so amin as niae me a cmc ic eR

eee wee

~s serene

42 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

No. of packages.

D—Continued.

New Haven, Conn.-- 1856.
AMERICA OULNAL Of SCIENCE Sees eeaee eee ee eee enaee serene 48
Amencani Oriental Society. s2+ sce enee eee see Se eeereeeees 4
Broke) Olmsted 22 Qae ooo sam Seale eee te eta Se eter 10

New York—

American Geographical and Statistical Society.--..-...--------|--------
New York Lyceum of Natural History -------.-----...--.--- 86
ProtaWie Gib WS cau ae cemise Gees meee ee eee RE See Se oe
Philadelphia, Pa.--
Amencan Philosophical|Soctety ee ssenee eee eee eee 42
Academnyot Natural Scien Ces eso eee as pero ene ene ep 300
Central High School of Philadelphia_--.----.---..--.----=-- 100
Historical Society of Pennsylvania .......-----.<----------- 4
Pennsylvania Institute for the Blind...-._..---.-.-.-----.-- 45
Philadelphia Wilorany, Company, ses] h ass eee ase eee eee 19
DT SELON OT WW SCAN) See Sys pose PO NS 100
A Spey cse Wests hers A ges Ppl PsP AE AN gs eS ee 171
Drvgowe ph sel dy) soe We wees see evcles e) et a eee a eae eae 134
Dee NAN Me cs Ea CR Uy NIE SOUS Ls ae |e ee

Providence, R. I —

StatevorwNhodey stand sess cers a ers ae eis a eiatete recreate ete ete er | eee

St. Louis, Mo —
sii, JLOnS AGA Clan OFF SONGS oo 4 a5 beso kaeedoosededesoeesesllosaooo se
MD gis oe) Saran ei CNL a ca i a 12

San Francisco, Cal ——

California Academy of Naturai Sciences ---.----------------- 50

Santiago, Chile-—

University: of) Chile! sa ees 2 ean Te Il a eles as aa es rae 140

Savannah, Ga —

DDG OSe TOMER Se sO We yee yay ils RGR aly ly eee Le RN 50

Toronto, Canada—

Canadian cinstitutes s seer us y ee )c Lun I0 A rape weet Ai age ees ete

Washington, D. C.—

WaeS Patent Oficelsose 2a ae Cece Wee ne Re re aa 250
Oya ava aVeree) B05 (26h ie ae et eR AI aA NE Epa hohe tay 46
WBS WCOASE ISUTVIE Vee aes uile a eye ae ce etl ays are ee oa ae 67
Nationali@pservaborys sa cc cee soe Se ae nae eee eee ere te ela) ain hetnenete ees
HoH OUSe I BOAT Missa ates ete e eye eye ate rete eee eee 3
SECKe bay OL WAT ace siaeiee ote ee eae Ce eee a oe eerie 120
Sureceonm! Gere ral ees eye las aces ee ae eee re ee a ate ce are fat tee te
VIATOR WW see Hina Ory MOSS. eA a ae ee Seige a nas ease eae 96
VARS Sal che eco rere en aie is a ee re oe ere ore en eee re eae 50
DiraS wNew belly. 2) sajeca 2c tees oleae ae eee ae eee 20
I EGERTG By Fal OF 4 011 i DPR pls ae dee ELS anh hae LA a Le) aye 18
TL yi ye ne Good Can Wee g sy ob ga Oe yay: abana oaks Li cadet Ra mea na) br ly) 20
MieubO ME Gulligs: U. SaNe os oteececia cate cee ee oe ee eer eel eters
Wine StUmPSON pe accc ance mec a tcmee eee ce mnie ae hee eee ee ate | eters eta
aD Ae aay a IMCTATL COV 72 om acim coi whew meee oe remit st at areas ee | eter eet
WV aay eMSEUILC CR tet clas 2 ne einai sts ssn a a aS a hm ce aT tro cere ete
Miscellancous rere esas eee eat sine 2 scl Se aeiein eee emit eral 133
Mot aes oe se S60 k Sdn Richa ae ek cae 3,510

Supposing cach parcel to contain an average of one and a half pieces,
the number ofthese would Wess 2-22 sees e eee nese eee ee

Add of Smithsonian volumes and memoirs, about ..-.--------------

Add yolumes of public documents obtained and distributed, about--..-

Approximate total of volumes and pamphlets sent abroad by the
Dat} 4 bi G00) 6 eps eae eet eye a lea Pm eS ye ee Phi bE Ne ee

REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

43

i.—Addressed packages received by the Smithsonian Institution from

Hurope, for distribution in America.

No. of packages.

albany, N. Y.--
New Mork state duibranye sone ee eee eee eee tone eee
Bosten, Mass.—-
American Academy of Arts and Sciences --...-..-.----.--.--
Boston society, on Natural) Histony. 22 J. 222 un ee a oe
SOW OUCH AnD Maly seem emcee eee ie ec a eis ie GAR A oe
Cambridge, Mass.——
American Association for Advancement of Science-.-..-------
Cambridge Astronomical Journal 2-2 52522520. 2 5225202222
ema dee OWS eu Va vO Gye aie es meee eae aye eee ea a ee
HanvyarcaiColleresasecbsiis ee eek eee eee

' Charleston, S. C.—-

literary and Philosophical Society ........------------------
Colum!.us, Ohio—

Ohio state board of -Acriculture soe. cee ses nase eee soe eee
Georgetown, D. C.—

GeorsetownkCollegey sak et ea eee eee Le Bee 2 ee =
Lansing, Mich.—

Michigan State Agricultural Society 225-2202. 22222) 2 22 oo
Madison, Wis —

Wisconsin State Agricultural Society -...-------------------
New Haven, Conn.--

EMITMROTICAMPE OULMA OLS CLEM CE: yeep ps es eras aie ela ate ea een

AMenivamOnental: SOCIety 2oenes scene seen ese ne eee ae elses
New Orleans, La.--

New Orleans Academy of Natural Sciences -..-..------------
New York—

American Geographical and Statistical Society .-.------------

New York Lyceum of Natural History.....-----.-....--~---
Philadelphia, Pa.— °

American Ehilosophical Society os =22- s2e 425. eae see eee a

Academy Ol Natural SCleNCeS: = ao se8 joao ee eee ee eel

Apiezon ss nt MNS UMS te ae ees SG ie) Sa
San Francisco, Cal.—

California Academy of Natural Sciences..-----.-------------
Santiago Chile—

WiaverIiymO tn OTe p ee ee ee ie ce ep aes ea el a

OF OSS) eATEILACONE Nes eae yea Ue ES A a
Washington, D. 0.—

TQ). ISL. Lee itenad sh (ON6TCerSy SS) I a A SRE Ve ea Re es ne CU

QE HAE oy aE | Ga SHEEN ESS Sa a lel

Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography...-------------------

TOI US) (Grape 510) NSPS oh ek ees i ne I AIS PC a

INationaliObsenvabon ya. kunci ees aah bayantel cei

fs whie=y( =U) aU G poh a ep iF cy NOT MO a 8 ER I ee NRE TS NA

Wnnted States Aericultural Societys o2--oc se soee eee ee.

iibrany or Congresses. rue to shee
Worcester, Mass —

AMenican ADIGUATIAN Societys. © aoe oe see alee ade He
Wascellaneous addresses, institutions......--..---=------..--------

PM GuVAC el sere womens ot ee I

1, 245

1857.

1,273

In addition to the above, 142 volumes were received from five European institutions for

distribution to such addresses as might be selected by the Smithsonian.

44 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

DETAILS OF THE SYSTEM OF EXCHANGES.

As the system of international exchange now carried on by the
Smithsonian Institution has attained a very great development, a
sketch of the mode of conducting it may not be amiss at the present
time. The subject may be considered under two heads, one relating
to the parcels received from parties in the United States for transmis-
sion to foreign countries, and the other having reference to receipts
from abroad for institutions and individuals in America. In con-
nexion with this subject, it may be stated that a large room in the
Institution, measuring 70 feet by about 25, is devoted to the depart-
ment of exchanges, and, besides containing the stock on hand of
Smithsonian publications and of miscellaneous documents, is fitted up
on one side with a series of large binns, each one devoted to a partic-
ular portion of the world, and appropriately labelled. The floor of
the room is occupied by a series of long tables, five feet wide, on which
parcels are made up or unpacked. Printed addresses are arranged in
small pigeon holes, and include nearly all the correspondents of the
Institution, domestic and foreign, amounting, at the present time, to
nearly one thousand names.

Operations connected with transmissions from the United States.—The
transmissions of the Smithsonian Institution are regulated, in a mea-
sure, by the time when the annual volume of Smithsonian Contribu-
tions is completed. One or two months before this time, a circular
letter of advice is transmitted to all the institutions and individuals
in the United States and the Canadas known or supposed to have
a desire to avail themselves of the facilities of the Smithsonian sys-
tem of exchanges, and the conditions stated upon which parcels will
be received. If any society or individual have published a work
likely to be of interest to the scientific and literary world abroad, and
no indication is given of an intention to distribute copies, a special
application is made for them, and no effort left untried to secure to
the foreign investigators the benefit of all original and useful Ameri-
can material. Such appeals are generally responded to very favor-
ably, and very many publications of the different bureaus of the gov-
ernment, of States, and of State agricultural and historical institutions,
of societies, and of individuals, have thus been obtained.

In nearly all cases, in the first instance, at least, the Smithsonian
Institution is called on to furnish lists of suitable foreign recipients
for the publications just referred to, or the volumes are sent in bulk,
to be addressed here. After the first sending, the exchange is usually
more directly between the parties corresponding, the Institution pre-
ferring to have the parcels properly addressed before forwarding to
Washington. In all cases great care is taken to secure the credit of
the donation to the proper party, and to prevent it being supposed to
come directly from the Institution.

To facilitate the selection of suitable recipients for donations or ex-
changes, the Institution publishes once in two years a carefully pre-
pared list of foreign institutions for general distribution. The last
one issued contains over 570 names, but manuscript additions bring

REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 45

the number up to about 700. The list of individuals is nearly as large
as that of institutions.

To facilitate the selection of recipients for particular works, of which
a limited number of copies only may be available for distribution,
classified lists of institutions are kept, as of academies of science gene-
rally, and of societies devoted to special subjects, as geography, ge-
ology, zoology, botany, ethnology, statistics, &c., and these are ar-
ranged from No. 1 upwards, in the order of relative importance, or of
equable distribution among the centres of learning; thus six copies of
any work on hand would be assigned to the first six names on the list
of institutions most interested in it.

The parcels, as received from the different portions of North Amer-
ica, are placed, after being addressed, (if not so already,) in their ap-
propriate receptacles, and the list entered specifically in a record book.
‘To facilitate such entry, a detailed invoice of each transmission is re-
quired, and the failure to furnish it puts the institution to the great
trouble of making it from the books themselves.

When the parcels have all been received, a list of the different do-
nors is printed, together with the titles of the various works which
the institution has for distribution at the time. On the day assigned
for commencing the labor of making up the packages, the binns are
emptied successively, the contents arranged carefully on the counters,
so as to bring everything for one address together, the Smithsonian
donations are added, and each particular piece is checked off in the
printed blank just referred to. This rough invoice is numbered and
handed to the packers, who make up the volumes into one or more
bundles, and mark them with the number of the invoice, by which
means they are easily identified and labelled. When parcels or books
are addressed to individuals, these are usually inclosed in the bundles
of the societies to which they belong, the number and addresses of
such sub-packages being marked on the rough invoices. A correct copy
is made of these lists, and forwarded by mail or otherwise to the par-
ties, in which is also stated the nature and time of the transmission.
These invoices are finally posted, to the debit of the party addressed,
in a large ledger, which shows what each has had, and what return
has been made to the Institution. The record of each package is,
therefore, made four times.

In sending the invoice of the package for each address, a circular
is added explaining the objects of the transmission, and the conditions
on which the exchange will be continued.

The time occupied in invoicing and making up the packages varies
with the occasion, although a month is usually required to finish the
work. After the bundles are all made up, those tor each agent are
brought into one heap, and they are then packed into boxes, a check
list being kept of the numbers placed in each box.

There are three principal agents in Hurope who have charge of the
_ Smithsonian exchanges in their respective regions: Dr. Felix Fliigel,
resident in Leipsic, has charge of continental Europe, with the ex-
ception of France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, (which are supplied by
Hector Bossange, of Paris,) and of Greece and Turkey. Henry
Stevens, of London, is agent for Great Britain and Ireland. Greece

46 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SHCRETARY.

and Turkey are usually reached through the American minister at
Constantinople and the consul at Alexandria. Most of the points in
Asia and Africa are supplied through the Presbyterian Board of For-
eign Missions in New York, and the American Board in Boston,
Australia through Mr. I. W. Raymond, of New York, and South
America through a variety of channels.

The boxes for the agents above mentioned, containing the different

parcels, are then sent from the Institution ; those for Dr. Fligel being
shipped from Baltimore, through Oelrichs & Liirman, direct to Bre-
men, thence by railroad to Leipsic. The boxes for Messrs. Bossange
and Stevens are shipped by packet from New York.

The governments of Hurope to whose ports shipments are made by
the Institution have all authorized their admission free of duty, on
filing an invoice with the customs authorities some time in advance of
the arrival of the boxes. After being received by the agents, these

boxes are unpacked, and the different parcels distributed to their desti- |

nation through the channels selected by the intended recipients, accom-
panied by circular advices from the agents. In Germany the parcels
are usually transmitted through the booksellers of Leipsic, as they
may have cccasion to send to correspondents in the various towns.

Hechanges from foreign countries for America.—The system of ope-
rations in this case is similar in principle to that just described,
although the steps take placein inverse order. The packages are sent
to the agents of the Institution, who inclose them in boxes, which are
_ forwarded monthly, or oftener. On being received in Washington
they are unpacked, an entry made of their contents, and the parcels
placed temporarily in the binns assigned to their respective addresses.
They are then assorted, those for each party made up into one bundle,
and thus forwarded, by express or otherwise, accompanied by a blank
receipt, which is to be signed and returned.

MUSEUM.
A.—Increase of the Museum.

The collections in natural history received during the year 1857
have been of great extent, and embrace many important additions to
the material on hand for extending the knowledge of the animal,
vegetable, and mineral productions of America. The specimens
received have been from the usual variety of sources; the most im-
portant being, as heretofore, those brought in by the different govern-
ment expeditions, as follows:

1. Survey of the northwestern boundary line, Archibald Campbell,
esg., commissioner.—The expedition left in April, 1857, for Puget
Sound, and during the year had its main camp for the most part at
Simeahmoo bay, near the mouth of Frazer’s river. Large collections
of the animals and plants of the Sound have been made by Dr. Ken-
nerly, surgeon and naturalist of the expedition; and of minerals and
fossils by Mr. George Gibbs, the geologist.

roy

REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY, 47

2. Haploration of the Black Hills and Loup Fork, under Lieutenant
G. K. Warren, U. 8. A.—Lieutenant Warren made his third visit to
the Upper Missouri and Yellowstone region, accompanied, as on pre-
vious expeditions, by Dr. Hayden as geologist and naturalist. Very
large collections in all branches of natural history were made and
brought home, tending, in great measure, to complete our knowledge
of the distribution of species over the high plains of the west.

3. Wagen road to Bridger’s Pass, under Lieutenant F’. 7. Bryan, U.
8. A.— During his second year’s work on this road to Utah Territory,
Lieutenant Bryan, as before, was accompanied by Mr. Wm. 8. Wood,
who continued and completed the collections of the preceding year, in
securing many species not previously obtained. Dr. Wm. A. Ham-
mond, U.S. A., who accompanied the party as surgeon, also made a

separate and independent collection of much interest, not only on the

route, but while stationed at Fort Riley. In this he was for a time
assisted by Mr. J. Xantus de Vesey.

4. Wagon road to California via South Pass, under Wm. M. Ma-
graw.—'This party, accompanied by Dr. James G. Cooper, as surgeon
and naturalist, aided by C. Drexler, reached Fort Laramie during the
autumn. The collections in all departments were large and import-
ant, and were accompanied by copious notes on the species observed.

5. Survey of the southern boundary of Kansas, under Ineutenant
Colonel Johnston, U. S. A.—A valuable collection of specimens in
alcohol was made during the survey by J. H. Clark, esq., astron-
omer of the expedition.

6. Survey of the Isthmus of Darien, under Lieutenant N. Michler, U.
S. A.—This expedition, accompanied by Mr. A. Schott and Messrs.
Wm. 8. and Charles Wood, sailed for Carthagena in October, pro-
ceeding thence to the isthmus. While at Carthagena a collection of
birds and shells was made and sent to Washington, and others are on
their way.

Among government expeditions fitted out in 1857, but from which
no collections have yet been received, are the following :

7. Wagon road route to California via El Paso and Fort Yuma,
under Colonel Leech.—This expedition was accompanied by Dr. McCay
and Mr. Hays, both of whom were prepared to make collections in
natural history.

8. Haploration of the La Plata and its tributaries, under Captain
Page, U.S. N.—Christopher Wood doing duty as zoological collector.

9. Artesian well expedition, on the Llano Estacado, under Captain
Pope, U. S. A.—This is the third expedition to the sterile regions of
western Texas, conducted by Captain Pope.

48 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

10. Haploration of the Colorado river, under Lieutenant J. C. Ives.—
This expedition started in September, accompanied by Dr. J. S.
Newberry, surgeon and geologist, and H. B. Méllhausen, artist and
zoologist. Several collections made by these gentlemen about San
Diego are on their way, but have not yet been received.

The more important private explorations from which specimens

have been received are as follows:

11. Region around Fort Tejon, California, by J. Xantus de Vesey.—
The collections made by Mr. Vesey will compare favorably with any
obtained under government auspices, and embrace complete series of
the animals and plants of the vicinity of Fort Tejon, as far as met
with ; they also include quite a number of new species.

12. Southern Illinois and Northern Red river, by R. Kennicott.—Mr.
Kennicott, under a commission from the Northwestern University, at
Evanston, Illinois, to procure for its museum a collection of specimens
of the natural history of the northwest, visited southern Illinois in the
spring, and after exploring the vicinity of Cairo and New Madrid
for several months, proceeded to the Red river of the North, within
the British possessions, and nearly to Lake Winipeg. The collections
made cover all branches of zoology.

13. Coast of Florida, by G. Wurdemann, United States Coast
Survey.—Mr. Wurdemann’s collections were in continuation of those
of previous years, and included a great variety of species, among them
several birds new to the fauna of the United States.

14. Red river of the North and of Nelson’s river, H. B. Territory,
by Donald Gunn, esq.—A large collection of birds and mammals made
in these regions by Mr. Gunn, assisted by Mr. John Isbister, have
added much to our knowledge of the distribution of species.

A collection of about 150 species of birds of Arctic America, Mexico,
and Guatemala, presented by John Gould, esq., of London, has fur-
nished very important data for comparison and determination of species
of the United States.

Of the numerous other collections made it is impossible to give an
account here. ‘The detailed list of contributions and donations will,
however, furnish additional information on the subject.

In conclusion it may be proper to state, that of the government expe-
ditions mentioned above, that under Mr. Campbell was organized by
the State Department; those under Lieutenant Warren, Lieutenant
Bryan, Colonel Johnston, Captain Pope, and Lieutenant Ives, by the
War Department ; those under Mr. Magraw and Mr. Leech, by the De-
partment of the Interior; and those under Captain Page and Lieu-
tenant Michler, by the Navy Department.

In the reception of collections trom the California coast, the Institu-
tion is under great obligations to the California Mail Steamship
Line, composed of the United States Mail Steamship Company, the

REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 49

Panama Railroad Company, and the Pacific Steamship Company, as
also to Messrs. Wells, Fargo, Co., for free transportation of very many
boxes and packages. The expense of what has been thus received, if
charged for at the usual rate, would have been entirely beyond the
means of the Institution, and ifin an unprecedentedly short time our
knowledge of the natural history of California has been carried to a
point fully equal to that of any of the older States, it is unquestionably
owing in very great measure to the liberality of the companies above
mentioned in so generously seconding the efforts of the Institution.

The following table exhibits the additions made to the record books of the
museum in 1857, in continuation of previous years :

1851. 1852. 1853. 1854. 1855. 1856. 1857.

Mammals....... .--- None. 114 198 351 | 1,200 | 2,046 3, 200
Bind sre et ae Sees ees ah ca Ce TE SR a a 4,353 | 4,425 | 5,855 8,766
Skeletons and skulls.. 911 1,074 | 1,190 1,275 | 2,050 3, 060 3, 340
TSS ORAS IGAS ee tI gfe cette ead Aha Fa een eee 106 239
Tash o9 ei I as GS Mah Si he A ee OE es se 155 613

Present condition of the museum.

The remarks in the last annual report of the Institution in relation
to the richness and extent of its collections are strengthened by the
additions of the past year, and they are confidently believed to be
beyond competition in the field of American zoology. The precise
statistics cannot now be given for the different classes and orders, as
the cataloguing is not yet completed. In one department, however,
some idea of the facts may be realized by the statement, that on the
first of July, 1857, the Institution possessed—

Species.

Of skins or alcoholic specimens of North American mammals-..cs.secceeeeees Wd
Of skins or alcoholic specimens of South American mammials.......sseccesoee 18
Of skins or alcoholic specimens of Kuropean mammials.....ceceseesree cecsese 60 BS

— 3
Of skulls or skeletons of North American mammals.......+ selavicvierccce sulelels/e\e! 22
Of skulls or skeletons of South American mammials.....ccesceccccsscrccerccece 17
Of skulls or skeletons of Huropean mammals.......ccecseeere Sob aoe dbociounag leks)

— 2&6

This was entirely exclusive of Cetacea, Pinnipedia, Cheiroptera and
Quadrumana, of which there were many species. Since the first of
July, the number of species of all orders has received a large increase.
The species of North American mammals in the museum of the In-
stitution, not mentioned in the great work of Audubon and Bachman,
exceeds 80. Of birds, the North American species are believed to ex- .
ceed 600 ; of reptiles, 400; of fishes, probably 800 or more. As all
these classes are in process of elaboration, accurate statistics can
probably be presented in the next report,

4s

50 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY,

Work done in the museum.

The systematic registration of the Smithsonian collections has been
carried on as rapidly as other duties would admit. The number of
species labeled and entered during the year amounted to 5,271; most —
of them in three different series of records, making nearly 15,000 entries.
It may be proper to state that all collections, as received, are entered in
a general record book, of which the alphabetical list of donations ap-
pended to this report is a transcript. The different specimens are
next labeled and then entered on the record for the class, or particular
order, and from this posted in a ledger consisting of separate sheets,
one for each species, systematically arranged, and each sheet contain-
ing an enumeration of all the specimens of its species, with the lo-
calities, sex, date, measurements and other memoranda, making the
third time of writing out the name and statistics. In this way not
only can information be obtained of the number of species of each class
or order, but also of the separate specimens, with the locality and gen-
eral character of each one. The posting up is complete for the mam-
mals, birds, and osteclogical specimens, and well under way for the
reptiles and fishes, and some orders of invertebrates.

During the past year the general report on the mammals of the
Smithsonian collection has been completed and printed, forming volume
VIII of the Report of the Pacific Railroad Survey. That on the birds
is far advanced, and will be finished in the course of the ensuing
year, which will also, it is hoped, witness the completion of reports
on the reptiles and fishes.

Distribution and use of the Smithsonian collections.

As in previous years, the Smithsonian specimens have been freely
used by students and investigators in natural history, in preparation
of Monographs and other researches. Duplicates have also been dis-
tributed to a considerable extent, and as the collections become better
arranged and other circumstances allow, it is hoped to make such
distribution on a very extensive scale.

List of Donations during the year 1857.

C. Bellmann.—Fishes, &c., in alcohol, from Mississippi.

J.and A, Brakeley.—F¥resh deer and otter from Virginia; jar of birds,
mammals and reptiles from the Alleghenies of Virginia.

J. Mason Brown.—Cast of the skull of Daniel Boone, taken previous
to the re-interment of his remains.

Lieutenant F. T. Bryan, U. S. A.—Three boxes of zoological spe-
cimens collected by William 8. Wood on the wagon-road expedition
from Fort Riley to Bridger’s Pass.

Archibaid Campbell.—One box of dried skins, and one chest of alco-
holic specimens collected on Puget Sound by Dr. Kennerly, on the
northwest boundary survey.

J. H, Clark.—Chest with two cans filled with reptiles, fishes and

REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 51

mammals in alcohol; specimens of salt from the salt plains of the
Pewsa, on the southern boundary of Kansas.

Mr. Cook.—Copper ores from Arizona.

Dr, J. G. Oooper.—Collections made near Fort Laramie, and thence
to Independence ; four bottles of Salamanders from New Jersey ; one
hundred skins of birds from California and Washington Territory.

£. Coulon.—Box of Swiss mammals.

Dr. S. Wylie Crawford, U. S. A.—Thirty-two jars of reptiles and
mammals from Texas and New Mexico.

Benjamin Cross.—Golden eagle in the flesh (length 364 inches ;
extent, 86 inches ; wing, 25 inches.)

J. P. Cunningham.—Box of Kaolin earth from Virginia.

John Day.—Snake from Virginia.

7’. C, Downie.—Coluber couperi and Geomys pinetis, in alcohol, from
Georgia. :

C. Drexler.—Skins of six birds and three mammals from near Phi]-
adelphia.

Dr, J. HEvans.—Ten boxes and one bundle of collections of geological
survey of Oregon; skins and skull of Felts concolor (panther ;) six
skulls of Flathead Indians, from Oregon.

James Fairie.—25 skins of Lepus aquaticus (marsh hare) and Sciurus
ludovicianus (Fox squirrel;) birds, reptiles in alcohol, from Louisiana.

A. B. Forbes.—Viviparous fish (Hnnichthys megalops) from Cal-
ifornia.

Professor C. G. Forshey.—Cast skin of Scotophis, and skin of mouse,
from Texas; specimens of supposed equine fossil foot-marks ; jar of
alcoholic specimens ; skins of serpents; dried plants ; skin of Ocelot
and of Raccoons from Fayette county, Texas.

W. H. Gantt, M. D.—Infusorial earth from Texas.

O. LE. Garrison.—Six packages Infusorial earth ; skins of Putorius
richardsoni and Spermophilus 13-lineatus from Minnesota.

Dr. W. Gesner.—Jar of Geomys pinetis and Arvicola; mammals
and reptiles in alcohol; two jars of mammals from Georgia.

George Gibbs.—Box and barrel containing skeleton of large shark,
from Port Townsend, W. T.; keg of fishes, from Puget Sound; keg
of fishes from Columbia river.

Dr. J. B. Gilpin.—Skins of mammals from Nova Scotia; fifteen
skins of Putorius and Sciwrus from Labrador and Nova Scotia; jar
with 12 mammals, in alcohol, from Nova Scotia.

W. Lt. Goodman.—Diatomaceous earth from Anne Arundel county,
Maryland.

John Gould.—160 skins of birds of Mexico and Guatemala; skins

of humming birds, (Campylopterus delattrii, T'rochilus heteropogon and

Hriopus lucvani;) skins ot Apternus hirsutus and arcticus.

Donald Gunn.—Skins of mammals and birds; skeletons; speci-
mens in alcohol from Red river. Skeletons of male and female
wolverine from Red river, H. B. T.

Dr. W. A. Hammond, U. S. A.—Box of skins of birds and mam-
mals from Kansas. Chest and two cans of zoological specimens

collected during Lieut. Bryan’s wagon-road expedition to Bridger’s
Pass,

52 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

Dr. W. A. Hammond and J. X. de Vesey.—Skins of twenty-four
birds and of two prairie wolves from Kansas.
aiae Ei. W. Harker.—Skin of Salamander (Geomys pinetis?) from

eorgia.

Ff’. V. Hayden.—S8ix boxes of fossils collected in the Upper Mis-
souri prior to 1856. :

C. J. Heistand.—Specimens in alcohol of squirrels, moles, &c.,
from Pennsylvania.

Dr. FE. W. Hilgard.—Specimen of Carocolla from Spain.

John S. Hittel— Human skulls and bones encrusted in stalagmite,
from a cave in Calaveras county, Cal.

Col. Hoffman, U. S. A.—Concretions from Cannon-Ball river, Ne-
braska.

B. A. Hoopes.—Can of Menobranchus and sma!l mammals from
Lake Superior.

Robert Howell.—Two cans of mammals, in alcohol, from Tioga ©
county, N. Y.

—Lneut. J. CO. Ives, U.S. A.—¥ ossil Dendrechinus: excentricus, Point
Lobas, Cal.; miscellaneous fossils from California; fossils from
Gatun, N. G.—all collected by Dr. J. 8. Newberry.

