CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE. 9 



185L Baird, Spencek F.— Coiitiiinod. 



" There are various ways in which collections may be made by the Smithsonian Institution 

 the principal of which are as follows : 



" Deposits by government, 

 " by individuals, 

 Exchange, 

 Purchase, 



Employment of collectors. 

 Donations. 

 " To the first of these, I have already briefly referred. Up to the present time nothing has 

 been received, save the series of specimens illustrating Dr. Jackson's report on the mineral 

 lands of Lake Superior. 



"In some collections, specimens deposited by individuals form a conspicuous feature. 

 These, when of considerable extent and completeness, or when illustrating some special re- 

 searches or publications, are often very imijortant, particularly as they are, in most cases, 

 ultimately presented. Single specimens, unless of much value, are not generally desirable as 

 deposits. Free choice must, of course, be left the Institution, to say what shall be received 

 and what rejected. 



"To the individual collector, exchange with other individuals or with societies forms the 

 principal mode of forming his cabinet, beyond what may be personally procurable. This of 

 course implies that the specimens be gathered in larger quantities than would be necessary 

 for a single collection. By a judicious system of exchange, based upon a large stock of dupli- 

 cates, it seems possible to procure almost any species, domestic or foreign, at little expense 

 beyond that of transportation. To this end it is desirable to secure large numbers of sach 

 objects as may be specified hereafter. 



"Purchase is an excellent method of increasing a collection in a short time. It not nnfre- 

 quently happens, however, that acquisitions thus made are of comparatively little value, as 

 is found to be the case in regard to most of the miscellaneous museums, public and private, 

 which are offered for sale. It is of course different with respect to collections made for a 

 specific purpose by practised naturalists, particularly when they contain undescribed spe- 

 cies or serve as the types of standard works. Considerable operations of this kind require 

 large sums of money, as will be seen by reference to the annual statement of expenditures 

 made by the British Government in behalf of the National Museum ;* and, with numerous 



* Expenditures by the British Government for the specimens of natural history in the British 

 Museum. 



FROM 1753 TO 1846, INCLUSIVE. 



Natm-al history in general £10,405 3 8 



Minerals and fossils 17,238 12 1 



Zoological specimens 12,751 4 11 



Botanical 1,204 11 7 



£41,599 12 3 



1847. 



Minerals and fossils 672 2 9 



Zoological specimens 1,295 17 8 



Botanical specimens 31 15 



Preparation of specimens 1,317 7 5 



3,297 2 10 



1848. 



Minerals and fossils 1,111 16 9 



Zoological specimens 1,085 5 10 



Botanical specimens 40 1 3 



Preparation of specimens 1,259 11 6 



3,496 15 4 



1849. 



Minerals and fossils 701 12 



Zoological specimens 1,080 6 1 



Botanical specimens 40 8 3 



Preparation of specimens 945 14 7 



2,768 00 11 



Total 51,161 11 2 



TOTAL EXPENDITURES OF ALL KINDS, NATURAL HISTORY, SPECIMEN'S, BOOKS, FINE ARTS, &C. 



From 1753 to 1846, inclusive £816, 063 11 00 



1847 49,854 7 10 



1848 49,845 2 11 



1849 47,791 3 4 



963, 555 5 1 



