REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 



73 



has progressed to such an extent that all the duplicate specimens of 

 each kind belonging to the general Inclo-Pacific fauna are now in sepa- 

 rate boxes, which are arranged systematically and numbered, to cor- 

 respond with the numbers of a printed list, so that sets can be picked 

 out and distributed with but little trouble. In the labor of assorting 

 and naming the collection, he has had the cooperation of Mr. Isaac 

 Lea and Dr. E. Foreman, with the Unionidae; of Mr. Lea, with the 

 water breathing univalves ; of Mr. Binney, with the air breathing 

 univalves; of Mr. Stimpson, with the east coast species; of Mr. Temple 

 Prime, with the Cycladidae; and of Dr. A. A. Gould, with the species 

 generally. All the type shells of the exploring expedition, and many 

 of those of the North Pacific expedition, with large numbers of other 

 shells, have been mounted by Mr. Carpenter, or under his direction, 

 upon many thousand glass tablets, as referred to in the last report, 

 page 70. 



The systematic arrangement and determination of the other branches 

 of natural history, their careful catalogue and operations necessary to 

 the separation of duplicates and their distribution so as to be of most 

 use, in nearly all the different departments of natural history has been 

 carried forward very laboriously. In this, I have been much aided 

 by the voluntary services of several gentlemen, especially by Mr. 

 Elliot Coues and Mr. W. Prentice. The following table will show the 

 amount of work of the kind done : 



Table exhibiting the entries in the record books of the Smithsonian collec- 

 tion in 1860, in continuation of previous years. 



The actual number of entries during the year amounts to 18,192, or 

 not far from twice as many as in 1859. The aggregate of 55,389 is, 

 however, far from representing the entire number of specimens already 

 recorded, some numbers covering tens and often hundreds each. 

 Thus, of fishes there are at least 15,000 specimens recorded, and nearly 

 as many of reptiles. Under the 4,425 entries of eggs, there are in- 

 cluded 17,182 eggs and 1,294 nests, and other classes are in proportion. 



With but trivial exceptions, the osteological specimens — the eggs 

 and the mammals, birds and reptiles — are catalogued, though not all 

 determined. The greater portion of the fishes, and of most of the 

 other classes, excepting perhaps the shells, still remain to be done. 