Dr. kR. W. Jeffrey, U. S. N.—Collection of fishes of Norfolk.

Col. H. B. Jewett.—Reptiles from Texas.

Dr. C. B. Kennerly.—Jar of mammals in alcohol, and skins of
Sciurus cinereus, from Clark county, Va.

Robt. Kennicott.—Six boxes zoolegical collections made in southern
Illinois, and in Minnesota to Lake Winipeg. (Deposited.) Gopher
(Geomys bursarius) from Illinois; thirty skins of Arvicola and Sores
from Illinois; two living squirrels, (Scrwrus ludovicianus.)

Major Jno, Leconte.—Astacus latimanus from Georgia.

J. MacMinn.-—Skins of five mammals from Pennsylvania.

Wm. M. Magraw.—Box of skins of birds and mammals; plants
from Independence; three boxes zoological collections, plants, &c.,
gathered between Fort Leavenworth and Fort Laramie during the
South Pass wagon-road expedition. Collected by Dr. J. G. Cooper.

Geo. P. Marsh.—Minerals from Kurope.

C. C. Martin.—Keg of reptiles, fish and mammals, from Pennsyl-
vania and New York.

W. Massenburn.—Collections of serpents and crustacea from Florida.

Maximilian Prinz Von Wied.—Wild boar (Sus scrofa) from Ger-
many, and skins of chamois (Capella rupricapra) and of female ibex
(Capra ibex) from Mont Blanc.

Dr. H. Michener.—Mounted original of Lmberiza townsendit. (De-
posited.)

D, Miller, jr.—Thirty small mammals, in alcohol, from Pennsyl-
vania.

Robt. O. Milton.—Box of fossils from Michigan.

H. B. Mélihausen.—Skin of head and skull, with horns, of Hu-
ropean stag, (Cervus elaphus.)

W. H. Moore.—Skins of monkeys from Bolivia

Henry Moores.—Star fishes from California, (Deposited.)

REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 53

H. M. Neisler.—Shells, reptiles, fishes, &c., in alcohol, from
Georgia.

Dr. J. S. Newberry.—Box of shells, Acapulco; specimens of coals
from Ohio. |

New Orleans Academy of Sciences.—Skin of pouched rat (Geomys
pinetis) from Florida.

B. M. Norman.—Three living turtles from New Orleans, (Himy
mobilensis ?)

B. F. Odell.—Mammals and reptiles from near Lake Winnibigosh-
ish, Minnesota.

John Oliphant.—Falco sparverius, in flesh, from Maryland.

Capt. T’. J. Page, U. S. N.—Two packages of maté and six bottles

-of water from the Rio Negro and Mato Grosso.

Dr, D. W. C. Peters.—Skins, birds, and mammals; reptiles and

fishes, in alcohol, from New Mexico.

ee

Thos. M, Peters.—Bottle of reptiles; skin of Abastor erythrogram-
mus from Alabama.

Prof. Poey.—TIwo living Hmys decussata; living boa or maja,
(Epicrates angulifer ;) collection of reptiles, in alcohol, from Cuba.

J. P. Postell.—Two living Gophers, (Zestudo polyphemus ;) skull
of Geomys pinetis ; box of shells, and other invertebrata, from Georgia,

John Potts.—Skins of Bassaris astuta, Putorius frenatus and Didel-
phys californica, from tie city of Mexico.

francis B. fay.—Bottle containing Ophibolus eximius from Mis-
souri,

EH, Raymond.—Fossil wood from Neuse river, North Carolina.

J. W. Raymond.—Skin of white raccoon from North Carolina, and
of Bassaris astuta from California.

Peter heid.—Fresh water sponge, in alcohol, from near Lake
Champlain.

fev. Jos. Rowell.—Monkeys and other mammals, fishes, &c., in
alcohol.

Hf. de Saussure.— Four bats, Sorex alpinus, Myoxus glis, Mus sylvati-
cus, and musculus, and Arvicola nivalis from the St. Gothard, Switzer-
land ; other small mammals of Switzerland.

S. H, Scudder.—Can of mammals, in alcohol; box of insects from
Massachusetts.

Lieut. Semmes, U, S. N.—Syenite from North Greenland.

J.D. Sergeant.—Jar of mammals from Pennsylvania.

James Shoemaker.—Snakes and fishes from Roanoke county, Va.

Col. Wm. B. Slaughter.—Peat from Wisconsin.

J. Stauffer.—Can of mammals, in alcohol, from Pennsylvania.

J. J. Steenstrup, Director of Zoological Museum, Copenhagen.—Six
jars of invertebrates from Greenland

J. H. Sternberg.—Four turtles ; two boxes of shells, and of reptiles
and invertebrates, in alcohol; box of living plants from Isthmus of
Panama.

William Stimpson.—Two kegs and numerous jars of marine inver-
tebrates and fishes from Massachusetts; living marine animals for
aquarium,

Dr. George Suckley.— Hunters’ skin of elk and of mountain goat,

54 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

Aplocerus montanus, from Washington Territory; box of birds from
California; skins of mammals, birds; fishes, shells, minerals, and
Indian relics, from Washington Territory; box with skins of mam-
mals and birds; plants, &c., from Steilacoom ; box of birds, shells,
&ce., Port Townsend.

A. S. Taylor.—Jar of vertebrates and crabs from California; Cali-
fornia minerals.

Mr, Tufts.—Uiving actinia and other marine animals for aquarium.

Colonel A. Vaughan.—Skins of Vespertilio noctivagans and novebo-
racensis from Yellowstone river.

J, X. de Vesey and Dr. W. A. Hammond, U. S. A.—Skins of birds
and mammals from Kansas.

Dr. D. S. Wall, U. S. A.—-Skull of Indian and fragments of pot-
tery from a mound near Fort Capron, Florida; skins of birds; skin
of manatee, or sea-cow, and of Lynx; also two birds from Florida.

Wiliam D. Wallach.—Copper ores and native copper from Bay-
field, Wisconsin.

ftobert B. Waller.—Bottle of Cyprinodonts from Alabama. |

Lieutenant G. K. Warren.—Two boxes fossils from Blackbird Hull,
collected by Dr. F. V. Hayden ; collections made by Dr. F. V. Hay-
den during the exploration of the Black hills in 1857, consisting of 5
boxes zoological specimens ; 21 boxes fossils and plants, &ec.

C. W. Welch.—Troupial (Icterus vulgaris) from Laguayra.

D. Welch.—Menobranchus maculatus from Lake Champlain.

%s Samuel Wheat.—Living black snake (Scotophis allegheniensis) from
hio.

Mr. Wheeler.—Storeria dekayt from Washington.

Lhomas Whelpley —Fossils from Michigan.

Dr. D. D. Whatehurst.—Box of specimens and cask of fishes, &c.,
in alcohol, from Gulf of Mexico; specimens of fishes (crustacea) from
Tortugas.

Dr. S. W. Wilson.—Four living alligators from Georgia ; skeleton
and skins of otter and deer; skins of Lepus palustris ; 24 small mam-
mals, in alcohol, from Georgia.

Dr. C. F. Winslow. —Box of lavas from Sandwich Islands; fossil
bones from California. (Deposited.)

W. 8S. Wood.—Bald eagle, Haliaetus leucocephalus, mounted ; mam-
mals, in alcohol, from Philadelphia.

C. Wright. —Jar mammals and reptiles from Connecticut ; fishes
from alia, said to be viviparous ; jars of reptiles, fishes, and inver-
tebrates from Cuba.

G. Wiirdemann.—Box of invertebrates and skins of birds from In-
dian Key, Florida; box of bird skins from south Florida; box of
birds, crustacea, corals, &c., from Key Biscayne, Florida.

J. EB, Younglove. —Bottle of blind fish, (Amblyopsis,) taken in a well
in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Unknown.—Box iron ores, St. Louis, Missouri.

Hesperomys cognatus, in alcohol.
Hammerhead shark from Norfolk.
Tiving raccoon and great horned owl.

ae —-

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS.

55

LIST OF METEOROLOGICAL STATIONS AND OBSERVERS

FOR THE YEAR 1857.

BRITISH AMERICA.

Name of observer, Station. N. lat. |W. long.) Height
a Out Feet.
Bakery IiiCse ees con sce 5 Stanbridge, Canada Hast_....- 45 08 3 00
Crate sD WN ote oe ers Hamilton, Canada West----.- ANB als i) BU
Delany, jr, John. -s-< 225. Colonial Building, St. John’s,| 47 35 | 52 38
Newfoundland.
Gunn; Donald /2o222---2222 Red river Settlement, Hudson’s} 50 06 | 97 00 853
Bay Territory.
Hall, Dr. Archibald .--..-- Montreal, Canada Hast.....-. 45 30 | 73 36 57
Hensley, Rev. J. Mi.° 2 = King’s College, Windsor, Nova, 44 59 64 07 200
Scotia. :
Magnetic Observatory.----- Toronto, Canada West .-...-- 43 39 | 79 21 108
Smallwood, Dr. Charles..--| St. Martin, Isle Jesus, Canada) 45 32 3 36 118
Kast.
beat AMMEN IS aunetete a Teaie = Horton, Nova Scotia --------- 45 06 | 64 25 95
MAINE.
Name of observer. Station. County. N. lat. |W. long.| Height.
Om Ot Feet.
Belly John de os 22 see Carmel sas soe se Penobscot ------ 44 47 | 69 00 175
Dana Wi. D)asee 2. Lee Berry ssh aes. Washington --.-| 45 00] 67 06 100
Gardiner, R. H.....-- Gardiner ......- Kennebec -_.... 44 11 69 46 90
GuptulsGonwiese- so. Cornishville ----| York .--------- 43 40} 70 44 800
Ranker. )\d-) Wwe eee Steuben _-....-- Washington -.- 44 44 | 67 58 50
Wiest: Silas 2/2 2/2/43). Cornishyee sss = AVON ai heh POs 43 40 70 44 784
Wiis mien eee se Portland :...-.- Cumberland ----| 43 39 70 15 87
Wilbur, Benj. F..--.- Monson .....--- Piscataquis ...-- 43 11 | 69 35
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Bell, Samuel N...-... Manchester-.--- Hillsborough....| 42 59 | 71 28 300
Bixby. Ae bliss: aac Francestown.--.-| Hillsborough -.-| 42 59 | 71 45
Brown, B. Gould .---- worautord! 22 eee = Coosa teeth). 4408} 71 34 1,000
Freeman, fF. N.....-- Claremont.....- Sulla eee 43 29 72 22 535
Hanscam, R. F_..--.- North Barnstead_| Belknap..--.--- 43°38 | 71 27
WGK eels, (CeSeeeescire Londonderry.---| Rockingham_-.-| 42 53 | 71 20
Odell, Fletcher_.....- Shelburn....... Coostaere sets 44 23 | 71 06 700
Prescott, Dr. Wm ---.| Concord_-.----- Merrimack ----- 43,12) 71 29 374
Purmort, Nath..---.-- West Fnfield._.-| Grafton ...-..-- 3 30 | 72 00
Root, Dr. Martin N.--| Francestown-.--.| Hillsborough----| 43 00] 71 46
Great Falls ...- | Strafford .--.--- 43 17 | 70 52
as Beary, B.. | Concord.------- Merrimack. ---.- 43 12 | 71 20

56

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS.

VERMONT.
Name of observer. Station. County. N. lat. |W. long. | Height.
Ora ed Feet.
Bliss) George: ==5--2-- Shelburm 2 2--= Chittenden ~---. 44 23 | 73 00 150
BLISS ihn. Wise eee cine West Fairlee._.-| Orange......-.. 43 55 72 15
Buckland, David .-..- Brandon --.----- TES UG er ley ee 43 45 73 00
Fairbanks, Franklin -.| St. Johnsbury-.-| Caledonia ---.-- 44 25 | 72 00 540
Marsh, Charles......- Woodstock .---- Windsor esos. 43 36 72 35 716
Jackmany VAG set Norwich .....-- Windsor ..-...- 43 42 72 20
Paddock, James A---.| Craftsbury_.....- Oxleanis {eee ee 44 40 | 72 30 1, 100
ipanker J Oseuhee sae Ripente cess ae Bennington.---- 43 15 | 73 11 750
Petty; Mckee oe sce Burlington ----. Chittenden ._--- 44 29 | 73 11 346
MASSACHUSETTS.
Bacon, William ...... Richmond --...- Berkshire =<... -- 42 23 | 73 20 1,190
Bond, Prof. W. €_---- Cambridge._-.-- Middlesex ....-- 42 22) Ti OF 71
Brooks, John -------- Princeton .....- Worcester ..-... 42 28 G1 53 1,113
Darlin os rwA see = ee Bridgewater ---.| Plymouth ---_-- 42 00 71 00 142
Davis, Rev. Emerson.-_| Westfield..-.--- Hampden ------ 42 06 | 72 48
I SINU SINDEN S FN Canton. 22222222 Nontolie aaa 42 12 71 08 90
Havlon= Johns sec sae. Lawrence......- SSexe secre yee 42 42 (al al 35
Holcomb, Amasa-.---- Southwick ~...-- Hampden .--.-- 42 02 | 72 10 265
MGe, devine. 222, | | Williamstown. ..| Berkshire.....-- 42 43| 73 18 720
Metcalf, Jno. G., M. D.| Mendon --..-..- Worcester .....- 42 06 | 72 33
Mitchell, Hon. Wm...| Nantucket....-- Nantucket .....- 41 16 70 06 30
Rerkaniss Dry eC ees s Newburyport ...| Essex --.-----.- 42 47 | 70 52 46
Rice: srlentyaee eee ae North Attleboro’.} Bristol .-------- 41 59] 71 22 175
Rodman, tamuel ...-. New Bedford.__.| Bristol .-......- 41 39 | 70 56 90
Sargent, John §......- Worcester ....-- Worcester ~...-- 42 16 71 48 536
Schlegel, Albert...._- Taunton .-..~... BTIStOl yea eee 41 49 71 09
Shaw, Francis..-.---- Blaintield/ S22 sac Hampshire ...-- 42 30 | 72 56
fort thy si line aes 1 ee IBOSstonwe eee eeee SOHO eo eye 42 22 | 71 08
Duell) Prot) Ese. sa~ Aminerstpee en ea Hampshire .---- 42 22 | 72 34 267
Tirrell, Dr. N. Quincy. | Weymouth .--.- Norfolk -----.-- 42 10} 71 00 150
Whitcomb, L. F.--..-- Ori aye ea Berkshire ....-- 42 42 | 73 10 2,500
RHODE ISLAND.
Caswell, Prof. A.....- Providence ....-. Providence ....- Al 49 | (OUYAS) 120
CONNECTICUT.
Edwards, Rey. T , D.D.| New Lane aa New London...-| 41 21 72 12 90
Harrison, Benj. F.--.- Wallingford ....| New Haven....- 41 26 | 72 50 133
ally Aaron bse 52 see Georgetown ....) Fairfield ....... 41 15 3 00 800
Hunt, Dies S23 seer Pomfret... .2..| Windham -.....- 41 52 12 23 596
Rankin, James......- Saybrook.-.-.-. | Middlesex --...- A118 | 72 20 10
Scholfield, N-.-----.- Norwich ....... |New London....| 41 32 | 72 03 50
Yeomans, William H.-| Columbia.-...-- | Noland) a2 = =/aeee 41 42} 72 16

Name of observer.

Alba, Dr: HejMes_ 3.28
Arden, Thomas B...--
Bowman, John_.....-.
Byram, Ephraim N- --
Chickering, J. W--.---
Dayton, H. A....-..-
Denning, William H--
Dewey, Prof. Chester
Palmer, F. B..-- f
Fellows, Henry B.....
Brench, John R....-.
Gorton, J.S_.---.----
Greene, Prof. Dascom.- .
Guest. Wi We scjc. cone
House, J. Carroll.....-
House, John C. -....-

Ingalls, $8. Marshall...
Johnson, EH. W.......
Landon, Anna §......
Lefferts, John-.-.--..
Malcolm, Wm. S..-...
Morehouse, A. W_-.--
Morris, Prof. 0. W...-
Wonton Jey Ele aes oe
Paine, H. N., M. D----
Pernot, Prof. Claudius.
Reed, Edward C_....-
Reidy Peterw ek ak
Riker, Walter H___.--
Sanger, Dr. W. W..---
Sartwell, Dr. H. P..-.
Sheerar, H. M-_-.-..-
Sias, Prof. Solomon..-

Spooner, Stillman .__-
Taylor, Jos. W..-...-
Titus, Henry Wm..--
Tourtellot, Dr. L. A_.
Van Kleek, Rey. R. D-
White, Aaron........
Williams, Dr. P. O___-
Wilson, Rev. W. D__--
Woodward, Lewis -.--
Yale, Walter D.......
De Sy One Le Cosme

Cooke, Robert L....--

Schmidt, Dr. EH. R----| Burlington

Sergeant, John T_.--.
Simpson, B. F_..---
Willis, O. R.--.--

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS.

57

NEW YORK.
Station. County. N. lat. |W. long. | Height.
os 1 Ones Feet.
Angelica. .....- Alleghany . -..- 42 15| 78 O01 1,500
Beverly ....-.-. Iii Bee 41 22 (2M 180
Baldwinsville ...| Onondaga --.--- 43 04 | 76 41
Sag Harbor._.-- Simo ao 41 00 72 20 40
CO) yee Le el ee Semecaiee seme s oe 42 41 06) 52 800
Mia dnic ese see St. Lawrence-..-| 44 438 Us 83 280
Fishkill Landing.| Dutchess ......- 41 34] 74 18 42
Rochester -....- Monroe aeeenae 43 08 Hieou 516
Sennett -......- Cayuga, sons 13 00 76 55
Miexicowe it nc are Oswero) sa asses 43 27 76 14 423
Westfarms.....- Westchester -...| 40 53 74 01 150
HON) Sateen Waa Rensselaer... .2= = ADVAAS |. 336 58
Ogdensburgh . ..| St. Lawrence...-| 44 43 | 75 26
Lowville. ...... Te wis see Cyne 43 46 75 38
Waterford . ___.| Saratoga ....... 42 47 73 39
HEIN Koa see i Bri(oyexer ene ae Ue a 42 00 716 3%
Rompe ates Onondaga ...... 42 56 |} 76 05 1, 745
Canto ene St. Lawrence....| 44 38 (5) 304
Io kara eet ay IDK Se ee Oe 42 3 79 O7 700
Todas Sueur a ee Seneca eames 42 37 | 76 53 1,000
Oswego -... 5... Oswego -...--.- 3 28 77 34 232
Spencertown . ..| Columbia....... 42 19 73 41 800
New York: i) 422 New York-.<-=. 40 43 74 05 159
Plainville ...... Onondaga) = 2222- 43 00 Tf (yh 5)
C@limtonge see Oneidalee ies 43 00 75, 20 500
Hordham: 2222 Westchester -...| 40 54 74 03 147
Elomven.e a ame Contlandys2seae= 42 3 dG Ui 1, 100
Galion tie ye aes Washington -...| 43 15 US FD
Saratoga 2222222 Saravoga) 2222222 43 06 | 74 00 960
Blackwell’s Isl’d.| New York_...-- 40 45 83 XU 29
Renny Yans eles BYaibes/s eee a 42 42 otiplel 740
Wellsville . .._.| Alleghany --...- A2 07 78 06 1,480
Fort Edward_.__.| Washington -...| 43 13 73 42
McGrawville....| Cortland ---...- 42 34 | 76 11 1, 450
Wampsville...-. Madison.......- 43 04 | 75 50 500
Plattsburgh..... Clinton esas. 44 40 | 73 26 156
Bellport .--.-.-- Suiolkees aoe. 40 44] 72 54
Witica yi eee eS Oneidaseeese ee 43 07 1) 15) 500
INE OS oo eee Rain orgs 2 Wi 40 37 14 01 54
Cazenovia -....- Madison..------ 42 55 75 46 1, 260
Watertown _...- Jefferson) $2222 5= 43 56 (D5)
Geneva ene urs Onigin@ Goeses ss 42 53 UW 567
West Concord_..| Erie .......-... 43 00 79 00 2,000
Houseville . ____| Lewis . ....---- 43 40 75 32
West Moriisania | Westchester ....) 40 53 74 Ol 150
NEW JERSEY.
Bloomfield . ....| Hssex < .......- 40 49 74 11 120
cloitens Burlington ....-| 40 00 | 75 12 26
Sergeantsville..-| Hunterdon ....- 40 29 | 75 03
Freehold ......- Monmouth...--]| 40 15 | 74 21
40 45 | 74 10 30

Whitehead, W. A----| Newark - .-..-- ISOM no ST

58

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS,

PENNSYLVANIA.
Name of observer. Station. County. N. lat. |W. long. | Height.
Ce he 7 Feet.
Brown, Samuel.....-- Bedford s.= 2225 Bedford ...-2--- 40 01 |} 78 30
Baird, Johneeie yaa arentum)...2=- Alleghany --..--- 40 37 | 79 19 950
Brickenstein, H. A..--| Nazareth .. .--- Northampton .-.| 40 43 | 75 21
Brugger, Samuel .--.- Fleming - -...-- Centret ss 2222523 40 55 | 77 538 780
Coffin, Selden, J..---- Haston sess -eeee Northampton...) 40 43 UD) 5 320
Comly, John= 22-5525 By Denny; =eatemeiee Philadelphia _---| 40 06 | 74 58
Darlington, Fenelon --| Pocopson -- ---- Chester === sas 39 54 | 75 37 218
Edwards, Joseph_--... Chromedale ._._| Deiaware.__.--- 39 55 75 25 196
Heserts John Vso o4. co. Berwick. -- 22-2 Colaumbia.------ 41 05 | 76 15 588
Bervel= iP a erees eet da Shamokin -...-- Northumberland.| 40 45 NGO 700
Hance, Ebenezer ----- Morrisville ..-.- Buckssass see se AQ 12 74 53 30
Heisely, Dr. John ~---| Harrisburg ----- Dauphings=22—- 40 16 76 50
Hickok: WeOle. 4.22 Harrisburg ..--- Dauphini ssa ses 40 16 76 55
Hoffer, Mary H----.-- Mount Joy -...-- Lancaster .----- 40 08 | 76 70
Jacobs, Rev. M_....-- Gettysburg .-.-- Adamscesaseeee 39 51 Cth i155
James, Prof. Charles §..| Lewisburg --..-- Unionys=oe 222s 40 58 76 58
Kirkpatrick, Prof. J. A-| Philadelphia ----| Philadelphia----} 39 57 | 75 11 60
Kohler, Edward.-.... North Whitehall | Lehigh.....---- 40 40 75 26 250
Martin, William-.....- Pittsburg.--...- Alleghany ------ 40 3 80 00
Mowry, George__----- Somerset. ....-- Somerset ----.-- 40 02 | 79 02 2,180
Ralston, Rey. J. Grier-; Norristown ----- Montgomery..--| 40 08 | 75 19 153
Schreiner, Francis -...| Moss Grove--.--- Crawford. .....- 41 40 79 5L
Smith, Prof. Wm---.-- Canonsburg. ---- Washington ---.| 40 25 | 80 07 936
Smyser, Rey. B. R..--| Pottsville-_.--_- Schuylkili_.---_- 40 4] 76 09
Stewart, Thos. B. ---.| Murrysville ....- Westmoreland -.| 40 28} 79 8 960
Swift, Dr. Paul__----- West Haverford_| Delaware. ------ 40 00 | 75 21
Rhvekstun’ Me AEs yee Meadville -..... Crawford.-=.+-.- 41 3 80 11 1,088
Walson. Prof, We C4-2-\Carlislesasas sone Cumberland -.--| 40 12 dit alae 500
Wilson, W. W-------- Pittsburg.------ Alleghany ------ AQ 3% 80 02 1, 026
DELAWARE.

Bene ee, ay b ABNOR ova Be New Castle._.-- 39 38. | 75 47 120
Martin IR; /A™ 28/5 Milford yea Kenhin seician': aie 30100) || Moe2it 25
MARYLAND.

Baer, Miss H. M.-..-- Shellman Hills_-| Carroll.----_.-- BO 23.|) Muhomar 700

Cofran, din Rea2 2. 22 Oakland 2-525 Alleghany ...--- 39 40 | 79 00
Goodman, Wm. R...-| Annapolis .....- Anne Arundel__-| 38 58 | 76 29 20
Hanshew, Henry E..--| Frederick --._.- Frederick -....- 39 24] 77 18
Lowndes, Benj. O.---- Bladensburg ----| Prince George...| 38 57 76 58
Mayer, Prof, Alfred_--| Baltimore --..-- Baltimore -.-.-- 39 18 | 76 37
Pearce, James A., jr. --| Chestertown ----| Kent J22222 222. 39 14 | 76 02
BIAS Onan eet eee SOT ie ees orice bs Marty §= = aes = 38 05 | 76 18
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Smithsonian Institu- | Washington --.- 380

tion.

Washington = Bone. mo

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS.

59

VIRGINIA.
Name of observer. Station. County. N. lat. | W. long.| Height.
Ce Oe Feet.
Astrop, Col. R. F- - --| Crichton’s Store.) Brunswick.....- 36 40 | 77 46 500
Couch, Samuel_.....- Ashland sae Ruimam 2252252 38 38 | 81 57
Dickinson, George C.-| Rougemont .--.-| Albemarle ~ --.--| 38 05 | ° 78 21 450
Ellis, Col. D. H .-..-- Crack Wihip) S22" piardy £25. 52588 39 3 78 31 1,750
Fauntleroy, H. H..--- Montrose....--- Westmoreland --| 38 07 76 54 200
Fraser, James_------- Mustapha .....- DVO Ck sree ake 39 20 81 41
Hallowell, Benjamin --| Alexandria ----. Alexandria ..--- 38 48 rend 56
Hoff, Josiah W-_------ Wainsth CES ae WARD t Se See ee 39 05 | 81 26
Hotchkiss, Jed---..-- Mossy Creek.---| Augusta. -.---- 38 20 79 05
Johnson, Enoch D.---| Sisterville ------ Givers ok oo. See 39 34) 80 56 540
Kendall, James HE ..--| Charleston.----- Jetersonpaseesiae 38 20 81 21
Kownslar, Miss Ellen -| Berryville --.--- Clark 2S oSe eee 39 09 78 00 575
Marvin, John W.---.-- Winchester ..-.| Frederick .....- 39 15 78 10
Offutt, J. J., M. D----| Capon Bridge..-| Hampshire ~---- 39) 6) | eT ee29
Patton, Thomas, M. D.| Lewisburg-_----- Greenbrier ----- 38 00 80 00 2,000
Purdie; John Re. oss-- Smithfield... .- Isle of Wight...) 36 50 76 41 100
Ruffin, Julian C..-..- Ruthven ----.-- Prince George..-| 87 21 | 77 33
Ruffner, David L._--- Kanawha. ..-.-- Kanawha_...-.-- 38 53 81 25
Slaven, James_...--.- Meadow Dale _.-| Highland .-..-- 38 23 79 35
Upshaw, George W-.--] Rose Hill_-....- SS O56. (ose 38 00 | 76 57 250
Webster, Prof. N. B .-|} Portsmouth._~-. Norfolcv ye asse 36 50 1 VW 34
Wells, J. Carson.-.--- all ema ase ere INOMBOIKG) Boos 55 39 20] 80 Ol 1,100
Wickline, Thomas J --| Longwood.--.-- Rockbridge ----- Bi, BD N78), Bl 800
NORTH CAROLINA.
Johnson, Dr. W. M...| Warrenton . _...| Warren ..---..- 36 30 78 15
McDowell, Rev. A.-..| Murfreesboro’__.| Hertford --....- 36 30 77 06
McDowell, W. W ..-.-| Asheville.....-- Buncombe---.-- Bool 82 29 2,250
Moore, Geo. F., M. D-| Gaston__-.----- Northampton .--| 386 32 | 77 45
Morelle, Daniel -_-.-.- Goldsboro’ . .---| Wayne..-..---- 35 20 UY Bi
Phillips, Rev. Jas., D. D) Chapel Hill. ..-- Oranges == sae ee 3) GES) 78) ke
SOUTH CAROLINA.
Cornish, John H._...- NIECE) gO aE Barnwell .....-- 33 32 81 34 565
Dawson, Jobn L., M. D.} Charleston... _. Charleston...... 32 46 80 00
: Edisto Island ---| Colleton.......- 32 34} 80 18 23
a aN Mount Pleasant -| Laurens._._..-.- ay AE Tf) BS)
Glennie, Rev. Alex’r__| Waccaman___..- All Saints -..... 33 40 79 17 20
Johnson, Joseph, M. D | Charleston.....- Charleston___.-- 32 46 80 00 30
Moun Ss JevAa vi 22) Camdenias 422-5 Kershaw ..---.- 34 17 80 33 275
GHORGIA.
Anderson, Jas , M. D -| The Rock .-..-- Wpson)e. 22252. 32 52 | 84 23 833
Arnold, Mrs. J. T_--.- AGW ulome sess ee Began iy. Sie ie 33 07 | 84 26
Haster, Prof. John D..| Athens... -.--| Clarke --.-.-.-- 33 58 83 80 850
Gibson) Ree oo S22 =. Whitemarsh Is’d.| Savannah -....- 32 04 | 81 05 18

60 METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS.

GEORGIA—Continued.

