REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 31 



covery of a natural communication between the hepatic ducts and 

 lymphatics of the liver, according to the author, is of great import- 

 ance, for it explains the phenomena of jaundice as they occur in certain 

 diseases. It also explains why the large lymphatics on the surface of 

 the liver are frequently found filled with bile after death. The appen- 

 dix to the memoir contains a description of the best method of making 

 minute injections, together with the apparatus used for the purpose. 



In addition to the foregoing, an original mathematical paper on the 

 intersection of circles and spheres, has been presented by Major Alvord, 

 of the United States Army. 



Among the memoirs in preparation is one on Arctic meteorology, 

 from the original observations made under the direction of Sir F. Leo- 

 pold McClintock, during his late voyage in search of Sir John Frank- 

 lin, and presented to this Institution by the author, for discussion and 

 publication. A full account of this paper and the preceding will be 

 given in the next annual report. 



Under the head of Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, the follow- 

 ing works have been published during the past year: 



1. Instructions in reference to collecting nests and eggs of North 

 American birds ; illustrated with wood cuts. 



2. Circular in reference to the history of North American grasshop- 

 pers ; prepared by Mr. P. R. Uhler. 



3. Circular in reference to collecting North American shells. 



4. Circular addressed to the officers of the Hudson's Bay Company, 

 relative to the registration of meteorological phenomena, and the col- 

 lection of objects of natural history. This circular is accompanied by 

 a letter from the late Sir George Simpson, governor of the Hudson's 

 Bay Company's territory, Commending the requests of the Institution 

 to the favorable consideration of all persons connected with the com- 

 pany. 



5. Check lists of the shells of North America, prepared for the 

 Institution by Isaac Lea, P. P. Carpenter, W. Stimpson, W. GL Bin- 

 ney, and T. Prime. These lists were prepared for the purpose of 

 labeling the specimens in the Smithsonian collection, but as it was 

 thought they would be of general value in the indication of species 

 inhabiting this continent and the adjacent islands, in facilitating the 

 preparation of catalogues, the labeling of collections, and conducting 

 exchanges, it has been thought proper to print them for distribution. 



6. List of duplicate shells of the Indo-Pacific Fauna, collected by 

 the United States exploring expedition under Captain Wilkes. 



