6 PUBLICATIONS OF SPENCER F. BAIRD. 



1851. Baird, Spencer F.— Continued. 



THE FOLLOWING SPECIMENS HAVE BEEN DEPOSITED IN CONFORMITY TVITH 

 THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT ESTABLISHING THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITU 

 TION: 



General Land Office. Minerals illustrating the geological survey of the mineral region of 

 Lake Superior, by Dr. Charles T. Jackson, contained in nineteen boxes. 



Possessing myself large collections in different branches of zoology, I have deposited them 

 with the Institution. The following list contains a brief enumeration of the most important 

 of these. It will thus be evident to the natiiralist that the objects already secured by the 

 Smithsonian Institution, if not as numerous as in other collections, are yet valuable as being 

 more than usually complete in certain neglected branches of natural history. 



SUMMARY OF SPECIMENS BELONGING TO S. F. BAIRD, AND DEPOSITED BY 

 HIM IN THE CABINET OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 



MAMMALIA. 



Skins of the principal mammalia of the Northern and Middle States and of Eastern Europe, 

 with numerous specimens of the smallei' species preserved in alcohol. 



A collection of about five hundred species of North American birds in skins, consisting of 

 about twenty-five hundred specimens in the various stages of age, sex, and season. 



About two hundred and fifty species of European birds in one thousand specimens. 



Eggs of about one hundred and fifty species of North American birds. Duplicates of many 

 of them, in some cases amounting to over a himdred of a single species. The nests accom- 

 pany the eggs of many of these species. 



Nests and eggs of about seventy-five species of European birds, likewise in duplicate. 



KEPTILES AND FISHES. 



A collection of the reptiles and fishes of the United States, at present contained in more 

 than five hundred glass jars, and in numerous barrels, kegs, and tin vessels. Most of these 

 species are represented by numerous specimens, amounting in certain cases to hundreds and 

 even thousands of a single species. No approximation can, at present, be formed as to the 

 number, either of the specimens or of the species. "Very many, especially of the fishes, are 

 still undescribed. Most of them have been personally collected in special expeditions to 

 various parts of the country, such as Eastern and Western Pennsylvania, the great lakes, 

 Northern and Eastern Ohio, Southern and Western Virginia, &c. ; others have been furnished 

 by contributors in Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Arkansas, and other States. This collection 

 is especially rich in batrachian reptiles, which are preserved in large numbers in all their 

 peculiar conditions of transformation. There is, in addition to these, a good collection of the 

 fresh-water fishes and reptiles of Central and Eastern Europe. 



EMBRYOLOar. 



Embryos of many birds, mammals, and batrachian reptiles. 



OSTEOLOGY. 



Skulls and skeletons of many North American vertebrata, amounting to some six hundred 

 specimens. A considerable number also belonging to European species. 



Also, microscopical sections of teetli and bone of various species of North American verte- 

 brata. 



FOSSIL REMAINS. 



A large collection of fossil bones from various caves in Pennsylvania and Virginia. This 

 includes nearly all the species of mammalia nowliving in the United States, with quite a num- 

 ber of those which are now entirely extinct. Chelonian remains likewise in large number. 



Some general suggestions in regard to future operations of the Smithsonian 

 Institution in the Department of Natural History, as follows : 



" I beg leave, in conclusion, to present some general suggestions in regard to future opera- 

 tions of the Smithsonian Institution, in the Department of Natnral History. It is afnndamental 

 principle in its organization, as presented in the programme and your annual reports, not to 