Name of observer. Station. County. N. lat. | W. long.} Height.
Out © aig Feet.
Glover, Eli Si-22- 4-2 Hillsboro’ ....-- Jasperpese. Soa 33 13 83 45 566
Haines, William------ Augusta . ...--- Richmond . ----} 33 20] 81 54 1,470
Pendleton, E. M., M. D.| Sparta -..--..-- iblamcocks saeenee 33 LT) 8309 550
Posey, John F -_-_..- Savannah .....- Chatham ....... 32 05 81 07 42
Reid, James M ......- Philomath....-- Oglethorpe ----- 33 45 | 83 15
Simpson, H.pP ee 2s Factory Mills ..-| Wilkes..-..-.-- 33 40 | 84 46
FLORIDA.
Bailey, James B....-- Gainesville -----. Alachua.------- 29 35 82 26 184
Baldwin, A. G., M. D_| Jacksonville ---.| Duval...-...... 30 30 82 00 13
Batchelder, F. L....-- Hibernia -...... Dinval eps hee ee 30 15 81 30 15
Dennis, Wm. C ___--- Dalcpeondseeeeae IXGay \W@S6 Sosoce 2A 33 81 48
Fry, Joseph....-.--
Hester, Lieut. J. Pensacola ...... Escambia....... 30 20 87 16 12
Wop Ws is Iees
Eves, Edward R ...--- Alligator ---.... Columbia-_....- 30 12 82 37 174
Mauran, P. B., M. D--| St. Augustine...) St. John’s..-..- 29 48 81 35 8
Steele, Judge Aug----| Cedar Keys-..-- Thevayis ere crn ear 29 07 83 02 12
Whitner, Benj. F...-- Belairssgesere2 Meonweke ee Vee 30 24 | 84 20 70
ALABAMA.
Alison, H. L, M. D.--| Carlowville._.-- Dallas. ess eses 32 10 87 15 300
Barker, Thomas M--.-.| Ashville - -..... St Clans.) eee 33 52 86 20
Darby, Prof John 2-25|| Auburn ose.5-- Macon sees eeee 32 37 85 34 821
Tutwiler, Henry.-...- Greene Springs--| Greene..-..---- 32 50 87 46
Waller, Robert B_ ~---| Greensboro’. ---- Greene ...-.---- 32 40 87 34 350
MISSISSIPPI.

Elliott, Prof. J. Boyd--| Port Gibson._...| Claiborne_.....- 31 50} 91 Ol 100
Lull, James S----.--- Columbus .....- Lowndes . ---..- 33 30 | 88 29 227
LOUISIANA.

Barton, Dr. E. H. -.--| New Orleans-_--.| Orleans ------.- 29 57 90 00
Kilpatrick, A. R., M. D.| Trinity.--...-.- Chatahoula .---- 31 30 | 91 46 108
Merrill, Edward, M. D.| Trinity.-----.-- Chatahoula ..--- 31 37 91 47 68
Taylor, Lewes B.....- New Orleans.---| Orleans ----.--- 29 57 | 90 00

>

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS,

61

TEXAS.
Name of observer. Station. County. N. lat. | W. long.| Height.
i ori.” Oni Feet.
: Goliadiaaeaeeeee Goliad =s5eaee— 28 30 | 97 15 50
Bughtman, John C- iielenameeseeses Kann eS saree ae 29 00 |, 97 56 600
erker dS) due ees ee New Wied....-- Comalieeee see 29 42 98 15
Horke; Al Jee sees 2.2
aoe a ae t New Braumfels..| Comal --------- 29 41] 98 15
Gantt, Dr. Wm. H----| Union Hill...... Washington -.-.| 30 3 96 31 540
Jennings, S$. K., M.D. ott ‘ ;
Ta ee / Ses haa gh Tavis’. 1) te" 30 20 | 97 46 650
Rucker, By Hos... 22 - Washington ~---| Washington --.-| 30 26 | 96 15
TENNESSEE.
Bean, James B. -.---- WalnutiG roves |: Greene je aaaraee 36 00} 82 53 1, 350
Stewart, Prof. Wm. M_| Glenwood .----- | Montgomery.---| 36 28 87 13 481
Tuck, W. J., M. D-.--| Memphis -_----- Shelby eee as see 35 08 | 90 00 262
Wright, Dr. Dan’] F..' Memphis --...-- sbelibyi sss aeeee 35 08 | 90 00 262
|
KENTUCKY.
Beatty Owe eke. Danville .---..-- Bovlesee saeccse 37 40 | 84 30 950
Iai, dry WLS IOS Se Bei ise es Bourbon - -.---- 38 16] 84 07 810
Savage, Rev. Geo. §.--| Millersburg-.--- BOWE DOMIE see 38 20; 84 20 804
Young, Mrs. Lawrence-| Springdale . -...| Jefferson -..--.- 38 07 | 85 34 570
OHIO.
Abella Bashy se aie ecs. Welchfield . ..--| Geauga ~--- ---- 41 23 81 12 1,115
Allen, Prof. Geo. N..-} Oberlin -... ---. Loraine -..-.--- 41 20 82 15 800
Ammen) sesame sian Inijolley? Hee eee IBROWAN oo eecaseee 38 47 83 31
Anthony, Newton .---| Mount Union ---] Stark -..._..-~- 41 20 | 81 O01
Atkins, Rev. L.§$-...- Madison ~ ..--_ aleeus say es 41 49 81 10
Benner, Jia Hwee see New Lisbon -...| Columbiana -.-.-| 40 45 80 46
Bennett, Henry ....-- Collingwood ~---} Lucas - -------- | 41 49 | 83 34
ipmikerd, di Sia an Germantown..--| Montgomery ..--| 39 39 | 84 11
Bosworth, Prof. R. S-.| College Hill ---.| Hamilton .. .__- aig) 1g) 84 25 800
Cunningham, Miss A_.| Unionville...... Tal ey aly ae SNe aS 41 52 | 81 00 _ 650
Dayton, Lewis M....-- Lancaster .. ---- Mairtielicl Steere 39 40 | 82 40
Gilmor, Moses-------- JACKSON a asses Jackson . ~....- 39 10 | 82 32 666
Hannaford, Ebenezer_-| Cheviot --..---- Hamilton 22 222 - 39 07 | 84 34
Harper, George W-..--| Cincinnati_....- Hamilton -. -.-- 39 06 | 84 27 150
Herrick, James D-.-.--- Jefferson -----.- Ashtabula._...-| 42 00 | 81 00
Hollenbeck, F. & D. K-| Perrysburg .---- WOO er 41 39 83 40
Holston, J. G. F.,M. D.|} Zanesville -...-- Muskingum -.--| 39 58 | 82 01 700
Hurt, Francis W.----- Cincinnati . ...-| Hamilton......- 39 06 | 84 34
Hyde, Gustavus A---.} Cleveland -...-. Cuyahoga .....- 41 30 | 81 40 665
Ingram, John, M. D.-.-| Savannah ---. -- Asitantd ses 2 82" 41 12] 82 381
Dane OrG see ocak. o Hillsborough . -.-| Highland.
utherissMe. i .. 22. . Hovamvee sos 225 = Portage ....---- 41 20! 81 15 675

(oP)
bo

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS.

OHIO— Continued.

Name of observer. Station. County. N. lat. | W. long | Height.
hi Ooi Feet.
Mathews, Joseph McD.| Hillsborough . --| Highland_------ 39) 13) |, 83930 1, 000
McCarty, Te DE. 2 28. | West Bedford ---| Coshocton -....- 40 18 82 O01 876
Peck, W. R., M. D.-.-| Bowling Green .-| Wood-.--.----.- 41 27 | 83 45 700
Poe, James H.------- Portsmouth.-.-- SClOLO ME eee 38 50 82 49 468
Roper. AW Pe cee. 5 foe Gallipolis. 2225 Galliap esses 39 00} 82 O01 520
Sanford, Prof. §. N----| Granville..----- iiekin's ssa 40 03 | 82 34 995
Sanford, Smith_--.--- Ridin unease IROTbaee ae eee 41 20 |, 81 00 520
Schenck, W. L., M.D.) Franklin ---..-- Warren 2s2 50 39 30 | 84 10
Shaw, Joseph ------.. | Bellefontaine . --| Logan -...-...- 40 21 | 83 40 1,031
Shaw, Joseph .-...--- SIGMEW soososoae Shelby eeeeeeeee 40 21] 84 Il
ie: e Bellecentre ..--- Logan sete 40 28| 88 45| 1,170
Treat, Samuel W- ----| Windham -..... IRONS) ooo od 41 10} 81 05
Wards iy sys sae ee iMedinaye= sseene Medina -... ---- 41 07 | 81 47 1, 206
Williams, Prof. M. G--| Urbana ---- ---- Champaign ----- 40 06 | 83 43 1,015
MICHIGAN.
Allen, James ....---- Pont shiuronse = Sis Cleiteoscadsos 42 53 | 82 24 606
Andrews, Seth L., M.D. Romeo.-.-- ...- Macomle eat =— 42 44 | 83 00 730
Campbell, Wm.M.,M.D. Battle Creek ...-| Calhoun..----.- 42 20 |} 85 10 750
Crosby. di Bess selete ' New Buffalo. .--- Berrien\==222 222. 41 45 | 86 46 600
Currier, Alfred O.-...| Grand Rapids ~--| Kent._-.-....-- 43 00 | 86 00 752
Saweraver tn) Dp eles eee Grand Rapid sea |yientine asses 43 00 86 00 852
Walker, Mrs.Octavia C., Cooper.--- ----- Kalamazoo....-- 42 40 | 85 31
Whelpley, Miss H ...-| Monroe ---- .--- Monroe) Sas ee ee 41 56 | 83 22 590
IWihite beter ema | Marquette ....-- Marquette ------ 46 32 | 87 41 639
Whittlesey, Chas. S--- Copper Falls ---.}| Houghton ----.- 47 25 | 88 16 1, 230
Winchell, Prof. A ----| Ann Arbor... —- Washtenaw. -..-| 42 16 83 44 891
Woodruff, Lum -...-- Ann Arbor.....- Washtenaw. ----| 42 16 83 39 850
INDIANA.
iBamnes, (Cea aie New, (All banyak OV Clee erent 38 17 85 45
Chappellsmith, John..; New Harmony --| Posey.----- --.. 38 08 87 50 320
Cusp yw ouny her» =e. Evansville -....- Vanderburgh.---| 38 08 | 87 29 390
Lasselle, Charles B_..-| Logansport. ~.--| Cass_-..... ----- 40 45 86 13 600
Moore, Joseph- -..... Richmond -....- Wayne a ceeeasse 39 47 84 47 800
Smith, Hamilton ..... Cannelton ...... POT EV. 2 ate ests 37 58 | 86 40 450
Woodard pC Sica anism - Michigan City_-.-| La Porte.--..--- Al 41 86 53 622
ILLINOIS.
Babcock, Andrew J._-| Aurora..-.- -.-- Kane osj25 eae 41 40 | 88 15 600
Babcodk, Mis. chsicnm- (RUC Y emia sien McHenry. ..-.-- 42 08 | 88 33 650
Baker, Wranke = oy South Pass...... Umone=]-eeeeee 387 28 | 89 14
Bowman, Dr. E. H..-.| Edgington ...... tock Island._..- 41 25 | 90 46
Brendel, Fred’k, M.D.) Peoria--.-.....-- IE COTA sisi ieee 40 36 | 89 30
Eldredge, William V--| Brighton. .....- Macoupin......- | 39 00] 90 13

>)

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS. 63
ILLINOIS—Continued.
Name of observer. Station. County. N. lat. |W. long.| Height.

Os Oras Feet.

Grant, John-_-. -.--- Manchester) see pSCObtue alam seem 39 33 | 90 34 683

EA Joel ase soe 2) oe Athens... Sa Menard) 22 eeeae= 39 52 | 89 56 .

Harris, J. O.,M. D_--| Ottawa... ---.- May Salley seeeeae= 41 20 | 88 47 500

Biscoxd Gaeta Chicagoenaarease Cook swuactseoes 41 53 | 87 41 600

James, Anna._-----.- Upper Alton ~---} Madison-------- 39 00 | 89 36

Jenkins \Jewuss. 25. \\Granvilles2-..-2 Ratnam eee eee 41 14 89 21

Mead, 8. B., M. D.-..| Augusta.._. ..4 | Hancock_..-.--- 40 12 | 89 45 200

Mead, Thompson-.-..- Batavia seater eee Manes ec Se ee 41 52 88 20 636

Molen ds Isla eee Se Rekime. 22.5228 8 Wazewelli es saree= 40 36 89 45

ogers\ (Ow ae 3. aa Marengo....--.- McHenry. ...--- 42 14 | 88 38 650

Smith, Isaac H_----.- Fremont Centre -| Lake------.---- 42 18 | 88 06 736

Swain, John, M. D. --| West Urbana.---| Champaign. -.--| 40 09 88 17 550

Titze, Henry A_-.---- West Salem---_-- Edwards - ------ 38 30 | 88 00

Wallace, Samuel Jacob.| Carthage- ~.-..- ERIKROOK 4 Selece 40 23 | 90 17

Whitaker, Benjamin ..| Warsaw.--- ---- elem COC kee reete 40 20 | 9138

MISSOURI.
Wislizenus, A., M. D.| St. Louis. --.--- Si LouIseees eee asa) 9 ONG | 461
IOWA.

“Sa Sea a t Franklin. --.--- Buchanan .. .--- 42 45 | 87 16

Beeman, Carlisle D.--| Rossville - ------ Allamakee ....-- 43 10 | 91 21 1,400

Hory, John C.o.2-- as WBellevues 22.224 Jacksones eee 42 15 90 25

Goss, William K...... Border Plains...-) Webster ----.-.- 42 36 94 05

Aobart, Edward F..--; Maquoketa - ...-.| Jackson---- -.-- 42 04 | 90 41

Horr, Asa, M. D...--- Dubuque = sees Dubuque ss --e6 42 30 90 52 1, 258

McConnell, Townsend.) Pleasant Plain...) Jefferson...-..-- 41 07 91 54

McCready, Daniel ....| Fort Madison..-.| Lee-..... .....- 40 37 91 28

Parker, Nathan H....| Clinton .... ..-. Clintone ea aeee Al 48 90 15

See ator) RSS aes Oa oa Muscatine -...-- Muscatine -..... 41 26 91 05 586

Reynold seiwWiteee eae Towa City.------ Johnson... .--.-. 41 3 91 33

Saville, Dr. J, J.----- Sioux City ------ Woodbury ------ 42 31 | 96 25

Shaffer, J. M., M.D._-| Fairfield.......- Jefferson . .....- Al OL 91 57 940

Smith, Prof, B. Wilson) Mount Vernon.--| Linn-....-...- -| 42 00 91 00

WISCONSIN.

te oi D Waukesha._-.-- Waukesha ...--- 42 50 | 88 11 833

Breed, J. Everett._--- New London....| Waupacca ------ 44 21 | 88 45

Chandler, Marine T.W.| Falls of St. Croix-| Polk. ......--.- 45 30] 92 40 660

Durham, W. J. .-.--- Racine 2 ssc oen Racine 2s 2... 42 49 87 40

Ellis, Edwin--------- Baya Clty ame see La Pointe --.--- 46 33 | 91 00 658

Gridley, Rev. John .--| Kenosha .....-- Kenosha .-.--.- 42 35 | 87 50 600

- Hillier, Spencer L.---- Preseott/s225 222 PIeTeeyee A ky aisee 44 56 | 92 40 800

Himoe, Jokn E,.-.--- Notrway)----2--- Racine) 2224))- 20. 42 50 | 88 10 753

64

WISCONSIN—Continued.

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS,

Name of observer. Station. County. N. lat. |W. long. | Height.
Cray Cis Feet.
Lapham, Increase A...| Milwaukie..-.-- Milwaukie. 43 03 | 87 57 593
iups. Jacoby 283. ..5 a Manitowoc .---- Manitowoc ----- 44 07 | 87 37
Mason, Prof. R. Z.-.-- Appleton. --..-- Outagamie__..-- 44 10 | 88 35 800
Pickard, J. L., M. D.-| Platteville..---- Granites 2s es 42 45 | 91 00
Pomeroy, F. C. --.--- Milwaukie_...-- Milwaukie..-.-- 43 04 | 87 59 658
Porter, Prof. Wm...-. Beloiteas see eee RO Gla se se 42 30 | 89 04 750
Schue. Ae. View). 35. Madison........ ND AC as Sia Sa 43 05 89 25 892
Sterling, Prof. J. W.--| Madison--.----- UTD) TMG ay oie ee 43 05 89 25 892
Struthers, R. H.------ ind eee Waupacca ...-.- 44 20 | 89 00
Underwood, Col. D.-_--| Menasha ......-. Winnebago ...-- 44 13 88 18
Winkler, C., M. D_---| Milwaukie_-..-- Milwaukie...... 43 04 | 87 57 593
Wallard, Js M.2S2. 28. Janesville -..... ROCK. sasp ani 3 42 42 89 91 768
MINNESOTA.
Garrison O} Heese Princeton .....- RAMON Bag oisece 45 50 93 45
Hillier, Spencer L.---- Wabashaw--.-.-- Wabashaw----.- 44 30 | 92 15 850
Odell> Reva Benj: Has aitake | Winnibi-||Aaaee ee eae 47 30 | 94 40
goshish.
Lakes lite SaaS Ease Hazlewood ee ese eS, a ee 45 95 30
Walsh, Stephen_-...- Buchanan ee sere ay eae ee a ees 4T 33 92 00
AWW irs ora ep ee eee Maplvana ese Remiinayee eee 46 10} 96 00 850
NEBRASKA.
Byers, Wim. Nee. =--| Omaha sss Lae2 Douslaseaeeesea- 41 15 | 96 10
Hamilton, William-_..-| Bellevue .------ | DADDY) Leceeicicmiae 41 08 | 95 50
KANSAS.
Brow. (Gases 2-25 | WAWCNCE ls seme Douslaseeeers se 38 58 95 12 800
Fish, Edmund----..--| Council City ....| Shawnee ....... 38 42 | 95 50
Goodnow, Isaac T.---- | Manhattan ...-. Rileysieoseess 39 13 | 96 45
Himoe, S O., M. D. --| Mapleton-_---.- Bourbon ....-.- 38 04 | 94 51
MeCartys DE aie Sear = _ Leavenworth City| Leavenworth. -.| 39 20 | 94 33 1, 342
UTAH.
| |
Phelps, Henry E.--.-- | Great dalt' Take!) -..s ence ene 40 45 | 111 26 4,250

‘

| City.

on
~ A

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS.

65

CALIFORNIA.
Name of observer. Station. County. N. lat. |W. long. | Height.
eA Sd Feet.
Ayres, W. O., M. D..--| San Francisco...| San Francisco...| 37 48 | 122 23 115
Belcher, We Cos 2 3. Marysville_._--- MU as sleeesere 39 12 | 121 42
Logan, Thos. M., M.D.) Sacramento --.--. Sacramento. -..-| 38 35 | 121 40 49
GUATEMALA.
CANUDUS, ANTONIO COLLEGE.
SOUTH AMERICA.
Name of Observer. Station. Lat. Lon. Height.
tS) 3G Oni Feet.
Blender AG soos areca Colonia Tovar, Venezuela -.....- 10 26 | 67 20 6, 500
Geological Surveyors....| Port of Spain, Trinidad.__._---- 10 39 61 34 14
Hering, Co disses se. e Plantation, Catharina Sophia,
Colony of Surinam, Dutch Gui-
Be pe see Sa ae ee 5 48 | 56 47
Wricoschea, Dr. H.....-- Bogota,, New Granada.....--.-. 436) 74 14 8, 863
BERMUDA.
Arnold, James B.....-.- Shelby Bayeacsacesesa see SBSH wees 74e! 64 32
NOt Grea ZC LEM MOMs yee Mena Ee i i ail er ailicl
AZORES.
Dabney io Wiewe seo sae Honta. Kayalisland 222222225 3 38 30 | 28 42 80
5s

66 REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

The Executive Committee respectfully submit to the Board of Re-
gents the following report of the receipts and expenditures of the
Smithsonian Institution during the year 1857, with estimates for the

year 1858:
RECEIPTS.

The whole améunt of Smithson’s bequest deposited in
the treasury of the United States is $515,169, from
which an annual income, at 6 per cent., is derived, of

Extra fund from unexpended income invested as

follows :
In $75,000 Indiana 5 per cent. bonds,
ered Cel Tay aa Mon Sie Ae MRR Crs NSCOR CREEL) $3,750 00
In $53,000 Virginia 6 per cent. bonds,
CUTS BA Ic eeaiie ea scenenecomemoese 3,210 00
In $7,000 Tennessee 6 per bones bonds,
BALCH EAN sarctanrstcoialojieicein's Slenimeuiememielasprapaeneien 420 00
In ae Georgia 6 per cent. bonds, yield-
saswaeesiesbametoastap tase cecbe Umun Resa nanee 30 00
ia “S100 Washington 6 per cent. bonds,
PMC UMUARE See btac iste niaie desist sie sles loruemciatelinis iets 6 00

Balance in hands of Treasurer Janu-
AUS LOD (Puck eecamenselaniaciereeanesiccclesien pour porapane

Total TEcelpts.s.. poss deeresecnaw side slide MOUNCE . Adab hb edn aie

GENERAL STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES.

For building, furniture, and fixtures....... $4,062 65
For items common to the different objects

Of PAC MMBC ele osc enc -cnencbispessssanses 13,035 18
For publications, researches, and lectures. 11,051 52
For library, museum, and gallery of art.. 6,999 81

Balance in the hands of the Treasurer January 1,
1858, of which $5,000 belongs to the extra fund.

&30,910 14

7,416 00

38,326 14

7,164 32

ee

$45,490 46

£35,149 16

10,341 30

@)

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY FOR 1858.

Lo the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution :

GENTLEMEN: The principal event of importance in the history of
the Institution during the past year is the transfer of the government
collections from the Patent Office to the large room of the Smithsonian
building.

It will be recollected that by the law of Congress incorporating this

Institution ‘all objects of art and of foreign and curious research,

and all objects of natural history, plants, and geological and mine-
ralogical specimens belonging to or hereafter to belong to the United
States which may be in the city of Washington, in whosesoever custody
the same may be, shall be delivered to such persons as may be author-
ized by the Board of Regents to receive them.’’

The law thus giving to the Smithsonian Institution all speci-
mens illustrative of nature and art to be found in the several offices
and departments of government was not construed as rendering it
obligatory on the Regents to accept these objects if they considered

it inexpedient to do so. Inasmuch, then, as this collection was

neither essential to the plan of organization nor directly subservi-
ent to the comprehensive purpose of the donor in regard to a
world-wide benefit, it was the ultimate decision of a majority of the
Board that it ought not to be accepted and that no part of the dona-
tion ought to be expended in the care of property belonging to the
government of the United States.

Previous to the discussion of this question it had been assumed that
the Regents were under an obligation to take charge of the museum,
and, on this account principally, a large and expensive building had
been thought necessary. After it was settled, however, that the
Regents were not bound to accept this trust, the work of construction
was carried on more slowly, with a view at once to secure certain
advantages to the building itself, and to increase the principal by
funding the interest of the money which would be absorbed by its |

_ completion.

In the meantime a very large amount of specimens of natural his-

14 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

tory had accumulated at the Institution from numerous exploring
parties sent out by the general government; and as these collections had
been made under the direction of the Institution, and their preser-
vation was of the highest importance to the natural history of the
country, it was finally concluded that if Congress would make an
appropriation for the transfer and new arrangement of the articles
then in the Patent Office, and continue the annual appropriation
previously made for their care and exhibition while in charge of the
Commissioner of Patents, the Institution would, under these con-
ditions, become the curator of the national collections. This propo-
sition was agreed to by the government, and the contemplated transfer
has accordingly been made.

It is believed that this arrangement will be mutually beneficial te
the Patent Office and the Institution, since the former will be relieved
from a duty scarcely compatible with the design of its establishment,
and will gain possession of one of the largest rooms in the city for
the exhibition of a class of models to which the public have not pre-
viously had ready access; while the Smithsonian Institution will be
able to present to the strangers who visit Washington a greater num-
ber of objects of interest, and appropriate that portion of the large
building not required for its own most important operations to a use-
ful purpose.

The cost of keeping the collections at the Patent Office, including
fuel, was about $4,000 annually, but the Regents might with justice
have asked for an additional amount sufficient to pay the interest on
the cost of that portion of the edifice occupied by the museum. It was,
however, thought more prudent to restrict the application to the sum
above mentioned, and to request that the appropriation might be con-
tinued under the charge of the Secretary of the Interior, thus obvi-
ating the necessity of an annual application to Congress by the
Institution itself.

The cases at present required for the accommodation of the collec-
tions have been constructed at a cost within the appropriation made
for that purpose; and the Institution is indebted to Hon. J. Thomp-
son, Secretary of the Interior, and Hon. J. Holt, Commissioner of
Patents, for the use of glass sash and shelving no longer needed in
the room which formerly contained the museum in the Patent Office,
but which have been applied to good purpose in supplying deficiencies
in the Smithsonian building. The Regents are also indebted to Thos.

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 15

U. Walter, esq., architect of the United States Capitol extension, for
the beautiful design of the cases, and to Edw. Clark, esq., architect of
the Interior Department, for the inspection of the work during its
progress and the examination of the accounts presented by the con-
tractor.

In order to increase the capacity of the large room appropriated to
the collection, the cases have been arranged in two stories, forming a
series of alcoves and a gallery on each side. By the adoption of this
plan space can be provided for double the number of specimens which
were exhibited at the Patent Office.

A considerabie portion of the collections has been arranged, and a
taxidermist employed to repair the specimens of zoology which have
been damaged, and to prepare for exhibition others which had not
previously been mounted. The museum will soon be an object of
continued and increasing interest to the inhabitants of the city and to
strangers who visit the capital of the United States.

Among the specimens many duplicates occur which might be ad-
vantageously distributed perhaps to the principal societies of natural
history in this and other countries; and I respectfully ask the Board
of Regents to determine, regarding this point, whether, in their judg-
ment, the Institution can venture to make such distribution without
further instruction from Congress. If within its power, this measure
would seem evidently calculated to further one of the legitimate ends
of the Institution in diffusing more widely the materials of science and
the means of education.

An assent to the arrangement above stated for taking charge of the
government collections is by no means inconsistent with the regret
expressed in previous reports that the Jaw of Congress directed pro-
vision to be made from the Smithsonian fund for a public museum and
library. It must be evident to any one who attentively studies the
past history of the operations of the Institution that the interest of
the money expended on the building intended for this purpose would
have been much more efficiently applied in the developinent and publica-
tion of new truths. But, in all cases where many views are to be
consulted, the question is not merely what ought to be, but what can
be accomplished. From the first there has existed a clear conception
of the means by which the idea of the donor could be best realized,
and the aim of the majority of the Regents has continually been to
approximate, as nearly as the restrictions of Congress would allow, to
the plan originally proposed. The policy has been invariably the

16 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

same, and the present reputation and generally acknowledged success
of the Institution are the result of this undeviating course.

It is a matter of congratulation to be able to announce to the Board
the continued prosperous financial condition of the Institution. The
investment of the extra fund in State stocks has proved to be judicious.
They now yield the Institution an annual income of upwards of seven
thousand dollars. It may also be mentioned in this place, as a fact of
interest to the friends of the Institution, that from the report of the
governor of Arkansas it appears that the original fund received by
the United States from Smithson’s bequest, and lent by the govern-
ment to that State, will in due time be repaid, and that the general
government will in no respect be a loser by having accepted the
charge and administration of this trust. ;

The income of the Institution being payable periodically on the Ist
January and Ist July, it is obvious that the current expenses, which
are continuous, cannot all be met as they accrue. An effort has there-
fore been made for the last two years so to curtail the expenditure as
to accumulate in the treasury a half year’s interest. This object will
be fully accomplished during the next year. For the future, there-
fore, we shall be enabled to pay cash for printing, paper, &c., and
thus save a considerable per centage on the cost of these articles.

