56 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



tific career to it. In the collection received from Mr. William G. Binney 

 are to be found the ty[)es of both these series of researclies, furnishing 

 a collection scarcely equalled, certainly not surpassed, by that of any 

 other museum in the country. 



The possession by a public museum of such a type collection as 

 Mr. Binney's is always considered' a matter of very great importance, 

 especially as the objects are thereby more assured of continued preser- 

 vation and ready accessibility to students. It is to be hoped that ad- 

 ditional donations of the same character may be made from time to 

 time, as no better de^DOsitory can be found in any other establishment. 



Flants. — As the Department of Agriculture has the special charge of 

 the investigations relating to the vegetable kingdom, and is supposed to 

 take the necessary steps towards securing representations in its her- 

 barium, no special effort is made by the Smithsonian Institution to invite 

 or secure contributions, although whatever is received is immediately 

 transferred to that establishment. The only accession of importance 

 during the year is that of a series of plants of Japan, contributed by the 

 Mombusho or educational department of Tokio. 



Fo.ssils. — Of fossil remains large collections of invertebrates have been 

 deposited by Capt. Geo. M. Wheeler, and others have been presented 

 by Mr. B. H. Lyon and other paleontologists. 



Minerals. — Many valuable mineral collections have been received from 

 various sources, for the most part illustrating economical geology rather 

 than geology proper. The largest collection has been that of eight boxes 

 collected by Mr. Thomas Donaldson. Mr. Anthony Pirz has furnished 

 two magnificent stalactites from the Adelsberg cave in Carniola. 



Paintings. — Among the collections which will form part of the objects 

 in the National Museum, a very interesting and instructive exhibit will 

 consist of the Indian portraits and scenes painted by the late George 

 Catlin. These pictures, all from living subjects and of great merit as 

 faithful portraitures of aboriginal life and manners, were presented 

 to the Institution in 1879, by Mrs. Harrison, of Philadelphia, but 

 the i)aintings have necessarily been stored since their receipt, await- 

 ing the completion of the new Museum. They had also been stored in 

 ware-rooms in Philadelphia for many years, so that to preserve and 

 present them in a suitable manner with frames, &c., will require con- 

 siderable expenditure. 



Miscellanea. — The institution is under many obligations to General 

 Meigs for the presentation of medallion likenesses in plaster, of the size 

 of life, of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, W. F. Seward, and Sal- 

 mon P. Chase, which were prepared for use in the extension of the 

 U. S. Capitol building. As works of art, as well as likenesses of 

 eminent citizens, they are regarded as of much value and will be care- 

 fully preserved in the historical and art department of the National 

 Museum. 



