REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 45 



Dr. Rail has prepared a work on the American stone age, to serve as 

 a guide to the arcliteological exhibit of the United States, and which 

 has been published by the Institution. 



Dr. James Lewis has completed, during the year, his investigation of 

 the fresh-water and land shells of the United States belonging to the 

 Museum, and has carefully identified and labeled the species. A series 

 was reserved by him for the Museum and the duplicates made up into 

 sets for distribution. 



Dr. Edward Foreman has also thoroughly identified the vegetable 

 substances used by the American Indians as food, medicine, narcotics, 

 paints, &c., and has made up numerous sets for distribution to ethno- 

 logical establishments. 



Distribution of duplicate specimens. — The same reasons which pre- 

 vented the usual effort in regard to researches among the collections 

 has more or less interfered with the distribution of duplicates during 

 the year; but as the amount of material available for the purpose has 

 been greatly increased as a result of the Centennial collections, it is 

 hoped that the coming year will i^ermit an unusual amount of effort in 

 this direction. 



A considerable number, however, of zoological, mineralogical and 

 ethnological specimens, either singly or in sets, have been sent oft" as 

 direct donations or exchanges. Their aggregate, including that for 

 1875, will be found in the usual table of the appendix. 



Present condition of the Museum. — The great enlargement of the 

 Museum has commensurately expanded its means for scientific and prac- 

 tical instruction. In many departments it may claim very great emi- 

 nence, entitling it, on the whole, to rank with the largest European 

 collections, while in some respects, especially as regards the ethnology, 

 mineralogy, and zoology of North America, it may fairly be said to 

 occupy the very first place among museums of the world. The immense 

 mass of duplicates now in its charge also constitutes so much material 

 for increasing the present number of species, and when proper facilities 

 are afforded for unpacking and arranging its reserve series, great addi- 

 tions can be made by a suitable system of exchanges. At present, how- 

 ever, everything looking toward such final arrangements is contingent 

 upon provision by Congress in the way of increased accommodations, 

 since the present available space is entirely inadequate to the purpose. 



The Museum portion of the Smithsonian edifice consists of two rooms 

 of about 10,000 feet area each, with a connecting range and gallery of 

 about 5,000 feet. The specimens in cases are at present very much 

 crowded, while very many others are in boxes, occui)ying the passages 

 and intermediate spaces. The basement of the Institution, nearly 400 

 feet long, is a series of store-rooms, for the reception of portions of the 

 collection not yet exhibited in the upper halls, and thus without benefit 