Comparatively few repairs have been required during the past year
on the building, though the changes which have been necessary to
accommodate the increasing operations of the Institution have involved
considerable expense. The corridors, which were entirely open to the
_ northwest wind, have been enclosed with glazed sashes; a large amount
of space has thus been rendered available, anda considerable portion
of the interior of the building protected from the inclemency of the
weather.

The heating of the building is a heavy item of expense, and must
continue to be so until double windows can be furnished, particularly
on the north side, and a more economical as well as efficient method
of warming be adopted. The whole length of the building is four
hundred and fifty feet, one-third of which, at least, is occupied by a
series of windows, through which the heat of the air within so rapidly
escapes by contact with the cold glass that the cost of inner windows
would be saved in the course of a few years.

The smaller rooms are mostly heated by stoves, and the larger ones
by furnaces. Estimates have been procured for substituting hot water

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY, 17

apparatus, but the expense of introducing this method is so great that
we would hesitate to advise its adoption at present.

It may be proper again to mention the fact that the grounds on
which the Smithsonian building stands, are under the charge of the

Commissioner of Public Buildings, and that, though several thousand

dollars of the income of the Smithsonian fund were originally expended
for their improvement, the Institution has surrendered all control over
them. It is believed, however, that Congress will in due time make
a more liberal appropriation for the improvement of the public Mall,
of which the Smithsonian reservation, as it is sometimes called, forms
a part, and for carrying out the original design of the lamented
Downing, which connects in one common plan a succession of enclosed
parks, extending from the Capitol to the Potomac.

The proposition to supply the public grounds with a complete series
of American trees has long been contemplated, but as no appropria-
tion has been made by Congress for this purpose, the Patent Office,
conjointly with this Institution, has taken the preliminary steps by
issuing a circular asking for seeds of every species of our forest trees
and shrubs that would be likely to thrive in this latitude. This
circular has been widely distributed, and it is hoped will meet with a
favorable response from all who are interested in making more gen-
erally known, and in introducing into more extensive cultivation, the
natural ornamental products of our own soil. The seeds are to be
sent by mail to the Commissioner of Patents, and placed in charge of
the officers having the care of the public grounds.

It may be mentioned in this connexion that the original plan of
Captain Meigs for the supply of the city with water contemplates a
series of fountains to ornament the public reservations. To the same
valuable improvement we shall also owe the introduction, probably
during the present year, of a full supply of Potomac water into the
Smithsonian building. |

Publications.—The publications of the Institution may at present °
be divided into three classes: Ist, the ‘‘ Contributions to Knowledge,’
in quarto form; 2d, the annual report to Congress, printed at the
expense of government; 3d, irregular series, such as the meteoro-
logical and physical tables, directions for observations, special reports,
&c., in octavo, to which has been given the name of ‘‘ Smithsonian
Miscellaneous Collections.’’

The tenth volume of the Contributions has been printed, and is
2

18 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

now ready for distribution. It contains the third and concluding
part of the Nereis Boreali Americana, a Grammar and Dictionary of
the Yoruba Language, and the magnetic observations made under
the direction of Dr. Kane during his last Arctic expedition.

The issuing of this volume has been delayed on account of the in-
terruption in the printing of the Yoruba Grammar, caused by the
absence of the author, the Rev. Mr. Bowen. It was, however, essen-
tially completed within the year 1858, and will bear that date.

The articles which the volume contains have been described in
previous reports, with the exception of the magnetic observations ©
made by Dr. Kane.

1. It will probably berecollected that the plan of exploration proposed
by Dr. Kane for his last voyage was recommended to the favorable
attention of the Secretary of the Navy by the Smithsonian and other
institutions, and that the expedition was furnished with magnetic
and meteorological instruments jointly by the Coast Survey and this
Institution. The observations above mentioned are a part of those
which were made with these instruments. They were reduced and
prepared for publication at the expense of the Institution, under the
direction of Professor Bache, by Charles A. Schott, esq., and form
additions to our knowledge of the direction and intensity of the mag-
netic force in the inhospitable regions of the north, of sufficient value
to fully justify the interest which was taken in promoting the organi-
zation and the fitting out of the expedition.

The following extracts from the remarks of Professor Bache to the
American Association will serve to exhibit the light in which these
observations were regarded by him, nor can they be otherwise than
acceptable as the expression of an opinion in which all will concur
who were acquainted with our lamented fellow countryman, or who
are capable of appreciating his labors :

“‘The scientific reader of the narrative of the second Arctic expe-
dition would be struck by the fact that while in the preface Dr. Kane
disclaimed all pretensions of a scientific character for his work, it
contained, nevertheless, some of the most important contributions to
our knowledge of the natural history and physical phenomena of the
interesting regions visited by the intrepid explorers. Dr. Kane appre-
ciated highly all the relations, direct and indirect, which science has
to an exploring expedition. He was ever careful to surround himself
with those who could, in their special departments, make valuable

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 19

observations, while his own rare administrative capacity always gave
them opportunity for the exercise of their abilities. Himself an
admirable observer and well trained in the use of instruments, he
was always at hand to direct or to assist, as the occasion might require.
The labors in physical observation of Dr. Kane and his associates
had few parallels when the difficulties to be surmounted and the
results produced are considered.”’

The magnetic observations were properly placed in the hands of Mr.
Schott for discussion, as he had been selected for similar service by
Dr. Kane himself, and felt a strong interest in the work. The prin-
cipal magnetical results were obtained on the coast of Greenland
during the years 1853-’54-’55, and in regard to the high magnetic and
geographical latitudes in which the observations were made, as well as
the completeness of the observations for diurnal changes of the hori-
zontal needle at a station before unknown to geography, ‘‘ they
deserve,’’ says Professor Bache, ‘‘ the attention of those engaged in
the study of the law of the changes of the magnetic elements in the
Arctic regions.’’ Ata late meeting of the British Association reso-
lutions were passed making application to the English government to
send a vessel to the vicinity of Mackenzie river to institute obser-
vations with special reference to the determination of the laws now
known to govern the magnetic storms. The resolutions also insist on
the importance of observations in the northern regions. Captain
Younghusband, of the royal navy, remarks, in his discussion of those of
Sir John Richardson, that ‘‘so few observations of the diurnal variation
of the declination in high latitudes are up to this time at command,
that not even an approach can be made towards indicating a general
law of the phenomena in such localities.’’

The Winter Quarters at Van Rensselaer Harbor, where most of the
observations of Dr. Kane were made, is in latitude 78° 37’, to the
northward and eastward of Cape Alexander, beyond Smith’s sound.

The following is an outline of the discussion and of the results
obtained by Mr. Schott from Dr. Kane’s magnetic observations at
Van Rensselaer Harbor. The diurnal ranges of the declination were
deduced from observationson seventeen days in January, February, and
March, 1854. The mean diurnal range or motion of the needle was
found equal to 2° 29’, and the greatest range observed amounted to 4°
52’, The results were compared with similar ones at Lake Athabasca,
Fort Simpson, and Port Bowen. A classification was made of the
observed ranges according to their frequency and magnitude. The

20 - REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

values of the diurnal inequality of the declination were deduced for
every hour (mean local time) and also compared with similar values
for the same period observed at Greenwich. This inequality at these
two stations presents, in general, the same characteristic features,
namely: the principal deflection of the needle to the west shortly after
noon, and the opposite eastern deflection about midnight. The ex-
treme westerly position at Van Rensselaer Harbor is attained at noon;
the easterly extreme is reached at 2 a. m. A small disturbance is
noted at the hours of 4 and 5 p.m. While the diurnal variation
agrees with that observed at Lake Athabasca, Fort Simpson, Sitka,
Toronto, &c., it shows no trace of that marked deviation exhibited at —
Reikiavik, in Iceland, and Fort Confidence. The results were further
compared with similar ones at Whalefish islands and Port Bowen.
The range of the mean diurnal inequality was 1° 7.

The mean disturbance of the declination for each hour was found
greater than at Lake Athabasca and Fort Simpson. The disturbing
force is least from 10 a. m. to 7 p. m., and greatest and equally
regular from 8 p.m. to 8 or 9 a.m. At noon, as at Lake Atha-
basca, Toronto, and Sitka, an increase in the mean disturbance is
noticed. The minimum disturbance takes place at 5 p. m. The
mean monthly disturbance was greatest in February. The recog-
nition and separation of the disturbed observations was effected by
application of a method proposed by Professor Peirce, according to
which, one in every eighteen of the whole number was found disturbed,
that is, differing more than 1° 38’ from the mean, while at Toronto
the disturbance was one in every seventeen. The aurora borealis was
carefully noted, and in no case did the needle show any special
deviation during its occurrence—a remarkable circumstance, in con-
sideration of the fact of the great disturbances noted during the
appearance of this phenomenon farther south.

The term-day observations, made once in each month, from January
to July, 1854, were exhibited graphically, and compared with corre-
sponding observations at Washington and Greenwich. The observa-
tions are marked by the absence of any considerable disturbance,
and by the small diurnal range at the time of the equinox. The
absolute declination was determined on three days in June, 1854,
and found to be 108° 12! west. The magnetic inclination was obtained
at ten stations, which gave for Van Rensselaer’s Harbor a dip of
84° 45/.8 from observations between January, 1854, and May, 1855,

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 21

The magnetic intensity was derived from observations of deflections
and vibrations made between January, 1854, and May, 1855, the
magnetic moment of the magnet having been determined at Wash-
ington. From twenty-threeseparate values the horizontal intensity was
found equal to 1.139, corresponding to the epoch of June, 1854, The
total force was 12.48. In thesummer of 1855 the horizontal intensity
at Hakluyt island was found to be 1.344, and at Cape York 1.573.

The remaining series of the Arctic observations under the direction
of Dr. Kane are still in process of reduction; though a portion of the
tabular matter has been sent to the printer to avoid delay in the pub-
lication, and will be included in the eleventh volume of Smithsonian
Contributions. They relate to temperature, winds, moon culminations,
twilight, halos, moisture, atmospheric pressure, and tides. The mere
enumeration of the objects which engaged the active mind of the
distinguished explorer, is sufficient, when we consider his feeble
physical powers, to account for the untimely loss which science and
humanity have been called on to deplore.

2. Another paper shortly to be put to press consists of an account of
the results of a series of physical observations by Dr. Luis Berlandier,
the notice of which may perhaps be best introduced by a statement
of the following facts given in my Report to the Regents for 1854.
Dr. Luis Berlandier, a member of the Academy of Geneva, visited
Mexico in 1826 for the purpose of making a scientific examination
of the country. Soon after his arrival he was appointed one of a
commission, organized by the then new republic, with the object
of defining the boundaries, extent, natural resources, &c., of the
northern or frontier States. The position gave him unusual facilities
for observation relative to the character of the country, and for
making collections to illustrate its natural history. He, however,
never returned to his native country, but married and settled in
Mexico, and there continued his researches until the period of his
death in 1851. In the year 1853 Lieutenant Couch, U.S. A., made a
scientific exploration in Mexico under the auspices of the Institution,
and was so fortunate as to procure the manuscripts and collections of
‘Dr. Berlandier. He presented to this Institution all of those which
related to meteorology and natural history, and offered to sell to
the government at a low price the remainder, containing historical
and geographical information, chiefly pertaining to the States of the
old republic which lay between the Sabine and the Sierra Madre. It
is to be regretted that this proposition was not accepted, since in

22 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

order to reimburse himself for the original cost of the manuscripts
he was induced to dispose of them to a private individual.

The portions of the manuscripts relating to meteorology were
placed in the hands of Professor Coffin for reduction. They consist,
either in summary or in detail, of the results of a series of nearly three
hundred and fifty thousand observations commenced at Havre, France,
October 14, 1826, and continued during the voyage of Dr. Berlandier
to Tampico, and afterwards at intervals in various parts of Mexico,
chiefly at Matamoras, till April 26, 1851; also, of a series taken at
the city of Mexico, in 1827, by General Teran, and at Goliad, Texas, ©
in 1832 and 1833, by Dr. Raphael Chowell. The whole had been
collected and arranged with care by Dr. Berlandier, preparatory
to a thorough reduction, which was intended to show not only the
mean results, but all the more important relations existing between
different atmospheric phenomena, when death closed his labors, and
put an end to his interesting and useful investigations.

3. The family of the lamented Dr. Hare has presented to the Insti-
tution a paper describing an instrument denominated by its author a
cycloidegraph. It is intended to illustrate the motions of particles of
air when subjected to a gyratory or whirling motion, combined with
one of translation. This instrument, of which a drawing will be
given, evinces the ingenuity and power of mechanical combinations, of
which Dr. Hare gave so many manifestations during the long course
of his industrious and successful scientific career.

The paper is accompanied by engraved illustrations of the curves
produced by the machine, and contains a series of propositions in-
tended to demonstrate the centripetal theory of storms. As the last
contribution to physical science of one of the patrons of the Smith-
sonian Institution, and its first honorary member, it is proper that it
should find a place in the Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge.

4, The next communication to be mentioned, is an account of obser-
vations made on the great solar eclipse of September 7, 1858, in which
the total shadow of the moon passed obliquely over South America, a
few degrees south of the equator. Accurate observations of the
phenomena presented during the total obscuration of the sun afford
such important means of enlarging our knowledge of the physical
character of that luminary, and the event is of such rare occurrence,
that the opportunity to study the phenomena should never be
neglected. The Smithsonian Institution, therefore, readily agreed to
@ proposition made by Lieutenant Gilliss, to undertake the observation

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 23

of the eclipse, if an appropriation could be made sufficient to pay at
least a portion of his expenses and his free passage procured. In
accordance with this proposition letters were addressed to the British
Pacific Steam Navigation Company, to the United States Mail Steam-
ship Company, to the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, and to the
Panama Railroad Company, setting forth the objects of the expe-
dition, and asking for free transportation for Lieutenant Gilliss and
his instruments, and for such other facilities as it might be in their
power to bestow. ‘This request was generously complied with ; not
only were free passages granted to himself and his companion, but
every other facility was proffered which it was in the power of the
officers of the companies to afford.

The British Pacific Steam Navigation Company not only furnished
with great cordiality free transport, but so instructed their agents on
the coast, that when an accident on the Panama railroad separated
Lieutenant Gilliss from his instruments, and caused a delay in their
arrival, the steamer bound to Payta waited in port several hours for
them. When returning home, the commander of another steamer of
the same line was instructed to make all possible speed in reaching
Panama, so as to save Lieutenant Gilliss the detention of two weeks
which passengers coming to the United States from the South Pacific
frequently experience. For the acts of enlightened liberality on the
the part of the above-mentioned companies in facilitating the advance
of science, special acknowledgment by resolution immediately from the
Board of Regents is due.

The necessary meteorological instruments were furnished by the
Institution ; the astronomical by the National Observatory, the Coast
Survey, and Mr. Henry Fitz, of New York.

Lieutenant Gilliss, though highly favored with the necessary means
of accomplishing the desired result, encountered many difficulties in
reaching the proper spot at which to make the observations. Accom-
panied by Mr. C. H. Raymond, of New York, he arrived at Payta,
Peru, on the 21st of August, 1858. The French admiral command-
ing in the Pacific placed the war steamer Mégére at his disposition,
should it be desirable to proceed to any other point on the coast:
Information, however, obtained from residents, and his own experience
during the ensuing eight days, convinced him that there was little
probability of a clear sky in the morning near the sea. But, in
order to obtain observations from a second party, should clear senttie
occur there, he arranged with the commandant of the Mégére to pro-

24 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

ceed with the vessel to a point south of Payta, where the eclipse would
be total, and furnished him with a telescope and a special chronometer
for the use of the officers selected to make the observations on shore.
The accounts of these gentlemen are embraced in the report of Lieu-
tenant Gilliss to the Institution.

Leaving Payta, on the morning of August 29, with such instruments
as it was possible to transport on mules across the desert in the northern
part of Peru, Lieutenant Guilliss proceeded to Olmos, a small town
within the outer range of the Andes, and in approximate latitude 6°
south, longitude 80° 10’ west. Illness prevented his reaching the
summit of the Andes, as he intended, and on the 5th of September he
encamped on an eminence one mile southeast from Olmos, and almost
on the central line traversed by the moon’s shadow. From August |
21 until the day of the eclipse, there had been but two clear mornings.
On all the other days the sky was obscured until after 9 a. m.,
before which time the eclipse terminated. It was also cloudy at sun-
rise of the 7th, and until after the eclipse had commenced ; but as it
progressed the thin masses of vapor rapidly rolled from a portion
of the sky, and for some time before and after total obscuration only
a delicate film of mist intervened between the observer and the moon.
The observations, though unpromising at the beginning, were highly
successful. |

The different astronomical phases of the eclipse were determined
with accuracy, and thus afford data for the improvement of the solar
and lunar tables. Interesting facts were also obtained in regard
to a phenomenon which has attracted much attention during later
eclipses, and is known under the name of the pink-colored protu-
berances or flame-like appearances projecting from the sun beyond
the limb of the moon. Simultaneously with the total obscuration of
the sun, Lieutenant Gilliss observed four marked protuberances of this
character beyond the lunar disk, one of them being more than 30° of
the sun’s circumference in extent. Their elevation did not exceed I’
or 1’ 10” of the celestial arc, the largest one being scarcely half that
altitude. They resembled clouds, the thinner portions of which trans-
mitted the sunlight, but were wholly destitute of the rose color hith-
erto observed in total solar eclipses, and seen on this occasion by
the French officers «t Sechura bay. Those to the west and north
continued visible for one or two seconds after the sun’s limb was
uncovered. These prominences were plainly visible to the unassisted
eye, and their proximate position and the absence of expected red color

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 25

were also noted by Mr. Raymond, who had been charged with the
meteorological observations. The total eclipse lasted 603 seconds.
A corona light appeared at the same time as the solar clouds, extend-
ing from the sun farthest in radial lines drawn from the centre, and
passing through the clouds, but was nowhere traceable more than 15!
or 16! from the solar disk. There was no appearance of fasces or
bundles of rays, but only a uniformly diminishing and slightly orange
tinted light, whose brightness and extent were apparently influenced
by the film of mist. It vanished with the first appearance of the sun.

As already stated, Lieutenant Gilliss was accompanied by Mr. Car-
rington H. Raymond, of New York, who rendered him essential
assistance during the whole expedition, as well as at the time of the
eclipse. .

- The communication of Lieutenant Gilliss will be accompanied by a
drawing of the appearance of the eclipse at the time of greatest obscu-
ration, and will form a part of the eleventh volume of the Smith-
sonian Contributions.

5. The investigations of Mr. Meech relative to the heat and light of
the sun have been continued during the past year and are still in
progress. The memoir containing the result of these investigations
obtained previous to September, 1855, was published as a part of the
ninth volume of the Smithsonian Contributions, and has received the
approbation of the scientific world. It is noticed with credit to the
Institution in the proceedings of the Astronomical Society of London,
and in a letter on the subject from Sir John Herschel.

The memoir already published contains a discussion of solar heat
_in all its astronomic phases at the exterior of the earth’s atmosphere.
The labors of Mr. Meech have since been directed to the partial
absorption or extinction which the rays experience in passing through
the atmosphere to the earth’s surface. The phenomenon is one of
special interest, and various instruments have been devised for its
measurement; among which the pyrheliometer of Pouillet, and the
actinometer of Herschel, may be mentioned. The observations with
these instruments, says Mr. Meech, are certainly valuable and in-
structive, but, with one very doubtful exception, they fail to exhibit
any distinct law. The law of absorption not being obvious directly
from observation, the simple hypothesis has generally been adopted
that equal thicknesses or strata of the medium absorb equal pro-
portions of the light or heat incident upon each stratum. Lambert,
Laplace, Pouillet, and others, have expressed this assumption in an

~

26 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

analytic form, which applies very correctly at higher altitudes and
near the zenith. For low altitudes, Laplace combined the same assump-
tion with his theory of refraction, and derived an approximate expres-
sion for the relative amounts.

But the inquiry arises how far the fundamental assumption is sus-
tained by experiments. During the trigonometric survey of India,
the astronomer, Jacob, observed the extinction of light reflected
through an extent of sixty miles of horizontal atmosphere. His results
were found to correspond very nearly with the law that ‘‘as the
first differences of distance increases in arithmetical progression, the
intensity of light diminishes in geometrical progression.’’ The ex-
periments of Delaroche and Melloni also indicate that the hypothesis
of equal thicknesses absorbing equal portions of the incident heat, is -
only an approximation, which, in extended media, will differ widely
from the truth ; indeed, their experiments show an increasing facility
of transmission through equal strata in the direction in which the
rays proceed.

The necessity of a change, therefore, in the theory of atmospheric ab-
sorption to render itconformable to such experiments being obvious, the
greater part of Mr. Meech’s time available during the past year has
been devoted to this object. The remaining discussions relative to
the theory of climatic heat, of which this forms a part, are yet in
progress. It may here be stated, however, that on computing by this
method the observations given in the translation of Kaemtz’s Meteor- _
ology, p. 150, Mr. Meech shows that out of 100 rays descending
vertically from the zenith, 22 rays are lost or absorbed in the atmo-
sphere, and 78 are transmitted to the earth’s surface. The same pro-
cess applied to the mean of observations made with Herschel’s actino-
meter on the Faulhorn and at Brientz, in Switzerland, leads to
precisely the same result when reduced to the sea level.

6. A proposition was made to the Institution in 1856 by Dr. James
Deane, of Greenfield, Massachusetts, to publish a memoir containing
a series of illustrations of his researches relative to the celebrated fossil
foot-prints in the sandstone of the Connecticut valley. It is now well
established that these foot-prints consist of impressions made by gigantic
birds and other animals, and were first brought to the attention of the
scientific world by the ardent and persevering efforts of Dr. Deane
and the critical investigations of Professor Hitchcock. The number
of plates’ required to illustrate the memoir, as originally proposed,
would have involved too great an expense to be met in one or even

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 27

two years by the portion of the income of the Institution which
could be appropriated to any single publication. It was therefore con-
cluded that Dr. Deane should continue his investigations, and endeavor,
by means of photography, to produce representations of all the most
important specimens, and that from these a selection should be
made sufficient to illustrate the characteristics of the different
species of animals by which the impressions had been left. Dr. Deane
enthusiastically devoted all the time to this object that he could spare
from a laborious practice, on which the support of his family depended,
until his career was suddenly terminated by death. To assist in the
experiments of photography and in lithographing the illustrations a
small appropriation was made, with which about fifty drawings were
finished on stone by Dr. Deane himself. The work, however, is in
such an unfinished condition that it cannot be published unless some
person well acquainted with the subject will undertake the task of its
completion.

7. The Annual Report to Congress for the year 1857, together with
the appendix, formsa volume of 438 pages. Of this Report the Senate
ordered 10,000 and the House of Representatives 7,000 extra copies,
of which 5,000 of the first and 2,000 of the latter were given to the
Institution for distribution. The volume was restricted in size to 440
pages, and the wood-cuts were furnished, as usual, at the expense of
the Smithsonian fund. The statement may be again repeated that the
Institution is not responsible for the quality of the paper, nor for all
the errors which may be found in the text, since the whole work is set
up by a large number of different compositors, and is driven through
the press without sufficient time being allowed for revision and proper
correction. The distribution, however, of the copies of the Reports
has done much to make the Institution favorably known throughout
the country. The applications for them are constantly increasing,
and even the number liberally furnished by Congress at its last session
has been found scarcely sufficient to supply the demand. They are pre-
sented to the meteorological observers, and to all libraries and educa-
tional establishments. Besides furnishing a kind of knowledge not
readily accessible through any other channel, these Reports serve to
gratify a laudable public desire for information as to the management
and operations of the Institution.

The important truth has now become known in every part of the
world, that the property of Smithson was not given for the support of
‘a local establishment, but in trust to the United States for the promo-

28 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

tion of knowledge, for the discovery of new truths, and for the diffu-
sion of these among men ; that the honor of the government is pledged
for the faithful administration of the trust in accordance with the ex-
pressed will of the donor, and that consequently every intelligent
citizen is interested in all which relates to the administration of the
bequest.

8. The collection of the meteorological and physical tables prepared
for the Institution by Professor Guyot, has been stereotyped and the
first issue has been distributed to the meteorological observers and to
foreign institutions. It has been received by the scientific world with
warm acknowledgments and special commendation. The Institution
has not lost sight of the proposition mentioned in the Report for 1856,
to prepare other series of tables for facilitating scientific calculations,
and to present in a convenient form the ‘‘Constants of Nature and
Art.’’ In order, however, fully to realize all the good which will
result from this work, it may be necessary to solicit the aid of foreign
institutions; and we think it probable that the co-operation of the Brit-
ish Association, as well as that of some of the academies on the conti-
nent of Hurope, may be secured.

9. Among the miscellaneous publications of the past year should be
mentioned a pamphlet, accompanied by a map of the solar eclipse of
March 15, 1858, with an account of an instrument by which the latter
was projected. This instrument was invented in 1842 by Rev. Thomas
Hill, has since been improved, and now affords a ready means of de-
lineating the general phases of an eclipse, as exhibited over a large
portion of the earth, with sufficient accuracy for a first approximation.
It consequently saves much labor, and obviates, to a considerable
extent, the liability to larger errors in the numerical calculations.
The eclipse here mentioned was visible throughout Europe, Greenland,
and the North of Africa; also partly visible in the northern part of
South America and the eastern part of North America. The map exhib-
its the time of beginning and ending and the different phases of the
eclipse over the greater portion of North America in which there was
any probability of observations being made. Unfortunately, however,
the face of the sky in the United States on the day of the eclipse
was overcast, and few if any observations of value were obtained. The
projection of the map, however, illustrates the use of the ingenious
mechanical contrivance of Mr. Hill, and will serve to make it gene-
rally known to practical astronomers.

10. A new and revised edition of ‘‘ Directions for Meteorological Ob-
servations’ has been stereotyped and distributed. To the directions

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 29

given in the first edition there have been added instructions for noting
periodical phenomena, earthquakes, auroras, &c., and special remarks
suggested by the experience of previous years. This publication forms
an octavo pamphlet of seventy pages, and is now, perhaps, the most
convenient and complete work for the purpose to be found in the
English language.

The catalogue of the Dipterous Insects of North America, prepared
by Baron Ostensacken, described in the last Report, has been published.
It forms an octavo pamphlet of ninety-two pages, and constitutes a
portion of a series of works which will be alluded to in a subsequent
part of this Report.

11. It was mentioned in the last Report that the Institution had
subscribed for a few copies of a treatise on the Fossils of South Carolina,
which was commenced by Professors Tuomey and I. S. Holmes, and,
after the death of the former, continued by the latter. Copies of five
parts of the continuation have been received, and will be distributed
in exchange for other works of foreign authors of the same class. This
work has been patronized by the State, and is alike creditable to the
industry, talents, and knowledge of the author, the skill of the artist,
and the intelligent liberality of the government of South Carolina.

Another publication to which a subscription has been made is Peirce’s
Analytic Mechanics. This is not an elementary compilation, but
consists principally of original solutions of many of the most important
problems of theoretical astronomy and pure physics. The author at
first offered to present this work as a series of memoirs to the Insti-
tution, but by means of the subscriptions which have been obtained
for it, the publication has since been undertaken by private enter-
prise. The copies subscribed for by the Institution will be distributed
to some of the first class learned societies in Europe, and will doubt-
less be regarded as an important contribution of new truths, as well as
of methods of establishing some of those which have been previously
discovered, alike indicative of the genius of the author and of the en-
lightened and liberal appreciation of the country.

A subscription has also been made for a number of copies, for foreign
distribution, of the Mathematical Monthly, edited by J. D. Runkle, of
Cambridge, a journal intended to promote the study of mathematics
in this country. The plan and execution of this work are such as to
commend it to all who are interested in the advance of the important
branch of knowledge to which it pertains; and it is gratifying to learn
that the patronage which it has received, as well as the number and

30 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

character of the articles furnished, are such as to insure its entire
SUCCESS.

12. In accordance with the plan mentioned in the last Report of direct-
ing attention to departments of knowledge needing special stimulus, the
Institution has made arrangements for the preparation of a series of
works on the different orders of insects found in North America, with
a view of identifying the species and of systematizing the study of their
relations and habits. This is a subject not only of much scientific
interest, but also of great practical importance in regard to its con-
nexion with agriculture. When it is considered how much logs is
annually caused to this country by the ravages of the Hessian fly, the
army and cotton worms, the curculio, the grasshopper, and numerous
- other species of insects, it must be evident that anything that may
tend in however slight a degree to throw light upon the means of pre-
venting such ravages is of great commercial importance. But
before we can make use of the experience of other countries on this
subject, it will be necessary to identify the insects, since, in regard to
them as well as other objects of natural history, the same name is
often popularly applied to widely different species.

The greatest deficiency in American natural history is to be found
in the department of entomology, there being no original treatise in
reference to this country applicable to the wants of the present day.
The Institution has therefore made arrangements with eminent ento-
mologists for the preparation of the following series of reports on the
different orders, in the form of systematic lists, of all the North American
species hitherto described, and an account of the different families and
genera, and, whenever practicable, of the species of each order :

Coleoptera, (Beetles, &c.,) by Dr. John L. Le Conte, Philadelphia.

Neuroptera, (Dragon flies, &c.,) by Dr. Hagen, Kénigsberg.

Hymenoptera, (Wasps, bees, &c.,) by H. De Saussure, Geneva.

Diptera, (Flies, mosquitoes, &c.,) by Baron Ostensacken, of the
Russian legation at Washington.

Lepidoptera, (Butterflies, moths, &c.,) by Dr. J. G. Morris, Balti-
more, and by Dr. B. Clemens, Easton, Pa.

Hemiptera, (Chinches, roaches, &c.,) by P. R. Uhler, Baltimore.

Catalogues of the Coleoptera and Diptera have been already pub-
lished, while the descriptions of these orders by Dr. Le Conte and
Baron Ostensacken, and of the Neuroptera, by Dr. Hagen, are in an ad-

3

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 31

vanced state of preparation. Moreover, it has been thought desi-
rable as introductions to these catalogues to give an account of the
best methods of capturing the insects and preserving them for the
_cabinet as well as for breeding the larve with a view of studying the
“habits and peculiarities of the species, and with this object arrange-
ments have been made with gentlemen particularly acquainted with
different orders for articles relating to them.

A commencement has already been made in the preparation of mate-
rials for these works, a part of which will be given in an article to be
found in the appendix to this report.

The description of the method of capturing insects and preserving
them will be widely distributed, and it is to be hoped that the different
correspondents of the Institution interested in this branch of natural
history will assist in completing the collections.

Specimens of Neuroptera were last year referred to Dr. Hagen, consist-
ing chiefly of those collected by Captain Pope’s expedition, in New
Mexico as well as by Baron Ostensacken in the District of Columbia
and elsewhere, together with various series from other sources. Three-
fourths at least of all the specimens of the collection sent to Dr.
Hagen have never before been described. For example, among thirty-
four species of Odonata (dragon flies) twenty-seven were found to benew.
“‘The materials for study which I have thus received from the Smith-
sonian Institution,’ says Dr. Hagen, ‘‘are the richest I have ever ob-
tained at one time before.’’

Meteorology.—The arrangement between the Patent Office and this
Institution in relation to the collection of meteorological statistics still
continues, and is, we think, producing good results. The number of
observers now reporting is about three hundred, and it is only in re-
gard to the want of persistency on the part of some of these that there
is room for the expression of regret. Incomplete and irregular records,
however, are of importance in furnishing data for the general in-
vestigation of the subject—an investigation which is based, as was
stated in a former report, upon the preparation of a series of maps of the
United States for each day in the year, on which are represented with
different colors the portions of the country over which the sky is clear,
cloudy, snowing, raining, &c., and, by arrows, the direction of the
wind. These maps indicate the place of commencement, the succes-
sive stages of development, the changes and the final disappearance of
storms. Any person, therefore, who may furnish a daily record of the
face of the sky, of the beginning and ending of rain, snow, hail, and

ae REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

storms, and the direction and intensity of the wind, (which can be
done without instruments,) will render valuable service in advancing
a knowledge of the laws of the atmospheric disturbances to which
we are constantly subjected, and which exercise so important an in-
fluence on our health, comfort, and occupation. To induce persons to
furnish this simple but valuable information a blank form has been
prepared for more general distribution than the one required by those
who are provided with instruments. If sufficient data of this kind
could be obtained to complete a series of maps, comprising one for
each day in a single year, over the whole United States, the laws of
the general phenomena of our storms could be determined. For this
purpose observations are particularly desirable from regions west of
the Mississippi river, and every traveller over the plains would render
important service by making a record of the weather at least three
times a day, viz: at 7a. m., 2and 9 p. m., and transmitting a copy
to the Commissioner of Patents. The principles which have been-
already determined in regard to the development and progress of
storms fully demonstrate the importance of the information to be de-
rived from daily telegraphic despatches as regards probable changes
of weather in the eastern portions of the United States. The Institu-
tion and the public generally are indebted to the Morse telegraph line
for the gratuitous reports which its operators have daily furnished.
An object of much interest at the Smithsonian building is a daily
exhibition on a large map of the condition of the weather over a con-
siderable portion of the United States. The reports are received about
ten o’clock in the morning, and the changes on the maps are made by
temporarily attaching to the several stations pieces of card of differ-
ent colors to denote different conditions of the weather as to clearness,
cloudiness, rain or snow. ‘This map is not only of interest to visitors
in exhibiting the kind of weather which their friends at a distance are
experiencing, but is also of importance in determining at a glance the
probable changes which may soon be expected. It is to be hoped that
reports may hereafter be received from all parts of the country to
which telegraphic lines extend. The value of the information thus
received would be much enhanced if a brief record of the direction of
the wind and the indications of the thermometer were in all cases added.
At the last meeting of the American Association for the Advancement
of Science a committee was appointed, on motion of Major Lachlan, of
Cincinnati, to petition the several States of the Union and the govern-
ments of other portions of the continent to co-operate with the Smith-

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 33

sonian Institution and the Patent Office in establishing systems of sta-
tions for observations furnished with standard instruments. Though
this committee, consisting of Major Lachlan, Dr. Hough, Professor
Coffin, and myself, have not had an opportunity of fully discussing
the several points to be recommended, yet it is thought they will
adopt the following suggestions, which have been considered and ap-
proved by a majority of the members:

1. That stations for observation be established not over sixty miles
apart.

2. That at each station the pressure, temperature, and humidity of
the air, the direction and velocity of the winds, (both upper and lower
currents,) and the kind and amount of cloudiness be observed three
times a day—at 7 o’clock a. m., 2 p. m., and 9 p. m.; also the date
of the commencement and termination of each rain or snow, with the
amount of water that falls, and any other atmospheric phenomena that
the observer may deem of interest to note and record.

3. That each station be furnished with a barometer having a zero
adjustment, a pair of thermometers carefully compared with each
other throughout their entire range, and a rain-gage.

4, That a superintendent be appointed in each State, who shall
select the stations and instruments, secure reliable observers, keep
himself informed as to the condition of the instruments and observa-
tions, and report annually to the legislature of the State, and also to
the Smithsonian Institution.

5. That the superintendent be furnished with standard instruments
with which the others may be compared when necessary.

6. That these standard instruments be themselves compared with
some common standard.

7. That each observer publish his observations monthly in some
neighboring newspaper, as an item of local interest, and have, per-
haps, five hundred extra slips of the same printed for exchange with
other observers ; these slips to be sent to the Smithsonian Institution
for distribution.

8. That monthly and annual abstracts of these observations be |
published in a uniform style throughout the United States, and the
continent if possible; and that, for the sake of securing such uniformity
as well as reducing the cost, they be prepared and published by the
Smithsonian Institution, each State contributing a sum sufficient to
defray the expense of its own observations; and the whole being com-
bined in a single volume.

3

34 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

9. That each State receive for distribution within its own limits a
number of copies of the above-mentioned volume of abstracts, equal to
perhaps twenty-five times the number of stations in the State: two for
the State library, six for each observer, one for each incorporated college
within the State, and the remainder to be distributed at the discretion
of the superintendent.

10. That to carry the foregoing provisions into effect, each State
appropriate per station $40 for the supply of instruments, and $36 a
year afterwards; the latter item to be distributed as follows, viz: $20
to each observer to pay for the printing and postage of the slips con-
taining his monthly observations, $5 per station to the superintendent —
for his expenses, and $14 per station for preparing and publishing the
abstracts.

It gives me pleasure to state that a system of twenty-five stations for
minute and accurate observations, with standard instruments, has
been established along the northwestern lakes, under the direction
of Captain Meade, of the Topographical Engineers, U. 8. A. The
records are to be made four times a day, and to be reported to the
bureau in charge of Colonel Abert, at Washington, and will thus be
accessible for investigation by the Institution. In this connexion, I
am also pleased to be able to state that the meteorological system con-
templated for some years past in Upper Canada has been actually
commenced, and that twelve stations have been established at the
senior county grammar schools, from most of which reports have been
received during the past year. Copies of these observations will be of
much value in enabling the Institution to extend the area now included
in the field of its meteorological investigations. The report relative
to this system presented to the Canadian legislature will be found in
the appendix. Itis also proper to mention that Doctor Shumard,
State geologist, has established a system of stations, furnished with
standard instruments, at three important pointsin Texas. In this
he has followed the example of Professor Swallow, who instituted a
similar system in connexion with his geological survey of Missouri.

The reductions of all the observations which have been made under
the direction of the Institution and the Patent Office are now com-
pleted, and will be printed as rapidly as the means necessary for the
purpose can be appropriated. A large number of maps have been
constructed for the investigation of storms, and considerable additions
have been made to the material previously collected relative to the
climate of this continent.

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 35

One of the most important operations with which the Institution
has been connected during the past year is the construction of a map
to represent at one view the arable and forest land of the United States.
This work has been intrusted to Dr. J. G. Cooper, a young naturalist,
who has paid particular attention to botany, has been engaged in
government explorations in the western part of the United States, and
has critically examined all the authorities to be found on the subject.
The facts presented at once to the eye by this map are in striking
accordance with the deductions from the meteorological materials which
have been collected at this Institution, and serve to place in a clear
point of view, the connexion of climate with the natural productions
of different parts of the earth.

No appropriation has been made for the last two years for the pur-
chase and distribution of instruments other than rain-gages and ther-
mometers. The attempt to furnish barometers to important stations
at a distance has not been successful. In the majority of cases they
have been broken before they arrived at their place of destination, and
we find from experience that this instrument cannot be safely trans-
ported, except by hand or by water.

Magnetic Observatory.—From the date of the last report the declina-
tion needle of the magnetic observatory, established at the expense of
the Coast Survey and the Smithsonian fund, was in continued opera-
tion until October, 1858, when the introduction of a large iron pipe
for the supply of the grounds with the Potomac water made a new
adjustment of the apparatus necessary, and interrupted the continuity
of the record. Up to that time the remaining instruments had not
been received from London, though they were ordered by Professor
Bache before the erection of the building, several years ago. The
delay, we have since learned, was occasioned by death in the family of
the inventor, who had kindly undertaken to superintend their construc-
tion, and especially to make the adjustments for the compensation for
changes of temperature. The instruments have at length been re-
ceived, and will be put in operation early in the spring of the present
year. They were completed and forwarded under the direction of
Mr. Charles Brooke, the author of this ingeaious and truly valuable
mode of automatic registration.

The importance of putting this observatory in full operation will be
manifest by a reference to a communication in the appendix to this.
report from General Sabine to the Secretary, in which it is stated that.
it is in contemplation to establish similar observatories at Pekin, the

36 ' REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

Falkland Isles, Newfoundland, and Vancouver’s Island, and in which
the hope is expressed that the magnetic observatory on the Smithsonian
grounds may be in a condition to co-operate in the efforts that are thus
about to be made to determine the laws of the perturbations of the
intensity and direction of the magnetic force in a continuous belt en-
circling the globe.

Laboratory.—During the past year the laboratory has been under
the charge of Professor Shaeffer, late of the United States Patent Office,
and Dr. Craig, of this city. These gentlemen have reported to the
Institution on all articles of public interest which have been referred
to them for examination, and have made a series of investiga-
tions on a large number of specimens of guano, which were sub-
mitted to the Smithsonian Institution by the general government. ~
The policy adopted in regard to the specimens of various kinds referred
to the Institution for examination, is to furnish a report free of cost to
the parties making the reference, provided the information is of general
interest or immediately connected with the advance of science, but if
the examination is required principally to promote the interest of indi-
viduals or companies, a charge is made sufficient to cover the expense
of the investigation. By the adoption of this plan the laboratory is
kept in operation by means of a small appropriation for chemicals and
apparatus from the Smithsonian fund.

Exchange —The system of international exchanges continues to be
highly successful, and the amount of material transmitted abroad and
that received in return is constantly increasing. Few, if any, Ameri-
can Institutions publishing transactions or reports have any other
means of effecting exchanges with foreign societies, and although the
income of the Institution will not warrant a much greater extension of
this part of the operations, yet we trust that nothing will interfere to
lessen its present efficiency and usefulness.

It will be seen from the report of Professor Baird that during the
year there were 913 packages sent abroad by the Institution, weighing
22,674 pounds. The number of parcels received by the Institution from
other parties for foreign distribution was 4,425.

Library.—The fact has been repeatedly mentioned in preceding re-
ports that the principal object aimed at in the collection of the library
is to procure as perfect and extensive a series as possible of the trans-
actions and proceedings of all the learned societies which now exist
or have existed in different parts of the world. It is to works of this
character that the student of science is obliged to refer for the minute

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 37

history of the progress of any special branch to which he may be de-
voted, and to ascertain accurately what has been published on his
particular subject previous to commencing his own labors, or at least
before he gives the results to the world, in order that he may do justice
to those who have preceded him in the same path, and have due re-
gard to his own reputation in not publishing facts and principles as
new discoveries which have long since been recorded in the annals of
science.

Principally by means of the system of exchange, which has been
so successfully prosecuted by the Institution, the hbrary is now richer
in this class of books than perhaps any other in the country, and
every year it is increasing in value, not only from the current publica-
tions of the various societies of the world, but by almost constant
additions of series and of volumes to complete sets which had before
been imperfect.

The value of this library to the country will be much enhanced,
first, by the publication of a list or catalogue of the different series
of transactions and proceedings of which it is now actually in pos-
session ; and secondly, by a general index or list of titles of the various
memoirs or papers contained in the whole collection. The first of
these objects will soon be accomplished by a complete catalogue of
the whole collection, which has been prepared under the direction
of Professor W. W. Turner, and is now in the press, and will be
distributed to all the correspondents of the Institution in the course
of afew months. This catalogue will not only serve to make known
to the men of science in this country what the library actually con-
tains in the line of transactions, but will also indicate to the foreign
contributors its deficiencies, and thus enable them, from their store
of duplicates, to complete imperfect sets, as well as to increase the
series.

The second desideratum is one which is felt as such by the whole
scientific and literary world, and it will be recollected that in the
report for 1855 I mentioned the fact that, in behalf of this Insti-
tution, I had addressed a letter to the British Association, setting
forth the importance of the publication of a list of the titles of the
different memoirs or papers contained in all the transactions of the
learned societies of the world, and offering to co-operate in the im-
portant enterprise by furnishing a list of the contents of the volumes
of transactions and proceedings of the different societies of this country.
I am now much gratified in being able to inform the Board of Regents
that this proposition was favorably considered by the Association, and

38 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

that the great work has actually been commenced at the expense and
under the direction of the Royal Society of London. It is estimated
that the whole number of titles will amount to 250,000, the cost of
printing which will probably exceed even the income of the endow-
ment of the Royal Society ; but the hope is entertained that other
institutions of Great Britain, as well as those of other countries, will
contribute towards defraying the expense. ,

At the last session of Congress a bill* passed the House of Repre-
sentatives in reference to the present copyright law, which was in ac-
cordance with the views presented in the several reports of the Board
of Regents. ;

The requirement that three copies of every original work secured by
copyright should be forwarded to Washington, to be deposited respect-
ively in the Libraries of Congress, the Department of State, and this
Institution, has been found as oppressive to the author, in the case of
_ valuable and costly works, as it was burdensome to the libraries in-
tended to be benefited, in the case of trifling and ephemeral ones.
The change in the law, by which this requirement will be in future
limited to the archives of the Interior Department at the Patent Office,
while it affords relief on the one hand, will on the other furnish ample
security in case of contested title; and, being more easily and con-
stantly complied with, will insure to those who feel an interest in the
progress of American literature at least one entire and connected series
of these publications.

The additions to the library of the Smithsonian Institution by
exchange during 1858 have been large and important, the total being
considerably greater than in 1857. They consist of the following
items, viz: 553 octavo volumes, 156 quarto, 14 folio; also, 1,695 pam-
phlets and parts of volumes, and 122 charts and maps, making in all
2,940; being an excess of 780 volumes and parts of volumes over 1857.
Many of the receipts for the year consist of series of transactions of
societies more or less complete, tending to add greatly to the resources
of the library. Among these may be mentioned the Memoirs of the
Academie des Sciences of Dijon, 30 volumes; of the Haarlem Society
of Sciences, 41 volumes; of the Royal Netherlands Institute at Am-
sterdam, 14 volumes quarto; of the Academy of Sciences of Montpe-
lier, 9 volumes quarto; a full series of the publications of the Hydro-

* Since the date of this report, the bill referred to having passed the Senate also, has

become a Jaw, and henceforth it will be requisite for the author to deposit only a single
copy with the clerk of the district court from whom the certificate of copyright is obtained.

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 39

graphical Department of St. Petersburg, in many volumes; the charts

-of the British Admiralty Board for the year; the Allgemeine Deutsche
Bibliothek, in 77 volumes, from the library at Cassel ; the Memoirs of
the Landwirthschaftliche Gesellschaft at Klagenfurt, in 14 quarto
volumes; and many others.

Alexander 8. Taylor, esq., of Monterey, California, sent to the
Smithsonian Institution, for examination and use, a manuscript which
he had borrowed from the library of the Right Rev. Bishop of Monterey;
and of which he gives the following account: ‘‘This manuscript con-
taining 94 pages, is a vocabulary of the Mutsun tribe of California
Indians, living in the country around the mission of San Juan Bau-
tista, in Monterey county, and now neariy extinct. It was writtenin
1815, by P. Felipe Arroyo, an old missionary of great natural talents |
and, as I am informed, very learned in the Indian languages of this
country. He died at the mission of Santa Inez about 1842.’’ Thig
manuscript, on examination, proved of so interesting a character in its
relation to American philology and ethnography, that to afford to
American scholars opportunities for its study and to lessen the chances
of loss of the work, it was thought advisable to have it copied. This
accordingly has been done, the labor being performed by a Cuban
gentleman, under the supervision of Alexander J. Cotheal, esq., of
New York, who has added an English translation of some portions.
The number of pages in the transcript corresponds to those of the
original. The first seventy-seven pages, after the title and preface,
(which, as well as some of the explanatory matter, are in Latin,) are
occupied with a collection of Mutsun words and phrases, ranged some-
what irregularly, under the letters of the alphabet, accompanied by a
Spanish translation. The Indian words and phrases are written in
black, and the Spanish in red ink. The remaining pages contain
hymns, prayers, and catechetical exercises composed by the priests,
and some specimens of the music used in the native songs and dances,
The original, of course, has been returned, and the copy is placed in
the library of the Institution.

The extensive alterations in the wing of the building appropriated
to the library, mentioned in the last report, have been completed, and
the additions have been found not only of importance in the better
arrangement and accommodation of a larger number of books, but
also in increasing the general architectural effect of the apartment.

40 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

Musewm.—The portion of the Smithsonian income which can be
devoted to a museum, and the $4,000 per annum appropriated by
Congress, would not together be sufficient to establish and sustain a
general collection of specimens of the natural history of the world.
It will, therefore, be the policy of the Institution, unless other means’
are provided, to confine the collections principally to illustrations of
the products of the North American continent. For this purpose
efforts have been made, principally through the varicus exploring
expeditions, to obtain a large number of specimens of all the species
of the different kingdoms of nature found in North America; and at
this time the collection under charge of the Institution is more exten-
sive in number and variety than any other which has ever before been
made relative to this portion of the globe. It is not in accordance
with the general organization of the Institution to form a museum
of single specimens, interesting only for their rareness, but to collect
a large number of specimens of each species, particularly of such as
have not been described, and to distribute these among the several ~
naturalists who may have the industry, ability, and the desire to study
them; the primary object of the Institution, namely, the increase of
the existing sum of knowledge in this case, as in all others, being
kept prominently in view.

The Institution has now become the curator of the collections of
natural history and ethnology of the government, and by law is
empowered, as it appears to me, to make the same disposition of the
materials contained in these collections as it does of those procured at
its own expense; the design will be to render the specimens in
the greatest degree serviceable to the advance of knowledge. The
museum now consists of the following collections, of which, according
to Professor Baird, about one-fifth were brought from the Patent
Office :

First, those of the naval expeditions; second, those of the United
States geological surveys; third, those of the boundary surveys; fourth,
those of surveys for railroad routes to the Pacific; fifth, of miscellane-
ous expeditions under the War and Navy Departments; sixth, those
of miscellaneous collections presented or deposited by societies and
individuals; and, lastly, of an extensive series of the results of explora-
tions prosecuted by the Institution itself. By far the greater portion
of the whole has been made under the stimulus and immediate direc-
tion of the Smithsonian Institution. A number of the special collec-
tions are still in the hands of those to whom they were intrusted for
scientific investigation and description. The arrangement of the cases

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 43

lectures, it is evident, from the interest which they still continue to —
excite, must tend to promote the intelligence and morality of the citi-
zens, and the various scientific operations which are carried on in
connexion with the Institution diversify the objects of interest to the
public generally in what pertains to the national metropolis. The
following is a list of the lectures delivered at the Institution during
- the winter of 1858-’59:

Two lectures by Dr. Joun Raz, of Canada, on ‘‘Arctic Explorations
and the Probable Fate of Sir John Franklin.”’

One lecture by J. G. Saxe, esq., of Vermont, on “ Poetry and
Poets.”’ |

One lecture by Professor G. W. Grezne, of New York, on ‘‘ The
Artistic Life of Thomas Crawford.’’

One lecture by Professor J. D. Dana, of Yale College, on ‘‘ Coral
Islands.”’

Two lectures by THomas Ciemson, esq., of Maryland, on ‘‘ Water ’’
and ‘‘ Nitrogen.’’

Two lectures by Professor P. A. CuapBourne, of Williams College,
on ‘‘ Natural History as related to Intellect, Taste, and Wealth.”’

Four lectures by Rev. H. J. Cominao, of Ohio, on ‘‘ Rome, its His-
torical Reminiscences; its Antiquities and Ruins; its Architectural
Monuments ; its Fine Arts.’’

Four lectures by Professor A. Caswett, of Brown University, on
‘¢The Magnitude and Figure of the Earth;’’ ‘‘ The Law of Gravita-
tion;’? ‘The Dimensions of the Solar System, or the Extent of our
Knowledge of Planetary Distances ;’’ and ‘‘ Sidereal Astronomy.”’

Five lectures by Professor J. P. Coox, of Harvard College, on
«¢ Atmospheric Air,’’ ‘‘Oxygen and Ozone,”’ ‘‘ Nitrogen,”’ ‘‘Water,”’
*¢ Carbon,’ &., &e.

The lectures of Professor Caswell will be inserted in the Appendix
to this report, and, it is believed, will be found interesting to the
teacher, as well as to the general reader, on account of the informa-
tion given relative to many points not usually dwelt upon in popular
works on the subject.

Respectfully submitted.

JOSEPH HENRY.

APPENDIX TO THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION,
Washington, December 31, 1858.

Sir: I have the honor herewith to present a report, for 1858, of the
operations you have entrusted to my charge, namely, those which
relate to the printing, to the exchanges, and to the collections of
natural history.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

SPENCER F. BAIRD,
Assistant Secretary Smithsonian Institution.
JosepH Henry, L. L. D.,
Secretary Smithsonian Institution.

PUBLICATIONS.

The publications of the Institution during the year are as follows:

Annual Report of the Board of Regents for 1857. One volume, 8
vo., pp. 438.

Catalogue of the Described Diptera of North America, prepared for
the Smithsonian Institution by R. Osten Sacken. S8vo., pp. 112.

Map of the Solar Eclipse of March 15, 1858, by Rev. Thomas Hill,
of Waltham, Massachusetts. 8vo., pp. 8.

Directions for Meterological Observations and the Registry of Pe-
riodical Phenomena. 8vo. pp. 70.

Tables, Meteorological and Physical, prepared for the Smithsonian
Institution, by Arnold Guyot. 8vo. pp. 634.

Nereis Boreali Americana, or Contributions to a History of the
Marine Algae of North America, by William Henry Harvey, M. D.,
M.R.J. A. Part I1J, Chlorospermeae. 4to, pp. 142, and fourteen
plates.

Magnetical Observations in the Arctic Seas, by Elisha Kent Kane,
M. D., United States navy, reduced and discussed by Charles A.
Schott. 4to. pp. 72, and two plates.

A Grammar and Dictionary of the Yoruba Language, by the Rev.
T. J. Bowen. Ato. pp. 232.

The following publications are in an advanced state and will be
completed early in the year:

Catalogue of Transactions and Periodicals in the Library of the
Smithsonian Institution. 8vo.

Catalogue of North American Birds, by 8S. F. Baird.

REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 45

EXCHANGES.

The system of international exchanges organized by the Smith-
sonian Institution a few years ago continues to be highly successful,
and is rapidly developing to an enormous magnitude. Every year
witnesses a great increase in the amount of material transmitted
abroad and received in return, and it is not too much to say that any
abrupt termination of the undertaking on the part of the Institution
would be felt as a great public calamity. Few, if any, American
institutions of note, publishing transactions or reports, have any
other medium of exchanging them with foreign correspondents.

The details of operations in this department will be found in the
following tables, all of which exhibit a marked increase as compared
with 1857:

A —Recetpt of books, &c., by exchange in 1858.

Volumes—Octavo......:.........casceesee a idieeme siete mas ait 5 ag 553
QA TCO a res ee ou da oaawamostcien i Sante 156
BLOIMOs Secleueeintns aise clon pede loccedeecccocedede daeicleseiie 14
— 123
Parts of volumes and pamphlets:
Octavio Ao vsacwecsorcea ts sud Se Ne 1,187
Quaitonwecsess iS his de sictanieveice We eA OeRD Weak aacyal alot baucleh A451
Mobtonssacciss uesseue. ascend bisdatsaish reecit Sania Pty alts
—— 1,695
Ms MOC (Sa cepociisdwataen esc toasdcleess hocsrasesesacceeoms casnecasereee 122

Opa aman te abe Uoieedeuadeuaede OME OMe re cove 2,040

AG REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECKETARY.

B.

Table showing the statistics of foreign exchanges of the Smithsonian In-
stitution in 1858.

' 24 m a m
3 e 3 G48 i af
3.2 )| Smelt a0 (ee eee
Agent and country. _ Sg ow S ee 38
co) 3 @ 5 ‘Sis ae
‘as 2 3 a4 5 s|
5 =I 5 3 2
Zz Ai A FQ i
1. Dr. Fetix Frucen, Lepsic.
Swedens vista st ccs ee 10 14 ee alo a ee
INOtWaye sete = eee sense omese 4 Tl tedeeets|d552 335
Denmarkees non te Heo eas 6 10) Wonk ees. Soe ee
Russia 2A s ee es Se Pees eto 23 SOP GSE eS is Se
(olan Geese a oars tere e leet ceria 18 250 |aoee sees teew ete eee eee
Germany ee suc e me ea eons ace 200 310 | awec ect elseee |
Swiizerlandesseeee sess seae. 19 21 | mien in al areas
Beloiumeeannseere cence rae sae 9 1 aay rte fone UE
j Mgt alee os ne een 289 440 28 336 11, 060
2. H. Bossanez, Paris.
Fran Ce seas ae he ee We nee 78 Ales, ee ee UE Me pa
Daly eo emee eee mui keene 37 CA occ ics 9 I Ae ee
LOM MSS Sea oo Meroe 2 Bo lia Mell er
DAUM See eee aie apa reopen oie 5 Sql see eoeeh eee eS es cs
3 pS SST ENE If NS OW CON PRY Gs OT a MEI NE
Totals stasis eee cetera 122 199 11 132 4,525
3. H. Srevens, London.
Great Britain and Ireland.-.... 96 250 17 204 6,445
4. Rest of the world. 18 PLN PY Pies a EEE APE 28 644
Ota = reese sees os cae 525 913 56 672 22, 674

C.—Packages recewed by the Smithsonian Institution for foreign dis-
tribution in 1858.

No. of packages.
Albany, N. Y.—

New York State Agricultural Society.........:ssosssccercers 20
Boston, Mass.—

American Academy of Arts and Sciences......cccsssscseee 251
Boston Society of Natural History...... Siddsoaveceaaneeneen 36
FoblielLibrary of City of Boston. sevce..dedaee een 3

Cambridge, Mass.—

American Association for Advancement of Science....... 64
Camibrid 2 COUSIN ALOLY cos s<vecoiscusenonveaceareeomuameemaese | lae

REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. AT

No. of packages. ,
Charleston, S. O.—

OM SCE YS Sov ERO MMMER EN Mire les abOaU eee wel dee eeecdedceseveeueestce 2
Chicago, [ll.—

Color Graken SoA ects cviecieceosseceedcandcatte 188
Cincinnati, Ohio.—

tae n eM MOM ADP arteecscediisscaasdcacsseeatdvescesesaesoresterse 6
Columbia, Mo.—

FETs tessa Ga eph dn 1S) WHLeAILIA Wrenn vals ces eccevadcharcte a w Gotohale CHURISIS otin eebNealee neue ae 20
Columbia, Pa.—

PROS MEL CLOTIVAM Locate co ddedacces scence ‘oan sine csestuee 1
Georgetown, D. C.—

Georgetown Calle sony es deanaasedeccnertecceiserewscseadoncges ; 5
New Haven, Conn.—

American) ournal of, Sclence..icicseveessdeck caves secccstaceses 16

PRIM CTIG AM OCIOMLAL, OCLOUN i cuceecislacidauieste sedenmussdacjucdacised 9

ie JE SOP ke aR RR ORR MR oe eee Ar 14

aeonevrere nD Malas LO eae ol debe con cos hewes owed seceees dabeauiee 6

BECO OC ei ei ia Mata idlarianadana aaicioniaaie's gaineine Sater 4
Philadelphia, Pa.—

ANcademiy Of) Natural SClONCES. . .suceec esac nasieeomneconttemedieda 151

AmniericanEailosopbical SOCLELY:.:...c.e0secscsdece she cedce ues 4]

Central High School of Philadelphia.............cccsecessees 100

Historical Society of Pennsylvania..........cccccsssscscescees 52

JUSBIE VG: DEE ie a nin. MRA RR enRpR Ata EBM Uae i Akane eG 4T

Providence, k. I.—
DRTC OM EV MOMCISIANG. .. 1. .acesecssanes coscesesscedeecseusesaeonae 10
St. Louis, Mo.—

St. Louis Academy of Sciences
reap oS IMUDA AE Cys iss seh ociactidewsinatenccssenassaraetsosasrete 8

Toronto, Canada.—

DP aaico Me EMISEUCTILO L.A oouccngceesuancccbcacscmeses<c+sdaeateatons 4
Washington, D. C._—

WS rare hOTICe cide yan. socks cosocnsaosecdendemanacne 1,403
(Ole Se hGiOe ESL LE iCeh tneegePad Geico are tPlp ee a ae ae RARE oe Ske)
National Oljsemyatomye sim Manis Nat ONO UC, ale eee os
DEceta mvp ON NV aie aN Mew. ic cd wcanvceseneitaden 360
puimceon Cremer aye ciastieteean acd. Cults cach cece’ seamen 300
@apien Charley WER e irassstcuvcceceeces teins sate oueideaee a ateas : 10

Mota auces vrren vans Pee cea he cee yewes suewareuatuaas ide sae 4,425

A8 . REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

D.

Addressed packages received by the Smithsonian Institution from Europe
Jor distribution in America in 1858.

Number of

packages,

Albany, N. Y¥.—

New, York:State\ Libraty ,.-.c5s2ee geese fee vee See oe es 18

New York State Agricultural Society_.....--.-------------.-.--- 7

New York State Medical Society------ 2 -2_ <2 lo oes Sole I
Amherst, Mass.—

Arnherst:Colleces Leesuet ee eee eee ee Ls eee 11
Ann Arbor, Mich.—

ODSCEV ALOT eee eee eee ee eS ira etal sae jlo er 10
Boston, Mass.— A

American Academy of Arts and Sciences__._ ------.--..--------- 59

Boston society of Natural Mistory-- ane meise son see eee eee ee 46

Rowditeh itbrany (seo ee ee Se ee ee Tee eee es 10

histone Genealosical Sociehys eens 4\>2a eee eee eae eee De

DLAI S HTC SOCLe tiyy eee es erences ee een tes earl te 10
Bowdoin, Me.—

Bowdony Colles eee eee ees a ae eee efter pe ear te a rt 8
Cambridge, Mass.—

American Association for Advancement of Science_..------------- 12

Cambridge Astronomical Journal...-.-----..-------------- eae 9

CambridgeiObservatoryy ee ee clearest 27

Harvard ‘Gollepeie2i suse seewss seh e ee Ge cs i he 22

Professor Li: ;Agassig so 4. 32 jes ee a 16

Professor (Asay (Gravy 202 2 Senso 8 AA Be eek i eae 13

Professor Peirce ss yes a cs Se asa vaiestres ll
Charleston, S. C.—

Elliott. Society of Natural History... .....-.--0---------------- 8
Cincinnati, Ohio.—

ODSErVAtOryeye cael ee eae ee ae een une of at yen est en 10
Columbia, Mo.—

ELOLESSOL) (Gr (OSS Weld Owe setae ams mete ets als ea les 5
Columbus, Ohio. —

Ohio State Board of Agriculture_--_.... BO Serb Oso oR OSASes eae SS fe 22
Dartmouth, Me.—

DarimouthiCollese sea sesish anisanaes mae ece eee ieee ton wena 26
Georgadown, D. C.—

Gcorretown College ia kaw mec misiala eis elo ee eee nila 22
Lansing. Mich.—

Michigan State Agricultural Society.---.....-----.- oy iis aa areas 17
Madison, Wis.—

Wisconsin State Agricultural Society_....-....------------------- 25

Histoncalysociehy ot Wisconsin. 262s oe ee is ee 4
New Haven, Conn.—

ATM erICA OUIMAL OL SCIENCE) a cio mneciaa serene See ee eee eee 17

ATMEL ICA OUACTIGA US OCLC DY aoe emis om ms terse tte create tn at 5

Professors ey WANA ee tae eine i aoe emi os tle ttn 19

ValeiCollere setae ss tee ata am icfaie © alain mln emai pe I te etree Se 8
New Orleans, La.—

New Orleans Academy of Natural Sciences -.....---------------- 23
New York.—

American Geographical and Statistical Society.--.-.--------.----- 29

New York Lyceum of Natural History ..---..--2----pnanencscenn 38

3

American Hthnolopical Scie tryx a) = oo pojera mee mpediecist eles eee mim sto

REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. A9

D—Continued.
Number of
packages.
New York—Continued.

INE? Wong Winivenstin7s Gos6ecéhod sooo sosocodos ed semeeeeoodesous 7
Philadelphia, Pa.—

NecademygonpeNaiur al SCleDCesh sas ema sae aa niaee eae eee eee eee 86

AMIGA IEG Sojolancell Soeleiny SOS ses Oke see see ae edeaeose soos 65

Central High School of Philadelphia............---.--.-------.- 1

Pennsylvania Institute for the Blind........-..--..---------.--- ll

Wagnerstireeminstitutems mesa cs ss cee n eee ie ce sala opiate eee 4

USENET SRE 2 SRT Me a a 8

Dreohnylmme Conte sacte sate am wine n lec Sen se nmieinc eee eee 4

Drs ose phwlietdiype tao eee ee ee ee eS oe OB See 12
Providence, R. I.—

BONE UMVenslbyasmess am seateci naa mianls cin = sais ian sini eceremee er 5
San Francisco, Cal —

California Academy of Natural Sciences....--------.-------....-- 17
St. Louis, Mo.—

SGelauguispAtcadempmsot Sclences Merino coma aiaiseeaices saicee eee eee 26
Santiago, Chili.—

UnivyersitywoiChilassee aa soe cece eee ae oe ees 6
Springfiedd, 1l.—

Mllinois!State Agricultural Society 222-222-2222 22-3. - 28-228 1
Washington, D. O.—

Winitedd States suatembrO tices see sean ae eee sete ciatalaiate ce eee 68

@ relia ara GEIS eam er ea ec ee) A a 3

(Wimitedt States Coast sunveyscas sees cceie cite case he eco ctae ears oe 41

National Obsenvalonyeees ace ya tee See eee Nn ae aes ea 73

HeenetaryO fray Varese ete ee ey Gwe NS eS we he aes ee 3

DNerirom alga stitute eee ics Se ee a oe 2

Statemepartmentue sash ace sce nem ae ea cre mee cera mice eee en 1

Consress) lilbrany see ee eisai nina nisin cos ee meee ima merece 15

Lieutenant J. M. Gilliss, United States navy.-----.-------------- 16
West Point, N. Y.—

viniitiartayar ACA e myers ieee es Lk eo) ee Se eae es 3
Worcester, Mass.—

American Anbiquarian SOCieby-= 22 — sce cies elena ci elses etee 6
Miscellancousinstitutionss: 28222220 bo cc eos eee eee 261
MiIscellanecousmnGivicualse es cst sao e Se weiiocieia meine Se scce4 = ese ate 221

Roballepeemerse ees ees wae am me Set ee a Uae 1, 539
MUSEUM.

Additions to the museum.—Independently of the collections of the
Patent Office, transferred in 1858, and of which a more detailed notice
will be found on another page, the additions to the Smithsonian
museum during 1858 have been of great magnitude and importance,
in many respects exceeding those of any previous year, occupying, as
they did, more than 200 boxes, 20 kegs or barrels, and numerous
single packages of greater or less size. It is impossible within my
present limits to mention the contents of these in detail, and a general

4

|
|

50 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

statement at the end of this report is all that can be given for most of
them. A portion, however, of the collections received belong to pub-
lic or private explorations of such interest as to require a further
notice.

EXPLORATIONS UNDER THE WAR DEPARTMENT.

1. Exploration of the valley of the Platte river, especially of the Loup
Fork, under Lieutenant Warren, U. S. A.—This exploration was con-
ducted in 1857, but the collections (filling 21 boxes) did not reach
Washington until 1858. The chief features of the collections con-
sisted of the fossil remains of animals and plants, gathered by Dr.
Hayden, geologist of the expedition; but a large and valuable series
of recent species was also procured, embracing several new to science.

2. Hxploration of the Colorado river of California, under Lieutenant
J.C. Ives, U. 8. A.—Dr. J. 8. Newberry, geologist and botanist, Mr.
B. Mollhausen, artist and zoologist. Large collections were made in
all departments on the Colorado and across to Albuquerque.

3. Wagon road over the 35th parallel, under Lieutenant Beale. me
valuable geological collection was made by this party.

UNDER THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

4. Survey of the northwest boundary, under Archibald Campbell,
esq.—Dr. C. B. Kennerly, surgeon and naturalist, George Gibbs,
geologist. The collections of animals and plants, minerals and fossils,
made on Puget Sound and on the boundary line, were very full,

UNDER THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.

5. Survey of the Atrato ship canal route of the Isthmus of Darien, by
Lieutenant Craven, U. S. N., and Lieutenant Michler, U. S. A.—The
natural history operations were conducted by Mr. Schott, assisted by
Wm. 8S. and Charles Wood, under the supervision of Lieutenant
Michler. A valuable collection of animals and plants of the Isthmus
was brought back by this party.

UNDER THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.

6. Wagon road construction through the South Pass, under Wm. MM,
Magraw.—This expedition was fitted out in the spring of 1857, with
Dr. J. G. Cooper as surgeon, and Mr. C. Drexler as hospital steward
and taxidermist. Dr. Cooper returned to Washington before the be-
ginning of the year, bringing large collections with him. Mr. Drex-
ler continued with Mr. Magraw’s party, and -wintered on Wind river.
In March he crossed to Camp Scott, near Fort Bridger, where, re-
maining until June, he made a very extensive collection of birds,
illustrating very fully the ornithology of the Rocky mountain region,
and throwing much light on the geographical distribution of the
species. His success in this was mainly due to the protection and aid
afforded by General A. HE. Johnston, in command of the forces, by
whose direction every facility was afforded him.

REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 51

EXPLORATIONS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.

1. Haploration of the vicinty of Fort Tejon, California, by Mr.
John Xantus.—During the year 1858 a natural history exploration,
commenced in 1857, has been nearly completed by Mr. Xantus, while
connected with the military post at Fort Tejon, which, for extent and
thoroughness, has perhaps scarcely a parallel on our continent, con-
sidering the fact that it was made in about sixteen months by one
person, almost constantly occupied in official duties, and under
various discouragements. The collections of Mr. Xantus filled 24
large boxes, and included nearly 2,000 birds, 200 mammals, many
hundreds of birds’ nests and their eggs, with large numbers of reptiles,
fishes, insects, plants, skulls, skeletons, &c., all in the highest condi-
tion of preparation and preservation, and furnishing such accurate and
detailed information of the zoology and botany of Fort Tejon as we
possess of but few other points in the United States. Mr. Xantus
also made copious notes of the habits and characters of the species,
with numerous drawings. ;

8. Other points on the west coast.—Valuable collections from the
vicinity of Fort Umpqua, Oregon, have been received from Dr. Vol-
lum, from about San Diego, made by A. Cassidy, and from Monterey,
made by A.S. Taylor. A collection of shells, &c., made by Captain
Stone in the Gulf of California, assisted by Mr. Sloat, has supplied
the first specimens ever received from that region, proving of great in-
terest. Mr. James Wayne has also furnished important collections
from the Columbia river.

9. Locky mountains.—A collection of birds from Cantonment Burg-
wyn, sent in by Dr. W. W. Anderson, has added a new species of
birds to our fauna. Interesting collections of mammals and birds
from Fort Massachusetts were also made and presented by Captain
A. W. Bowman and Dr. McKee. Captain Marcy, in collecting speci-
mens of the Lagopus leucurus, or white tailed ptarmigan, has added to
the fauna of the United States an interesting species of bird hitherto
only found in British America.

10. Other regions of North America.—Additional collections of the
animals of the Red River of the North have been received from Mr.
Donald Gunn, and of Texas, from Major G. H. Thomas. Mr. Thos.
H. Blackney, of Chicago, has contributed one of the few specimens of
whooping crane (Grus americana) found in collections. The collections
of Florida animals by Mr. Gustavus Wurdemann, made in continua-
tiou of previous years, have been very valuable, adding, as they have
done, several new species of birds, reptiles, and invertebrates to our
fauna ; collections made in northern Wisconsin by Mr. Kennicott,
and in many other regions by contributors, mentioned in detail in the
alphabetical list at the end of this report,’ have also been of much
value.

11. Other parts of the world.—The exotic additions consist chiefly
of collections made in the Sandwich Islands by Mr. W. H. Pease,
and on the Isthmus of Panama by Captain J. M. Dow and the Rey.
Jos. Rowell.

52 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

12. Astronomical expedition to Peru.—The expedition to Peru, for
the purpose of observing the total eclipse of the sun of September,
1858, by Jieutenant Gilliss, United States navy, under the auspices
of the Smithsonian Institution, was accompanied by Mr. Carrington
Raymond, who made such collections of birds, reptiles, and fishes as
his time and opportunities would allow, and succeeded in obtaining
several species not previously in the collection.

Among the collections received during the year, not strictly made
by single expeditions or individuals, one presented by the Museum
d’ Histoire Naturelle of Paris deserves especial mention. This consists
of the types of many of the genera of serpents described by M. Duméril,
selected with special reference to American forms. A labelled collection
of land shells from Mr. Binney, and of rare eggs of North American.
birds from Mr. John Krider, are alse worthy of particular notice.

PRESENT CONDITION OF THE MUSEUM.

The museum of the Smithsonian Institution, as at present constituted,
has been supplied with materials chiefly from the following sources :

First. The collections brought from the Patent Office, and made up
principally of the results of various explorations. They areas follows:

1. United States exploring expedition, under Captain Wilkes,
United States navy, 1838-1842. The collections made by this naval
expedition are supposed greatly to exceed those of any other of similar
character ever fitted out by a foreign government, no published
series of results comparing at allin magnitude with that issued under
the direction of the Joint Library Committee of Congress.*

The collections made embrace full series of the animals, plants,
minerals, and ethnological material of the regions visited, such as
the coasts of South America, the islands of the South Seas, &c.

2. Exploration of the Amazon and its tributaries, by Lieutenant

* The following reports relating to the operations and collections of the expedition have
been published or are in press, the text in quarto, the plates in folio:

1. Narrative of the expedition by Captain C. Wilkes, 5 vols. text, one of plates,

Zoophytes. By Prof. J. D. Dana, 1 vol. and atlas.

Geology and Mineralogy. By Prof. J D. Dana, 1 vol. anc atlas.

Crustacea. By Prof. J. D. Dana, 2 vols. and atlas.

Philology. By Mr. Hale, 1 vol.

Races of Man. By Dr. C. Pickering, 1 vol.

Geographical Distribution of Species. By Dr. C. Pickering, 1 vol.

Mammals and Birds. By T. R. Peale, 1 vol.

Mammals and Birds, 2d edition. By J. Cassin, 1 vol. and atlas.

Meteorology. By Captain Wilkes, 1 vol.

Shells. By Dr. A. A Gould, 1 vol. and atlas.

Reptiles. By Dr. C. Girard, 1 vol. and atlas.

Ferns. By Mr. Breckenridge, 1 vol. and atlas,

Botany. By Dr. Gray, 2 vols. and atlas.

Botany of Western America. By Dr. Torrey, 1 vol. and atlas.

Mosses. By Mr. Sullivant, 1 vol. and atlas,

Fungi. By Messrs. Berkeley and Curtis, 1 vol. and atlas,

Algae. By Prof. Bailey, 1 vol. and atlas.

Charts, 2 vols. folio.

Jn addition to these, the report on the fishes, by Professor Agassiz, is stated to be nearly
ready for the press.

REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 53

W. E. Herndon, United States navy. These consist chiefly of verte-
brate animals and ethnological material.

3. Exploration of the valley of Great Salt Lake, by Captain Stans-
Rg United States army. Collections in character much like the
ast

4, Exploration ofthe Zufii and Colorado rivers by Captain Sitgreaves,
United States army, and the survey of the Creek Boundary by Cap-
tains J. C. Woodruff and Sitgreaves.

5. Presents made to the United States by the King of Siam and
other foreign governments, deposited by the State Department.

6. Collections of Commodore M. C. Perry, United States navy,
made while negotiating a treaty with Japan, and the presents to the
United States government through him from the Japanese authorities.

7. Collections made by Dr. D. D. Owen in his United States geolo-
gical explorations in the west.

8. Collection of birds, &c., of British Guiana, from Rev. C. W.
Denison.

9. African curiosities, deposited by Rev. Dr. Gurley, in behalf of
the American Colonization Society.

10. Miscellaneous specimens belonging to the old Wastiaeten
Museum and deposited by Mr. John Varden.

11. Miscellaneous specimens, including paintings and statuary, from
different individuals, presented to or deposited in the national gallery.

12. Collection of Indian paintings from the War and Indian Depart-
ments.

In addition to the collections above enumerated, the old hall con-
tained numerous specimens of different kinds belonging to or deposited
in the care of the National Institute. These the Smithsonian Institution
offered to take charge of, subject to such future order as the National
Institute might make in regard to them, but the offer was declined at
the time by its authorities and the specimens were left in their places,
but afterwards concentrated in several of the old cases of the Patent
Office hall. As no supervision is now exercised over them it is much
to be feared that great injury will necessarily result to the more per-
ishable portions.

Second. The collections in the Smithsonian Institution belonging to
the United States, and deposited in pursuance of the act of incorpora-
tion, other than those mentioned, are as follows:

13. Collections of the United States geological survey made in Iowa,
Illinois, and Minnesota, under Dr. D. D. Owen.

14. Collections made on Lake Superior, by Messrs. Foster and
Whitney.

15. Gonsetone made by Dr. Charles T. Jackson.

16. Collections made in Oregon and Washington Territories, by
Dr. J. Hivans.

17. Collections of vertebrates and minerals of Chile, made by Lieu-
tenant J. M. Gilliss, U. 8. N.

18. General collections made by the North Pacific surveying and
exploring expedition under Captains Ringgold and Rodgers, U. 8. N.,
chiefly in the China Seas, Behring Straits, Coast of California, &e.

19. General collections made ‘by the United States and Mexican

54 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

boundary survey, under Colonel Graham and Major W. H. Emory,
ess Ae

20. General collections made by the Pacific railroad survey of the
47th parallel, under Governor Stevens.

21. General collections made by the Pacific railroad survey on the
38th, 39th, and 41st parallels, under Captains Gunnison and Beckwith.

22. General collections made by the Pacific railroad survey on the ~
Soth parallel, under Captain Whipple.

23. General collections made by the Pacific railroad survey on the
partial route in California, under Lieutenant Williamson.

24. General collections made by the Pacific railroad survey on the
western end of the 32d parallel, under Lieutenant Parke.

25. General collections made by the Pacific railroad survey on the
eastern end of the same parallel, under Captain Pope.

26. General collections made by the Pacific railroad survey in Cali-
fornia and Oregon, under Lieutenant Williamson.

27. Collections made by Captain Pope while sinking artesian wells -
on the Llano Estacado.

28. Collections made by the northwestern boundary survey, under
A. Campbell, esq.

29. Collections made in Paraguay, by Captain Page.

30. Collections made on the Isthmus of Darien, by Lieutenant
Michler, U.S. A.

31. Collections made by tigatonarte Bryan during two seasons spent
in constructing a wagon road from Fort Riley to Bridger’s Pass.

32. Collections made on the Upper Missouri and Yellowstone, under
Tea Warren.

33. Collections made on the Platte, by Lieutenant Warren.

34. Collections made on Red river, by Captain Marcy.

35. Collections made by the South Pass wagon-road expedition,
under W. M. Magraw.

36. Collections made during the exploration of the Colorado river,
under Lieutenant Ives.

For an account of the many private collections presented to the

Smithsonian Institution, reference must be made to the annual reports
of 1850—1857, and to another portion of the report for the present
year ; several, however, need special mention here on account of their
extent and value.

37. Collections made in northern Mexico, by Dr. Berlandier, pur-
chased and presented by Lieutenant Couch, in addition to a similar
collection made by himself.

38. Collections made in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida, by Mr.
Gustavus Wurdemann.

39. Collections made on the Pacific coast, by Lieut. Trowbridge.

40. Collections made in Washington and Oregon Territories, by
Dr. George Suckley.

41. Collections made in Washington, California, and Nebraska, by
Dr. J. G. Cooper.

42. Gpltecitens made at Petaluma, California, by Mr. E Samuels.

43. Collections made on the Upper Missouri, by Thaddeus Culbert-
son; and others made by Dr. Hayden and Colonel A. J. Vaughan,
Indian agent for the Blackfeet.

REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 55

_ 44, Collections made at Fort Tejon, Cal., by Mr. John Xantus.
45. Collections made in Wisconsin and Missouri, by Dr. P. R. Hoy.
46. Collections made in Wisconsin, by Rev. A. C. Barry.

47. Collectious made in Illinois and Minnesota, by Robert Ken-
nicott.

48. Collections made on the New England coast, by W. Stimpson.

49. General collections, deposited by 8. F. Baird.

Together with very many others of greater or less note.

As the result of combining all the collections referred to in the
preceding notices, it may be said that the museum of the Smithsonian
Institution is entitled to no mean rank among similar establishments
elsewhere. It is certainly superior to any other in the United States
as a general collection, although in the specialities of exotic birds,
shells, fossils, and minerals it is surpassed by the Philadelphia Acad-
emy of Natural Sciences. The material is not even now wanting to
give it a first class position; only the means to properly determine,
arrange, and exhibit the collections already within the walls of the
Institution. With the enormous amount of duplicates of rare and
new species on hand, it will be possible, after the determinations have
been completed, to make additions by exchange to any conceivable
extent, almost without the expenditure of a single dollar in the way
of purchase. It must be remembered, too, that the collections in the
building have been made since 1850, (with the exception of most of
those brought from the Patent Office, which hardly form one-fifth part of
the whole museum,) and that the additions of the past year, independ-
ently of those just mentioned, have exceeded those of any previous
one.

There are many departments of natural history in which the collec-
tions of the Smithsonian Institution are believed to be superior to any
others extant, not merely to those of the United States. In all that
relates to North America, and perhaps to South America, also, it has
no equal anywhere. The collection of crustacea of the world is said
to be superior even to that of the Paris museum; and the same may,
possibly, be said of the recent corals. And yet no special attempts
have been made to this end. With the general interest of Americans
in such subjects, nothing would be easier than to excite the zeal of
officers of the naval and mercantile marine, government officials
abroad, and travellers, to such a pitch as to yield vast results every
year. Unfortunately the Smithsonian Institution has neither space
for such extensive exotic collections nor funds to devote to their pre-
paration and arrangement, all the appropriation of Congress being
required for the preservation of the specimens belonging to the United
States, and for the arrangement and exhibition of the contemplated
North American museum. This latter it is proposed to make as com-
plete as possible, so as to exhibit to visitors from all parts of the Union
a full series of natural objects belonging to each State.

In view of the importance of having some one public museum, illus-
trating as fully as possible the natural history of the world, and
taking rank with those of London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, and others,
and considering that so excellent a foundation has already been ‘laid
by the collections now in the Smithsonian Institution, and the ease

56 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

with which they may be augmented to any desirable extent, it is
earnestly to be hoped that the day is not far distant when the moderate
amount of funds necessary may be placed in the hands of this Insti-
tution.

It is, of course, impossible, in a few words, to give a detailed account
of the collections of the Smithsonian museum. This can only be sup-
plied by the descriptive catalogues of species and specimens already
published or now in course of preparation, after the plan of those of
the British museum. These will serve not only as guides to the cases
and collections, but as manuals by which the same species may be
readily identified elsewhere.

Work done in connexion with the collections.

The chief labor of the year in reference to the museum has con-
sisted in the transfer and partial arrangement of the collections
belonging to the United States, for many years constituting the
national gallery of the Patent Office, at first under the direction of
the Joint Committee of the Library of Congress, but for some years
under that of the Commissioner of Patents.

In the spring of 1857 the appropriation was made by Congress for
the construction of cases in the Smithsonian building for the reception
of the Patent Office collections, but owing to various drawbacks these
cases were not entirely finished until 1858. As soon as the various
technicalities incident to the transfer of this property were completed,
the work of removal was commenced and the whole collection moved
over in July last. Since that time much has been accomplished
towards giving to the different portions of the collections thus trans-
ferred their final arrangement, but much necessarily remains to be:
done before this can be completed. An indispensable preliminary
consists in the entry of every specimen in its appropriate record book
and the ineffaceable attachment of a number, by means of which the
displacement or loss of a label (so likely to occur in the operations of:
a large and growing museum) will be of comparatively little conse-
quence. The next step is to post all the specimens of each species on
its appropriate invoice sheet, as fast as accurate identification is
accomplished, and after these sheets are systematically assorted the
final arrangement of the specimens themselves can then be completed
and catalogues printed as guides to the collection.

As none of these details had been entered into with regard to the
Patent Office collections previous to their removal, (with the exception
of the labelling of a portion, and the entry of the crustacea in a
record book,) it becomes necessary to carry them out in the Smith-
sonian Institution. This, however, will require a long time to com-
plete, owing to the magnitude of the undertaking, and in the mean time
the specimens exhibited have been provisionally arranged for the
present, to be systematically placed and accurately and legibly labelled
hereafter. This has already been done by Mr. Varden for the ethno-
logical collections in the galleries of the west end of the hall, and by
Professor Dana for the corals.

REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY, 57

Considerable progress has been made in recording, determining,
and invoicing the other collections in the Institution, apart from those
brought from the Patent Office. The mammals, North American
birds and their eggs, the osteological collection, and the North Ameri-
can lizards, are at present so well posted up that the number of species
represented in the different series, with the aggregate number in each
series, the locality, donor, and other incidents of all the specimens of
each can be shown at a glance. Nearly all the North American
reptiles, other than saurians, are entered, and many of them deter-
mined ; and the same may be said of the western fishes. The follow-
ing table will show how much of this labor of recording has been
done in 1858.

Table exhibiting the entries in the record books of the Smithsonian
museum in 1858, in continuation of previous years.

1851. | 1852. | 1853. | 1854. | 1855. | 1856. 1857. 1858.

Vilesrmnnaa all is ees ee a 114 198 351) 1,200) 2,046 3, 200 3, 226
TBS keh ae A RS APA Seal eee RE RL) DAU 4,353 | 4,425 | 5,855 8, 766 11, 390
INGO UMTS L SE So ese Ee aI a pr 106 239 4,370
TENASL YSIS ee iS ea A I | nn nl 155 613 1, 136
Skeletons and skulls----| 911 | 1,074 | 1,190} 1,275 | 2,050) 3,060 3, 340 3,413
@muistace apatite ae ese UA ats ol ee BAR OE abl |e ON VENI Ne ete |hgeSted atl ashe 939
ISTRY OH OMNIS EG SAS Sse el eI Rese a HTS COE ee ere se pene am [ae a Siaiaie 1, 032

ARON ES Ee ee ie Be 911 | 1,188 | 1,388 | 4,979 | 7,675 | 11, 222 | 16, 158 25, 506

The actual number of entries during the year amounts to 9,348,
being the difference between the aggregates of 1858 and 1857. As
most of these, however, have been made at least twice in the record
book and on the invoices, the total is nearer 18,000.

From the preceding table it will be seen that the entries already
exceed twenty-five thousand. In the case of alcoholic series, how-
ever, each bottle, though containing only one species from one locality,
may, and almost always does, include more than one specimen, the
average being at least five, which would give to the reptiles and fishes
an addition of 22,024 pieces, which would bring the number of regis-
tered- specimens nearly to forty-eight thousand. This is, however,
far from expressing the full statistics of the collection, as there are
at least ten thousand jars of alcoholic specimens not yet entered, to
say nothing of the exotic birds and other objects.

During the year the determination of the North American birds in
the Smithsonian collection has been completed, and the results pre-
sented by myself in the ninth volume of the reports of the Pacific
railroad survey, occupying over a thousand quarto pages. The de-
scription of each species is followed by a list of all the specimens in
the collection, with an indication of the locality, collector, date, and
other details, and the report in question thus serves as a catalogue of
the ornithological collections of the Institution, as the previous volume
(eighth) did of its North American mammals. From this report it

58 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

will be seen that the number of known North American species of
birds amounts to nearly 720, or about 225 more than given in 1844
by Mr. Audubon, and that nearly all are in the Smithsonian collection.

The North American eggs and nests have been determined and
arranged in the hall, where they form a highly attractive feature.
The North American saurians have also been monographed and
described in detail to the number of about 90 species. This work is
still in manuscript. Much progress has also been made in a similar
memoir on the serpents, with the assistance of Mr. Kennicott.
Detailed accounts of the fishes collected by the Mexican boundary and
Pacific railroad surveys, as also of the reptiles of the United States

exploring expedition, prepared by Dr. Girard, have been published :

in their several reports.

Other collections belonging to the Smithsonian museum, in process
of elaboration during the year, are as follows:

Birds.—The report of Mr. Cassin on the birds of the United States
exploring expedition has been printed during the year. The same
gentleman has now the birds collected by Captain Page in Paraguay,
and those of the North Pacific expedition, and has nearly completed
reports upon them.

fteptiles.—The collection of North American turtles was placed some
years ago in the hands of Professor Agassiz, from whom a detailed
account of them may shortly be expected. Dr. Hallowell has furnished
during the year a report on the reptiles of the North Pacific expedition.

Fishes.—The fishes of the United States exploring expedition are in

the hands of Professor Agassiz for the preparation of a report, to be

published in the series of the expedition. The collection contains
many hundreds of new species. The fishes collected during the North
Pacific surveying and exploring expedition, under Captains Ringgold
and Rodgers, are in the hands of Mr. J. C. Brevoort.

Invertebrates.—Mr. Stimpson has been occupied during the year in
investigating the crustacea collected by him on the North Pacific
exploring expedition. Dr. A. A. Gould has also had in hand the
shells, and Mr. Barnard the echini of the same expedition. The
Neuroptera of the Smithsonian museum are in progress of examina-
tion by Dr. Hagen, of Kiénigsberg, the Coleoptera by Dr. Le Conte,
the Hymenoptera by Mr. De Saussure, the Diptera by Baron Osten-
sacken, the Hemiptera by Mr. Uhler.

Planits.—ULarge collections of plants collected by government expedi-
tions are still in the hands of Drs. Torrey and Gray, Mr. Sullivant,
Mr. Curtis, and others.

Geological Collections.—The collections made during Lieutenant
Warren’s explorations of the Upper Missouri region have been in
progress of investigation during the year by Messrs. Hayden and Meek,
and those of Lieutenant Ives’ expedition to the Colorado by Dr. New-
berry.

Besides the scientific details connected with the administration
of the Smithsonian museum and collections, much has been done
in regard to the mechanical portion, in addition to the more or less
complete arrangement of the Patent Office series. A beginning has
been made in the cleaning of the mounted animals belonging to the

REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 59

Patent Office collection, which had become greasy, dusty, or distorted,
by time and accident, and by their transfer to new stands. Many
skins of mammals and birds have been mounted and placed in the
cases to supply deficiencies, or to replace defective specimens, although
a vast amount yet remains to be accomplished in this-respect before
the collection will attain its proper condition. A large number of
skulls have been cleaned and put in place; nearly all the jars of
alcoholic specimens in the building, amounting to over 15,000, have
been washed and replaced with fresh spirits ; more than 1 ,000 gallons
of alcohol having been required for this purpose.

4

Distribution of Collections.

As the collections of the Smithsonian Institution become properly
indentified the duplicates are laid aside to be distributed to other
parties. It would, of course, be manifestly inexpedient to make such
distribution before determining the species accurately, as nearly all
are referred to in some official report or special monograph, and the
duplicates will be chiefly valuable as the types of such works. For
this reason not much has yet been done in the way of distribution to
public museums, although materials are constantly being furnished to
men of science for monographic investigations.

Even after the species may have been determined some time must
elapse before any extensive systematic distribution of series can be
effected, as the labor of labelling each specimen, making duplicate
catalogues, and of packing, will be very great. No time will be lost,
however, in doing whatever is possible in the case, not only for the
purpose of supplying a great want, but also of relieving the shelves
and cases of the Institution of a redundancy of material.

LIST OF DONATIONS DURING 1858.

Dr. W. W. Anderson, U. S. A.—Birds of New Mexico.

Samuel Arny.—Reptiles from Kansas.

Dr. W. O. Ayres.—Fishes from California.

A. S. Babcock.—Hight skins of birds of Massachusetts.

Wm. M. Baird.—Coal from Pittston, Pa.

Thos. Barnet.—Cast of mastodon tusk (perfect) from St. Thomas,
Canada West.

Sidney Barnet.—Box of minerals from Egypt.

Dr. J. B. Barratt.—Skin of Pityophis melanoleucus from South
Carolina, and Lepidosternon floridanum, in alcohol.

Lieutenant Beale.—Four boxes of geological collections, with some
birds and alcoholic specimens.

Thos. H. Blackney.—Mounted Grus americana from Ilinois.

W. P. Blake.—Zoological collections from New Mexico.

W. G. Binney.—Series of land shells of United States.

Captain A. H. Bowman, U. S. A.—Mammals and birds of New
Mexico. :

J. Brakely.—Jar of mammals from New Jersey.

60 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

J. L. Bridger.—Wasp nests and alcoholic collections from North
Carolina.

Dr. Geo. C. Brown.—Alcoholic specimens from Mount Holly, New
Jersey.

Archibald Campbell. EE@alleotions of animals and plants, made by
Dr. C. B. Kennerly, assisted by George Gibbs, esq., and of minerals
and fossils made by George Gibbs, in connexion with the Northwest
boundary survey, on and near Puget’s Sound.

A. Cassidy.—Birds, mammals, and alcoholic specimens from San
Diego, Cal.

TL’. Apoleon Cheney.—Skull and other remains from an Indian mound
in Cattaraugus county, N. Y.

EH. D, Cope.—Specimens of Heloecetes feriarum from New Jersey.

Captain J. M. Don.—Two specimens of the Pharomacrus or rie
from Central America.

C. Drexler.—Collections of vertebrata from Fort Bridger. Living
Spermophilus townsendii and Cynomys gunnisonit. :

Dr. A. J. Foard, U. S. A.—Skins of Cyrtonyx massena, Spermo-
philus grammurus, and Thomomys umbrinus from Texas.

Dr. W. Gesner.—Reptiles and mammals from Western Georgia.

Th. Gill.—Fishes and crustaceans from the West Indies.

Jas. M. Gilliss, jr.—Alcoholic specimens from Florida.

TY’. Glover.—Living turtles from Florida.

Donald Gunn.—Skins of mammals, birds and alcoholic specimens
from North Red river.

Dr. S. H. Hale.—Skulls of mammals from northern New York.

C. T. Harit.—Fossils from Nova Scotia.

fiufus Haymond, M. D.—Mammals and reptiles from Indiana.

S. Hayes.—Heloderma horridum from Gila river.

Dr. Hunter.—Reptiles of North Carolina.

Ineutenant J, CO. Ives, U. 8. A.—Collection of animals, plants,
minerals and fossils from southern California and the Colorado river,
and eastward. The animals collected chiefly by H. B. Méllhausen,
the remaining objects by Dr. J. 8. Newberry.

Dr, Kellogg.—Fruit of the ‘‘Mara’’ of California.

Thos. Kite.—Casts of sculptured foot marks from near Barnesville,
Ohio.

Prof. Jos. Le Conte.—Skins of birds of Georgia.

Major J. Le Conte.—Hyla, Scapheopus, and Ranacapitofrom Georgia.

Dr, Lummas.—Jar of reptiles and fishes from Kentucky.

Dr. J. C. MW Kee, U. S. A.—Mammals and birds of New Mexico.

J. Mac Minn.—Fossil bones of Cervus and Hrethizon from Pennsyl-
vania,

W. M. M Lain.—Collection of eggs of North American birds.

Mrs, MW Peak.—FPectoral spine of siluroid fish.

W. M. Magraw. —Five boxes collections vertebrata of Utah, made
by C. Drexler, in connexion with South Pass wagon-road expedition.

Judge Merrick. —Scorpion from Nelson county, Ky.

Dr. Geo. F'. Moore.—Reptiles from North Carolina.

Lieut. N. Michler, U. 8. A.—Collection of animais, plants, &c.,

REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY, 61

from the Isthmus of Darien (Atrato expedition,) made by Arthur
Schott, assisted by Wm. 8. and Charles Wood.

Museum ad? Histoire Naturelle, Paris.—Collection of 81 species ser-
pents, types of erpetologie generale.

Alfred Newton.—Pair of stellers ducks, and Xema minuta.

Dr. Hd. Palmer.—F¥ossils from Kansas; skin of wild cat.

J. D. Parker.—Horns of moose, deer, skull of bear, &c., from
Maine.

James P, Postell.—Reptiles, mammals, and invertebrates from
Georgia.

Patent Ofice.—Government collections in natural history in Patent,
Office, consisting chiefly of those gathered by the United States ex-
ploring expedition under Captain Wilkes in 1838—1842; by Captain
Howard Stansbury in the exploration of the valley of Great Salt Lake;
by Captain Sitgreaves in the exploration of the Zui and Colorado;
by Commodore Perry in his Japan expedition; by Lieut. Herndon on
the Amazon, &c. (See page 52.)

Wm. H. Pease.—Fishes, crustaceans, lavas, &c., from Sandwich
Islands.

A, Pitman.—Manganese ore from Virginia.

J. P. Postell_—K eg of alcoholic specimens from Georgia.

C. Raymond.—Collections of birds and of alcoholic specimens made
in Peru during the astronomical expedition of Lieut. Gilliss.

Dr. Ravenel.—Two bottles of insects from South Carolina.

George M. Roberis.—Box of minerals.

Ttev. Joseph Rowell._-Alcoholic specimens from the Isthmus of
Panama.

P. L. Sclater.—Skins of Mexican birds.

A. Sharpless.—Collection of birds’ eggs from Pennsylvania.

Dr. J. B Smith, U. S. A., and Major H. Wayne, U. S. A.—Skele-
ton of a camel from Texas. .

Dr. J. B. Smith.—Geomys bursarius from Kansas.

Judge Steele.—Skin of albino deer; alcoholic collections from the
coast of Florida.

J. J. Steenstrup.—Annulata and radiata from Greenland and the
West Indies.

F’, D., Steuart.—Heterodon, Jaculus labradorius, and mink from near
Washington.

W. Stimpson —Fresh Lophius, with fishes and invertebrates in alco-
hol from Massachusetts.

Oapt. CO. P. Stone.—Shells, fossils, fishes, &c., fromthe Gulf of
California.

Dr. George Suckley.—Jar of serpents from Hast Indies.

A. 8. Taylor.—Marine animals from Monterey, Cal.

Miss Helen Teunison.—Specimens of reptiles and fishes in alcohol,
from Mississippi.

Major G. H. Thomas, U. 8S. A.—Skins of animals and alcoholic
specimens, Fort Mason, Texas.

Lieut. W. P. Trowbridge.—Starfish and tail of ray from the sea of
Marmora.

62 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY,

Mr. Tufts —Living marine animals from Massachusetts, for the
aquarium.

Major .Twiss.—Living grizzly bear from near Fort Laramie.

Union Lead Mines, N. C.—Massive lead ore.

Unknown.—Jar of fishes from Florida.

Unknown.— Box of copper ores from the Perseverance mines, near
San Diego, Cal.

J. P. Verreaux.—Skins of Mexican birds.

Dr. Vollum, U. S. A.—Fishes and other animals, and specimens
of the ‘‘ rock oyster, ’’ from the coast of Oregon,

Lieut. G. K. Warren, U. S. A.—21 boxes collections of animals,
plants, minerals, and fossils, from the valley of the Platte, gathered
chiefly by Dr. Hayden,

James Wayne.—Mammals, and skins of fishes of Oregon.

Dr. Weinland.—Invertebrates from Hayti.

John RK. Wallis.—Collection of birds and their eggs from Nova
Scotia. :

W. S. Wool. —Alcoholic collections from New Jersey.

G. Wurdemann.—Skins and eggs of birds, and shells and speci-
mens in alcohol from Florida.

John Xantus.—Very large collections of the animals and plants
found in the vicinity of Fort Tejon, California.

REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 63

LIST OF METEOROLOGICAL STATIONS AND OBSERVERS

y FOR THE YEAR 1858.

BRITISH AMERICA.

Name of observer. Station. N. lat. |W. long | ILeight.
|
Org Ore! Feet.
Baker iO ne esas oltre Stanbridge, Canada EHast.....- 45 08 | 73 00
(CheneHe, IDs Wieeeeoosesee Hamilton, Canada West--_-.--- Busy dls || 1 7(G). tay
Delany, Edward M. J--- Colonial Building, St. John’s, AT 35 52 38 105
Welanvnit. donne ss .0— 2 Newfoundland.
Gunn, Donald---.-...-.-- Red River Settlement, Hud- | 50 06 | 97 00 853
son’s Bay Territory.
Hall, Dr. Archibald.---... Montreal, Canada Hast.---.--- Alby BU Wok BG 57
Plarth Cr hae ae ee SS Horton, Nova Scotia.......-.. 45 06 64 25 95
Hensley, Rev. J. M....-.- King’s College, Windsor, Nova | 44 59 64 07 200
Scotia.
Magnetic Observatory. -.-- Toronto, Canada West-_------- 43 39 79 21 108
Smallwood, Dr. Charles....| St. Martin, Isle Jesus, Canada | 45 32 73 36 118
East.
MAINE.
Name of observer. Station. County. N. lat. |W. long.) Height.
OM ort Feet
IDE Te NY Deane ee ea Rernyss sees = Washington ----| 45 00 67 06 100
Gardiner, R. H. -..-. AlaGancinen see" Kennebec -...-- 44 11 69 46 90
Gilman, Stephen. __.- Kast Exeter. ---- Reno bscote. sna 45 00 69 00
Grup cule GW Cornishyall lea Vork sae see 43 40 | 70 44 800
lbh, de Dseaaa ees Steuben_.------ Washington ....| 44 44 67 58 50
Wiest;, Silagese.si2.. Comnishtes- sees AC Opel ce) mete ew 43 40 70 44 784
NVA Seve rinyyaee ee Portland) 2222222 Cumberland -..-| 43 39 70 15 87
‘ ‘ Monson -------- Piscataquis ---.. 43 11 69 35 1,100
itbar, Bendy © sa Dexter .s sae Penobscot ...--- 44.55 | 69 32 700

ee ee WBiacboype Asse ieepee ie Francestown...-| Hillsborough..--| 42 59 | 71 45

Brown, Branch._--.-- Stratford -.....- Coos ne aie 44 08 | 71 34 1,000

) Colby, E. P__..-- _...| Concord....---- Merrimack . -_-. 43 12| 71 29 378
Freeman, F. N....- =-| Claremont....-- Sullivan... oe 43 29 | 72 22 535
Hanscam, R. F_----..- North Barnstead_| Belknap._--.--- 43 38 | 71 27

Odell, Fletcher.------ Shelburn ~_....- Coons) ote 44 23 |} 71 06 700

j Purmort, Nath_--.--- West Enfield__--| Grafton .----..- 43 30 | 72 00

. Sawyer, Henry E_-----| Concord_.-.....| Merrimack....-- 43 12 | 71 20 400

64

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS.

VERMONT.
Name of observer. Station, County. N. lat. |W. long.! Height.
Ch ae Cae Feet.
Blisssedus Wee se. ces West Fairlee....| Orange....-...- 43 55 | 72 15
Buckland, David...-- brand ones sae ee Rina eee 43 45 73 00
Fairbanks, Franklin_-| St. Johnsbury...| Caledonia -....- 44 25 |} 72 00 540
Marsh, Charles....... Woodstock ...-- Wandsorese22 2 43 36 72 35 740
Jackman, Prof. A--_.-.. Nonwichiseseeee Windsor ---.--- 43 42 | 72 20
Paddock, James A... | Craftsbury.....- Orleans S=se)-e-= 44 40 | 72 30} 1,100
Parker, Joseph.-..-.-- RUper Geena Bennington ---.- A Spilom | edomlel 750
Re htiyawiC here se eae Burlington .--.- Chittenden __--- 44 29} 73 11 346
MASSACHUSETTS.
Bacon, William --..--- Richmond -..--- Berkshire.-.---- 42 23 | 73 20 1S:
Bond, Profs Wa. 252 Cambridge.----- Middlesex ....-- 42 22 | 71 07 71
Davis, Rev. Emerson.-| Westfield --.--- Hampden -...-- 42 06 | 72 48
IM, IDE alsa ease. Cantonese ees INOW |e Se osec 42 12 | 71 08 90
Ballonw Johnie eee eon. Lawrence...-..- IHSE OR Sas ee oer AVP AD Ts ean slot 35
Felt, Charles W-.---- Bridgewater .---| Flymouth ----.- 42 00 | 71 00 150
7028) Cimns Joao Williamstown 00 Berkshivelss.0: 42 43 | 73 13 720
Berger, M. L._---
Macks vACeWi maain fm IDamijetsee eee IHSSOXebiae solee rs A? 35 | 71 03
Metcalf, Jno. G., M. D.| Mendon___----- Worcester ...--- 42 06 T2933
Mitchell, Hon. Wm---| Nantucket...... Nantucket..--.- 41 16 | 70 06 30
IRerking Dts Cero Newburyport .--| Essex __._...... 42 47 70 52 48
Rice, Henry..-.----- | North Attleboro’.| Bristol .-------- 41 59-| 71 22 175
Rodman, Samuel--.--- New Bedford__--] Bristol -.---_.-- 41 39 | 70 56° 90
Sargent, John S----
Blake, George E.--- Worcester ~-..-- Worcester ...--- 42 16 | 71 48 533
Prentiss, Henry C--

Snell, Prof. E. S.....- AINA, 4 oocaac Hampshire -..-- A2 22 | 72 34 267
Wihitcomb, lh) Woes. Bloridae es ayesae Berkshire--.---- 42 42 |} 73 10 2,500
RHODE ISLAND.

Caswell, Prof. A...--- Providence ...--| Providence -...- 41 49 | 71 25 120

|

CONNECTICUT.

Edwards, Rev. T., D.D.

Johnston, Prof. John..
Rankin, James.......
Scholfield, N. -----.--
Yeomans, William H--

New London..-.-
Wallingford ~---
Pomfret

Saybrook ......-
Norwich - -.---.
Columbia......-

New London...-| 41
New Haven.-..-- Al
Windham ..-...- Al
Middlesex .....- 41
Middlesex .....- 41
New London..--| 41
Tolland Sos-e2ne Al

21
26
52
33
18
32
42

72
72
72
72
72
72
72

12
50
23
39
20
03
16

90
133
596
175

10

50

~~

5m

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS.

NEW YORK.
Name of observer. Station. County. N. lat. | W.long.| Height.
Oe Oise Feet.

Alba, Dr. E. M....--- Angelica -...-.- Alleghany ..---} 42 15 | 78 01} 1,500
Arden, Thomas B.-.--- Beverly -------- Rutnamce. 22 e2 41 22) 72 12 180
Bowman, John.....-- Baldwinsville -.-| Onondaga ....-- 43 04) 76 41
Byram, Ephraim N.-.--| Sag Harbor .---- Stolk Mau eee 41 00 | 72 20 40
Chickering, J. W-_.--- Ovidius ce See Le Senecawecc Wee 42 41 76 52 800
Dayton, E. A -------- Madrid ce 22.252 St. Lawrence_.---| 44 43 | 75 33 280
Denning, Wiliam H.--}| Fishkill Landing.| Dutchess -.....- 41 341 74 18 42
Dewey, Prof. Chester, |

Ira C. Clark -.-.. Rochester ------ Monroe) eeeccene 43 08 | 77 51 516

Isaac C. Seely .---
Guest; We Hees 25 22 Ogdensburg ..--.| St. Lawrence_-..| 44 43 75 26
Holmes, E. § -...---- Walson,.J23 242 Niagaraoe meee 43 20 78 56 2590
House, J. Carroll.---- lowville .....-: Wewis, we 2 ae 43 46 | 75 38
House, John C ._-_.-- Waterford ...... Saratoga ..-..-- 42 47 73 39
Howell, R.---- yea Se NCH O Sy ees eee MMT oy ical eyes en 42 00 | 76 32
Ingalls, S. Marshall_..| Pompey - ---.-. Onondaga _-.... 42 56 | 76 05 1, 745
Ives, William -....--- Buttalos een ease rie abs aaa 42 50 | 78 56 600
Johnson, HE. W..-.--- Canton......-.- St. Lawrence....| 44 38 75 15 304
Julien, Alexis A. ....| Schenectady -...| Schenectady ----| 42 49 | 73 55 300
Landon, Anna §.....-. Hiden sosaeeeee MT Gy ere aie te sees 42 30 | 79 07 700
roe ae ue t Farmer... ---- Seneca --.-- +--+ 42 40! 7650{ 1,000?
Magee, Irving....__.- Spencertown -.--| Columbia_.----- 42 19 | 73 41 800
Malcom, Wm. 8..... =| Oswego ..-.-.2: Oswego ..--.--- 43 28 | 77 34 232
Morris, Prof.O0. W.---| New York...... New York...-.-- 40 43 | 74 05 159

: Clinton's. 2252. Oneida 2232 22-2 43 00 | 75 20 500
ee aD 1 Fordham -. ---. Westchester .-.-| 40 54} 74 03 147
Reid, Peter's. 20....2 2 Wake se 2 oes Washington ....| 43 15 | 73 33
Riker, Walter H....--| Saratoga. -....- Saratoga . ..-.-- 43 06; 74 00 960
Sheerar, H.M...-.-.. Wellsville .....- Alleghany ~ -..-| 42 07 | 78 06 1,480
Sias, Prof. Solomon...} Fort Edward....}| Washington -...| 43 13 | 93 42
Spooner, Stillman--_--- Wampsville .-..| Madison........ 43 04; 75 50 500
Ditus, Henry, Wm ..22| Bellport. 222-2. Suffolk 2225-322 40 44) 72 54
Van Kleek, Rey. R. D.| Flatbush -..-.-- Kingss eee ao ee 40 37 | 74 01 54
White, Aaron......-.- Cazenovia -....- Madison..------ 42 55 | 76 46 1, 260
Yale, Walter D......- Houseville . -...| Lewis --.. -.--- 43 40 | 75 32
Young, Jude M .....- West Day ------ Saratogalseacccsiiee sos So] eee 1, 200
Zaepffel, Joseph ....-- West Morrisania.| Westchester -...| 40 53 | 74 01 150

NEW JERSEY.
Cooke, Robert L ..... Bloomfield.....- Hssexg ces, sek se 40 49 74 11 120
Schmidt, Dr, E. R.---| Burlington ~..-.| Burlington ...-.- 40 00 | 75 12 26
Sergeant, John T__..- Sergeantsville ...| Hunterdon -.--- 40 29 | 75 03
Grae Oop ety Breohold <2 Monmouth ....- 40 15 | 74 21
Whitehead, W. A--.--- Newark 22002025 ESSEX /Sobe oo ce 40 45 | 74 10 35
PENNSYLVANIA.

Alsop, Samuel --...-. | Westchester -...| Chester .-.-.--- 39 57 | 75 34 | 550
Baird, John H....---- | Tarentum .__..- Alleghany ....-- 40 37 | 79 19 950
Barrett, James -...... Iinden!s 222 2223 Lycoming ....-- 4110 | 77 11 |

66 METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS.

PENNSYLVANIA—Continued;

Name of observer. Station. County. N. lat. | W. long.| Height.
Sin i Feet.
Brown, Samuel_-.---- Bedford ,. d2ese24 Bediord, 225288 40 01 | 78 30
Brugger, Samuel.----- lemme ays seer Centre _.....--. 40 55 | 77 53 780
Burrell) de ho Se ee Bellefonte ....-- Centre ._--....-. 40 50 77 49
Coffin, Selden J._----- aston eee eae Northampton .--| 40 43 | 75 16 320
Comly, John.<-..-.-- Byberiyies o2ce ae Philadelphia - --| 40 06 | 74 58
Darlington, Fenelon --| Pocopscn.-.---- Chester == =e ae- 39 54 15 37 218
at
eae ae a ' Chromedale....- Delaware._.-.-- 39 55 | 75 25 196
Eggert, John -.------ Berwick.) 62 aee Columbia -..... 41 05 | 76 15 588
Bide) Coe Rees Ne Shamokin --_--- Northumberland} 40 45 | 76 31 920.
Hance, Ebenezer.....- Morrisville ...-.- Bucks 2 eee 40 12 74. 53 30
Heisely, Dr. John ----| Harrisburg ----- Dauphin -...... 40 16 | 76 50
Heyser, William, jr---| Chambersburg --| Franklin _.___-- 39 58 | 77 45
Hickok, Wei OSs--s-2= Harrisburg - -.-.| Dauphin -....-. 40 16) 76 55 320
ee Y Todiany oss ve Indiana -.------ 4115 | 79 02 |, ~1,321
eelor, David_--- z

Hoffer, Mary H---..-- Mount Joy_--..- Lancaster --.-.- 40 08 | 76 70
Jacobs, Rev. M....--- Gettysburg .-..- Adams _--- ---- 39 51 | 77 15
James, Prof. Charles §.| Lewisburg - ....| Union -.-- -.__- 40 58 | 76 58
Kirkpatrick, Prof. J. A_| Philadelphia ....| Philadelphia ....| 39 57 | 75 11 60
Kohler, Edward_----- North Whitehall.| Lehigh----.-..- 40 40 | 75 26 250
Martin, William--_-- ; if ven

See ee t Pittsburg _. ._-. Alleghany ....-- 40 30] 80 00
Meybert, Dr. A. P_..-| Scranton --..... Muzerne)|==2-- 522 41 25 | 75 43 1,100
Mowry, George-_-..-- Somerset 222522. Somerset -..-.-- 40 02 | 79 02 2,180
Peale, Dr. J. Burd_. A ‘

ie t Reading...----- Ber lts Seema ae 40 19 | 75 56 263
Ralston, Rev. J. Grier_-| Norristown --..- Montgomery ..-| 40 08 | 75 19 153
Smith, Prof. Wm ....- Canonsburg .-..- Washington -...| 40 25 | 80 07 936
Stewart, Thos. H._--- Murrysville -. ..| Westmoreland --| 40 28 | 79 35 960.
Swift, Dri Pauls. . 422 West Haverford_| Delaware -.....- 40 00 75 21 400
Phickstun, T. Ho... 22 Meadville -....- Crawford -. .-.- 41 39 | 80 11 1, 088
Wilson, Prof. W. C_.--| Carlisle _-._.--- Cumberland -.--| 40 12 Or Ml 500
Wilson, W: Wille e222 Pittsburg. .....- Alleghany .----| 40 32 | 80 02 1, 026

DELAWARE.

Martin R.vACe Jo i0 ck o- Milford 25) == =- Tkcera tb haat aie a 39°55 | 75 27 25
Porter, Mrs. HE. D.-_-- Newark = Ssee2 New Castle --... 39 38 75 47 120
MARYLAND.

Baer, Miss H. M.-.--- Shellman Hills:{|"Carroll 2... cecsee39 23) 76.57, 700

Bell, Jacob iis = 2222 Leitersburg ...-- Washington -...| 39 35 | 77 30

Clark, Prof. A. W ----| Chestertown ---.| Kent --.-2.2=-- 39 14 | 76 02

Cofran- Lip Reese Se Oakland. +222) Alleghany, 2220 39 40 | 79 00

Goodman, Wm. R .---|} Annapolis .---.- Anne Arundel_.-| 38 58 | 76 29 20
Hanshew, Henry E -.-| Frederick .....- Ere penne lems eee 39 24 | 77 26

Lowndes, Benj. O ----| Bladensburg ----| Prince George --| 38 57 76 58 70
Mayer, Prof. Alfred M.| Baltimore .-...- Baltimore --.... 39 18 | 763
McWilliams, Dr. Alex- | Leonardtown . --| St. Mary’s -.-..- 38 17 | 76 43

ander.

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS.

Name of observer.

Station.

County.

Smithsonian Institu- |. Washington ~_..| Washington -_--

tion. |

VIRGINIA.

Astrop, Col. R. F...--- Crichton’s Store-| Brunswick .....-
Bee ore WIKI PS UialOees eee Patna 2222s es

ig ie Ga a | Point Pleasant .-| Mason _.......-
Couch, Samuel ...-..- Buttaloes eo aerate etm anne 22 ae els
Dickinson, George C --| Rougemont --.-- Albemarle......
Fraser, James..-..---- Mustapha _-.-.- VIGO GE 2) setae
Hallowell, Benjamin--| Alexandria --.-- Alexandria —.---
Hoff, Josiah W-_.-.--- Winch @ Eh Se ae WAKE cna see
Hotchkiss, Jed--..--- Mossy Creek...) Augusta....-..-
Johnson, Enoch D.---| Sisterville -_---- Wyler 2 =\<cisteysiahse
Kendall, James EH. ---- Kanawha C. H--| Kanawha-_......
Mackee, Rev. C. B.-.-- VANTIN = 2a miele Mattiftax. 5 sje
Marvin, John W.-.--- Winchester -. =.| Frederick .- ...-
Banton Tagine Mone Lewisburg Greenbrier

Stalnaker,J.W.,M.D. STG ‘Sa = MR ee
Purdie, John R-.-.--- Smithfield ~ ~...} Isle of Wight ..-
Reynolds, W. C.------ Kanawha Salines.| Kanawha -- ----
Ruffin, Julian C ...... IN ey See ee Prince George...
Sanders, BY. ones. Holliday’s Cove -| Hancock .......
Slaven, James......-- Meadow Dale ...| Highland..._...
Spence, Edward H.-..- Montross. . ----| Westmoreland ~~
Upshaw, George W ---| Rose Hill-._..-- Bigsexee eo) aa ae
Van Doren, Abram---.| Hartwood ------ SHEWIKOG Bee ae
Webster, Prof. N. B_.-| Portsmouth -...| Norfolk ....._.- |

Wells, J. Carson

Drysdale, Robt. ie jal
Johnson, Dr. W. M_-.

| Salem

Roanoke . ....<.

NORTH

|

Werle <3 4842
Warrenton _ ___-

CAROLINA.

A Bt ay rics aoe re
Warren

Homie) Venera \Wya (OMS Se Davidson College] Mecklenburgh ~~
McDowell, Rev. A..-.| Murfreesboro’ .--| Hertford -......
McDowell, W. W----- Asheville -..--., Buncombe...... |
Moore, Geo. ’.. M.D...) Gaston _.......| Northampton _..
Morelle, Rev. Daniel--; Goldsboro’ -___- Wiaiane Soe
Phillips, Rev. Jas., D. D| Chapel Hill_.... Orane ewes es
SOUTH CAROLINA.

Cornish, Rev. John H..| Aiken - -..- 2 _. Barnwell .......
Glennie, Rev. Alex’r..| Waccaman _._-. AU Sarat) ss aah.
Johnson, Joseph, M.D ‘

Baneor al "MLD t Charleston.....- Charleston......
Ravenel, Thomas P...-| Black Oak_____- Charleston......
Mews, CapteC.C-- 32. Columbia_.-.-.- Richland 2.22522

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

N. Jat. | W. long.| Height.
OW 7 LO) NA Feet.
38 53 | 77 01 60
36 40 | 77 46 500
38138 | 81 57

88 50 | 82 31

38 38 | 81 57

38 05 | 78 21 450
39 20 | 81 41

38 48 | 77 01 56
39 05 | 81 26

88 20 | 79 05

39 34 | 80 56 540
38 20 | 81 21 1,720
E05) On OO 180
39 15,; 78 10

38 00 | 80 00 2,000
36 50 | 76 41 100..
38 30°) 81 30

of 21 |. 7% 38

38 23 | 79 35
38 07 | 76 46 206”
3800) onan 250
38 15) |) ai3t 350
36 50 | 76 19 34
39 20 | 80 O01 1, 100
36 30 | 78 15

35 30 | 80 54 850
Bt) ox) yA Ue

35 37 | 82 29 2, 250
SORo2 | Tle

35) 20)) Tt ak

Soy O41 GO Nh

33 32) 81 34 565

‘33 40 | 79°17 20
32 46 | 80 00 30
33 00 | 80 00 50
34 00 | Sl 07 295

68 METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS.

GEORGIA.
Name of observer. Station. County. N. lat. | W. long. | Height.
Or On Feet.
Anderson, Jas., M. D.-| The Rock..-_.-- Wpson)= = 2 2e525 32 52 | 84 23 833
Arnold, Mrs. J. T_---- Zebulon . ..-..- Bile) bee cease 33 07 84 26
Doughty, Wm. H.---- Augusta .....-- Richmond -...-. 33 27 | 81 33 152
Easter, Prof. John D-_-| Athens_-------- Clarkes: eee 33 58} 83 80 850
Gibson, Rai see 2 oes Whitemarsh Is’d.| Savannah ._.... 32 04} 81 05 18
Grant, Dr. W. T....-- Thomson .. ..-- Columbia..--.--
Glover; liuS 222. 22 s2% Hillsboro’ _-.---- JESPEM che nee 33 13 | 83 45 566.
Pendleton, EK. M ,M.D.| Sparta --.-.---- Hancock Sse eee- 33 17 83 69 550
Posey, John F., M.D--| Savannah -. ---- Chatham... .-.-} 32 05} 81 07 42
FLORIDA.
Bailey, James B.---.- Gainesville _..-. Alachua...-_--_- 29 35 82 26 184.
_Baldwin, A. 8., M. D--| Jacksonville ----| Duval. ---.-.--- 30 30 2 00 13
_ Batchelder, F. L...--.. Hibernia -....-- Duval pees hs oe 30 15 81 30 16
Bean, James B..--.-- Micanopy -- ---- Alachua....-.-- 29 35 | 82 32 78
Dennis, Wm, C.---.-- Salt Ponds._.--- Key West ....-- 24 33 | 81 48
_ Hester, Lt.J.W.,U.S.N.| Pensacola .....- Escambia... -- -- 30 20 | 87 16 12
Ives, Edward R......- Alligator -. -.--- Columbia.------ 30 12 | 82 37 T4
_ Mauran, P.B., M. D..-] 8t. Augustine --.} St. John’s --..-- 29 48 | 81 35 8
Steele, Judge Aug....- Cedar Keys--.-- Weviyeeescesees 29 07 | 83 02 1
- Whitner, Benj. F_...- Belairsssesole 4% HDReto ra ant utara asian 30 24} 84 20 70

Alison, He ., M. D222|:Carlowville 2-2. Dallas - --.-.=-.- 32 10; 87 15 300
Darby, Prof. John....| Auburn ...----- Ra oe 32 37 | 85 34 821
Jennings, Dr. 8. K...-| Selma- -------- Dallas 22552 22- 32 25 | 86 51 200
Tutwiler, Henry_----- Greene Springs-.| Greene .--- ---- | 32 50 | 87 46 500
Waller, Robert B_ ---.] Greensboro’ .. --| Greene ---- ---- | 32 40{ 87 34 350
MISSISSIPPI.
Lull, James §---..--- | cotumbus Ai Lowndes ..-..-- 33 30
McCary, Robert --.--- Natchez . --+-++ Adamptsceeecee 31 34
Robinson, Rev. E. §...} Paulding --..--- VASPEL, evenness 32 20
LOUISIANA.
Kilpatrick, A. R.. M. D.| Trinity. -------- Chatahoula ..--- 31 30 | 91 46 108

Merrill, Edward, M. D.| Trinity...------ Chatahoula ...-- 31 37 | 91 47 68

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS,

69

TEXAS.
Name of observer. Station, County. N. lat. | W. long.| Height.
ieay One Fee.
Brightman, John C ...| Goliad -_.-_---- Goliad)! 2 .20aee 28 30 | 97 15 50:
Friedrich, Otto....--- New Braumfels.-| Comal ---..--.- 29 41 98 15
Gantt, Dr. Wm. H.--.-| Union Hill -.--- Washington -..--| 30 11] 96 31 540
Gibbs. eae Ne eae Etumitewilleys -SaaniWallken. o= 5 coos een eee
Palm, Swante......-.- Austin 2). eee Hirayisi ae Seen 30 15 | 97 47
Rucker) Ba Eee a= Washington ~ ---| Washington ----| 30 26 96 15
Van Nostrand, J.....- JNO TEO ee = MTAVIS\ == Sse 30 20 | 97 46 650,
Yoakum, F. L....---- MEAT ISSA jonrsrsy, (Se @herokeeya)2 2438 31 45 | 95 20
TENNESSEE.
Stewart, Prof. Wm. M-} Clarkesville. _.-- Montgomery - --| 36 28 | 87 13 481
Tuck, W.J., M.D ----| Memphis ------- Wpobelibye eee <= 35 08 | 90 00 262
|
KENTUCKY.
Beatty, OL82 see eas Danville - .....- Boyle - seeme 37 40 | 84 30 950°
Grinnell yea. se ak AN(OMIMG Satta as Telengenyav Meo Soe 37 10} 85 35 tid
Lunemann, John H_-.| Bardstown .---.-| Nelson -_-- ---- 37 52 | 85 18
Raye Tos. Gew Mi wD) eee 122 (=) pe eae Bourbons) eee 38 16 84 07 810.
Savage, Rev. Geo. S.-..| Millersburg -. --| Bourbon - -_----| 38 20 84 20 804
Williams, 8. R.._....- Louisville .....- Jefferson 5 | 38 03 85 30 452°
Young, Mrs. Lawrence.} Springdale.----- | Vetfersonve .--a5 | 88 07 | 85 34 570°
OHIO.

AN|SSIUR Sy LMM Welchfield_.---- Geaugal. Se anes 41 23 | 81 12 1, 115
JAMMED Jeera Ome RIpley merece Browil ose lene. 38 47 83 31
Anthony, Newton .-..; Mount Union -_-| Stark ...-....-- 41 20 81 O01
Atkins, Rev. LS ---.- Madison_...---- Valen 2oasciseo. 41 49 | 81 10
Bement Hees Sees cee New Lisbon. ---.- Columbiana. -..| 40 45 80 46 961
Bennett, Sarah E....- Collingwood ...-} Lucas -..----.-- 41 49 83 34
Clarke: Winnie eee os Medina 22 4osee Medina see. Al 07 81 47 1, 206
Colburn, Edward _-_.- Cleveland -_..-- Cuyahoga . ..-.-
Gilmor, Moses -.-...- Jackson ..__...- TACKSOMN eee 39 10 82 32 666
Groneweg, Lewis _---.| Dayton .-.. ..-- Montgomery - --| 39 30 84 10 720
Harper, Geo. W ....-- Cincinnati....-- Hamilton . _...- 39 06 | 84 27 150
Haywood, Prof. John_-| Westerville .___- Rrankdiva 2) ss eae 40 04 83 03
Herrick, James D.-.-.. Jefferson -......| Ashtabula.__... 42 00 81 00
Hollenbeck, B --.-.-. Perrysburg ----- Woody eyes. 22. 41 39 | 83 40
Hurtt, Francis W---.-- Cincinnati_...-- Hamilton ------ 39 06 | 84 34
Hyde, Gustavus A_.--| Cleveland _--_-- Cuyahoga.-----| 41 30] 81 40 665. -
Ingram, John, M. D.--) Savannah - -__.. Asiland)) 22... 41 12 | 82 31
Jaeger, H. Wm--_.---- Lancaster . -_..- Mansheld 92s 2\52 39 41 | 82 37 1,000
King, Mrs. Ardelia C_.} Unionville.....- Lake... -- ee 41 52 | 81 00 650
egher) |S. Wiss. Hiram) 252222 Pontaee) 252 ./- a. 41 20 | 81 15 675
Mathews, Joseph McD-| Hillsborough - ..| Highland....... 39 13 | 83 30 1,000 |
Peck, W.R., M.D ...-| Bowling Green ..| Wood......-.-- 41 27 | 83 45 700
Roe; dames Hi. 22.2 =. Portsmouth. .... Scion oo. eee 38 50 82 49 468
ROBES AN Pe oasis cen Gallipols.2 2.2% Gallianz sosecass 39 00 | 82 Ol 520

70

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS,

OHIO—Continued.

Name of observer. | Station. County. N. lat. |W. long. | Height.
Op Aeon Feet.
Sanford, Prof. S. N_.--| Granville..-..-- Licking .-----.- 40 03 | 82 34 995
Sanford, Smith.-..... Edinburg - ----- Portage =2-22522 41 20 | 81 00 520
Shaw, Joseph __-_---- Bellefontaine - --| Logan - ---.---- 40 21 | 83 40 1,031
Shields, Rev. Robert
Smith, ia © ht t Bellecentre -..-- Wogan eee ee aat 40 28 | 83 45 1,170
Treat, Samuel W __-_-- Windham -.---- Portage sfeo sae 41 10 81 05
E Medina ..-. ---- Medinayaeescke 41 07 | 81 47 1, 206
ees We Mion coke TSP Pa tert inn ea 41 27| 82041 800
Williams, Prof. M.G--) Urbana -..-. ---- Champaign .--.- 40 06 | 83 43 1,015
Walson- Prot. Ho s4|) College Halles Hamilton.....-- 389 19 | 84 26 800-
Young, Prof. Chas. A. §
Tue ioe f Hudson .-.....- Summit -....... 4115| 8124| 1,187
MICHIGAN.
Allen, James, jr- -.---} Port Huron ..... Se, (Olente 55556 42 53 | 82 24 | 606
Blaker, Dr. G. H., jr-.| Marquette . _.._| Marquette ...._- 46 32 | 87 41 630
Campbell, Wm.M.,M.D.| Battle Creek..-.| Calhoun - ._..-- 42 20 | 85 10 750
Crosby, J.iBse= 45.--5 New Buffalo ....| Berrien ~..- --.. 41 45 | 86 46 661
Currier, Alfred O ----- Grand Rapids ---| Kent ---.--.--- 43 00 | 86 00 752
Pitcher, Dr. Zena... ) | .
oe eee t Detroit...-..--- Wayne -... .-.- 42 24 | 82 58 597
NiTenen ieee eee ae Grand Rapids, <2) Kent ---- eee 43 00 | 86 00 625
Walker, Mrs. Octavia C.| Cooper -.-----.- Kalamazoo ----- 42 40 | 853
Whelpley, Miss H. I --| Monroe -... ..-- Monroe -.-- -.-- 41 56 83 22 590
INDIANA.
Barnes, Charles.__---- New Albany --.-| Floyd - --..---- 88 17 | 85 45
Chappellsmith, John_.-| New Harmony --| Posey ---------- 38 08 87 50 320
Crisp) John) f=. 3. -2 | Evansville...--- Vanderburgh --.| 38 08 | 87 29 390
Lasselle, Charles B-..-) Logansport ----- Cass) ae Jee es 40 45 | 86 13 600
Moore, Joseph ------- |) hichmond 22222" Wayne ---2 s2.- 39 47 | 84 47 800
Smith, Hamilton, jr --| Cannelton __.-__- Renny ess seen 37 58 86 40 450
Vagnier, Prof. Thos---| Notre Dame .---| St. Joseph --.--- 41 45 86 10
Woodard, Castes. 2 | Michigan City---.| La Porte ----... 41 41 | 86 53 622
ILLINOIS.
Babcock, Andrew J-.-| Aurora ---- ---. Ream eye eae oe 41 40 88 15 600
DavCOCK,. Wess ee eens VWORMLe yet <a iare sis McHenry - -..--- 42 08 | 88 35 650
Baker, Frank ~-2_ =.= - South Pass..-.-- Unione eeeee 37 28 89 14 1,050
Bowman, Dr. E. H....| Edgington ~~...) Rock Island ....; 41 25 | 90 46
Brendel, Fred’k, M..D_| Peoria .----.--- PEOTD tm iajecereseine 40 36 89 80
Cantril, Joshua E.....| Waynesville .-..| De Witt--..-_-- 40 16 | 89 O07
Caven, 6 lope es - aol SDAtANIR veces alee ANC jaw cine oan 41 52 | 88 20 636
Collier, Prof. Geo. H..| Wheaton ....-.. DuUpbage re cosmic 41 49 88 06 682,
Dudley, Timothy ----- Jacksonville ...-| Morgan .......- 39 30 90 06
Eldredge, William V--} Brighton -.-.--- Macoupin ...... 39 00 | 90 13

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS:

ILLINOIS—Continued.

Name of observer. Station. County. N. lat. | W. long.| Height.
Oa Crane Feet.
Grant, John -...-.--- Manchester . - - - - SKC en cle 39 33 | 90 34 683
Halll, Joel ee 28 - i Ss Athens....-.-.. Menard) == - = see" 39 52 | 89 56
Harris, J.0:, M. D._--| Ottawa_..-..---- ThaiSalle ss: eee 41 20 | 88 47 500
James, John, M. D..--| Upper Alton -.-.| Madison..-.-..- * 39 00 89 36
Meacham, H.G._----- Evanston.....-- Cooks ae Aree 42 00! 10 50
Mead, S. B., M.D----| Augusta_....---- Hancock As aaa 40 12 | 89 45
Mead, Thompson. --- - Batavia -..----- MBA ge a 41 52 | 88 20 636
Newcomb, John B----| Elgin .-..-.-.-.. Wiaine = 2 ie 42 00 | 88 15 660
Biblet, Ji.) Hesse — 2) Se Rekime Ao oa eee dlaize vie) Sees 40 3 89 45
Rogers, OF A-ee. 4-33 Marengo ..-...- MerHeniy = ee ase 42 14] 88 38 650
Smith, Isaac H_.....- Fremont Centre.| Lake --.--....- 42 18 | 88 06 736
Swain, John, M. D.---| West Urbana_---| Champaign ...-. 40 09 88 17 550
Titcomb, John §.----- Hillsboro’ -...-- Montgomery...-| 39 12 | 89 26
Titze, Henry A.--...- West Salem.---- Hdwards -.-...- 38 3 88 00
Tolman, James W-_---| Winnebago Depot} Winnebago -.... 42 17 89 11 800
Whitaker, Benjamin --| Warsaw ---.---. Hancock) 2222222 40 20 | 91 381
MISSOURI.
Hips lemannipGeorse- t St. Louis St. Louis 38 37 | 90 16 461
Wislizenus, A., M. D. Dr Ape capa Oe : aE ¥
IOWA.
Beall, Dexter... -<. <i Franklin -.....- Buchanan ...... 42 45
Beeman, Carlisle D..-.| Rossville --._.-- Allamakee.....- 43 10 Oy 2M 1, 400
Fory, John C.------.. Belleville eee ers Jackson ..-..--- 42 15 | 90 25
Goss, William K._...- Border Plains ---| Webster-.------ 42 3 94 05
Horr, Asa, M.D._---. Dubuque ------- Dubuque -.....- 42 30 | 90 52 1, 258
McConnell, Townsernd-| Pleasant Plain.--| Jefferson - ----.-- 41 07 91 54
McCready, Danie] ....| Fort Madison ~.-| Lee._.---.----- 40 37 | 91 28
Odell, Rev. Benj. F..--| Pleasant Spring--| Delaware --...--
Parker, Nathan aoe, erinten se ea (eh Clinton ..------ 41 48 | 90 15
avenport.....- SCObbne ss) cere
Ranviny AeiSe ee Le ae Muscatine ....-. Muscatine .....- 41 26 | 91 05 586
Reynolds, W.----.--. Iowa City......- Johnson.------- 41 39 | 91 33
Saville, Dr. J.J.------ Sioux City__.--- Woodbury..-.-- 42 31) 96 25
Shaffer, J. M., M. D_--| Fairfield..__.__- Jefferson . -....- 41 01; 91 57 940
WISCONSIN.
Bean, Professor 8. A.--| Waukesha ...... Waukesha .----- 42 50 | 88 Il 8335
Breed, J. Everett. ..-- New London-..-..| Waupacca .-..-- 44 21 | 88 45
Blanding, William M.-| Falls of St. Croix.| Polkk...-.------ 45 30 | 92 40 660
Burham, W. J------- Racine sa sy See e Racine 24% ae 42 49 | 87 40
Ellis, Edwin, M.D..--| Bay City ----..- La Pointe..-...- 46 33 | 91 00 658
Gridley, Rev. John ---| Kenosha - .-.--.. Kenosha - -....- .42 386) 87 50 6008
Horsford, William F..| Mopnt Morris -.-| Waushara ....-- 4406 | 89 14

72 METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS.

WISCONSIN—Continued.
Name of observer. Station. County. N. lat. | W. long.) Height.
| (e) I (e) ’ Fee.
Lapham, Increase A...) Milwaukie....-- Milwaukie ------ 43 03 | 87 57 593
Thups, Jacobia 2s. =. 5. Manitowoc ----- Manitowoc.-_--.- 44 07 | 87 37
Mason, Prof. R. Z.---- Appleton -...--- Outagamie....-. 4410} 88 35 800
Nourse, Harvey J-.---- Bayfield -....--- La Pointe.....--
Pickard, J. L., M. D.-.| Platteville....-. Grantee see 42 45 | 91 00
Pomeroy, F.C..------ Milwaukie...... Milwaukie -.--.- 43 04] 87 59 658
Porter, Prof. Wm....- Beloitecceseceae Rock). oavssce Se 42 30 | 89 04 750
Schne, A.) MO Ds. 2 2 22 Madison_.------ Dane eeinstesseus 43 05 89 25 892
Sterling, Prof. J. W.---| Madison.--.---- Daneysed dogs jase 43 05 | 89 25 892 -
Struthers, R. H.-...-- Dita Lee es Waupacca ....-- 44 20 89 00
Underwood, Col. D----| Menasha ------- Winnebago -_-_-- 4413 | 88 18
Winkler, C., M. D.-.-| Milwaukie-....- Milwaukie .....- 43 04 | 87 57 593
Wallard i bs= seo. ae Janesville ...... MOC Rett ae 42 42 | 89 91 768
MINNESOTA.

Clarke, Thomas -...-. Beaver Bay ...-- hake 2. 42s5 308 47 12, 91 24 675
Garrison, O. H---.---. Princeton ....-- Benton_.-.----- 45 50 | 93 45
Hilabard. "ASA as. 234 Burlimeton. - alae: seen sone. 47 OL | 92 30 645
Hillier, Spencer L.---- Wabashaw....-- Wabashaw.----- 44 30 | 92 15 850
McMullen, J. F._--- :

Gromer t Tiapham sweets Pembina 2 22.22. 46 10 | 96 00 850
Riggs, Rev. 8. R....... Hazle woods eins) |S Meee lid 45 00 95 30
Van Voorhes, A.....-- Stillwater ......- Washington ...-| 45 04 | 92 45 756
Walsh, Stephen -----_- Ibuchamamy 55 Goo see eye eee 47 33 | 92 00

NEBRASKA.
Bowen, Anna M. yal Elkhorn City__--| Douglas --...-..
Byers, William N.-.--. Omahaess ene Douglas .--.---- 41 15 96 10
Hamilton, Rev. Wm.--} Bellevue - -...-- Sanpy soa ewieass 41 08 95 50
Smith, Charles B....-- | Brownville . -.-.| Nemaha-_--.-.. 49 30 | 96 00
KANSAS.

Berthoud -.2)- 52-2 62 Leavenworth - ry Leavenworth..--| 39 19 | 94 50 800
Brown,’ G. W222 see: Lawrence_..-..- | Douglasieejfe25 38 58 95 12 800
Fish, Edmund ....... Council City _---| Shawnee ......- 38 42 95 50
Giles sVoy Witz 225 552 Mopekals2- ans | Shawnee =- 2 so 39 04 95 40
Goodnow, Isaac T..... le Matelrattarm «ger ili ECV) a ecto it 39 13 | 96 45
Himoe, S.0., M.D.-..| Mapleton....... | Bourbon. p22. 38 04 | 94 51
MeCarty,- B.D. 22... Leavenworth City; Leavenworth....| 39 20 | 94 33 1, 342

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVERS. 73

OREGON.
Be cs observer. # Station. County. | N. lat. tw. long.| Height.
Fo | 0 + | re
Snyder, James A....-- Fort Snyder ....| Thomson Pass...| 42 00 |---..... 8,010
2 : UTAH. oO Sek fo. ee
Meee eee tty, | poe ee 40 45/111 26) 4,250
MEXICO.
a) ee rene BAe ; Height.

Name of observer. | Station. | Lat. | Long.
| |
| | eccualte oad Feet.

Laszlo, Charles..-..-. Minititlan, Tehuantepec_-----.---- Hesadliey 58) Io Bee Wz 16
|
CENTRAL AMERICA.
Camedas, Antonio -...| Guatemala, Guatemala.......----- 1415 | 90 34
Dorat, Charles, M. D. -. | La Union, San Salvador._--------- 13 00 88 00
SOUTH AMERICA.
Fendler, Aug ....-- Colonia Tovar, Venezuela .-..-.-- | 10 26 67 20 6, 500
Caracas, Venezuela_...-.-.------
Hering, C. J.........| Plantation Catharina Sophia, Colo- f
_ ny of Surinam, Dutch Guiana.---) 5 48 | 56 47
BERMUDA.
Royal Gazette.......- Centre Signal Station, St. Georges i | |

Stations from whieh telegraphic reports of the weather were received at
the Smithsonian Institution by the Morse line, during the year 1858.

New York, N. Y. Grafton, Va. Charleston, 8. C.
Philadelphia, Pa. Wheeling, Va. Augusta, Ga.
Pittsburg, Pa, Parkersburg, Va. Savannah, Ga.
Baltimore, Md. Marietta, Ohio, Macon, Ga.
Frederick, Md. Chilicothe, Ohio. Columbus, Ga.

Hagerstown, Md.
Cumberland, Md,
Richmond, Va.
Petersburg, Va.
Norfolk, Va.
Lynchburg, Va.

Cincinnati, Ohio.
Bristol, Tenn
Knoxville, Tenn.
Chatanooga, Tenn.
Wilmington, N.C.
Columbia, S. C.

Montgomery, Ala.

Lower Peach Tree, Ala.

Mobile, Ala.
Gainesville, Miss.

New Orleans, La.

74 REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

The Executive Committee respectfully submit to the Board of Re-
gents the following report of the receipts and expenditures of the
Smithsonian Institution during the year 1858, with estimates for the
year 1859.

Receipts.

The whole amount of Smithson’s bequest deposited in
the treasury of the United States is $515,169, from
which an annual income, at 6 percent., isderived, of $30,910 14

Extra fund from unexpended income invested as

follows :
In $75,000 Indiana 5 per cent. bond
Wale lGlin ee eee cMAtaesuisean cee teuees sccaeas oe $3,750 00
in $53,600 Virginia 6 per cent. bouds,
Bye | UNIAN eA als gC aetse loiesituielaoinsidece ame shies 6 3,210 00
In $7,000 Tennessee 6 per cent. bonds,
GWAC LOL MTE Besaue tin sae case Moaleienie wi ciee uae Nev atic. 420 00
In $500 Georgia 6 per cent. bonds,
MAM ANNO Mile Uh maou cwa(elelseseisledeneisini «~s 30 00
In $100 Washington 6 per cent. bonds, ‘
Ava CLUS SNE ns wail ction saw plete 6 00
—_ — 7,416 00
38,326 14
Balance in hands of, treasurer Janu-
aly, ASSO Sass. at. U sadeatgeenimcieva 10,341 30
48,667 44
Expenditures.
For building, furniture, and fixtures............. $1,107 87
For items common to the different objects of
PME PTAS HUGH Tee iy es cas -isinioisie'e0 0:0: syns siniels npinessnieeiec 9,619 03
For publications, researches, and lectures....... 11,956 83
For library, museum, and gallery of art......... 9,814 29
— 32,498 02

Balance in the hands of the treasurer January 1, 1859, of
which $5,000 belongs to the extra fund...........ceceseeeee 16,169 42

ial

1
iii span

1 r ae HI | I} ih | 1) ER
WWM ILEUM ATA VAAN LH) AH
AVA LAV AAD TT NWI tI I
VW WA 111 1] | WAI

WA

M

PO AU