REPORT OF PROFESSOR BAIRD, 



SECRETAKY OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, FOK 1885. 



To the Board of Regents : 



Gentlemen : In accordance with the resolution of the Board at the 

 last meeting directing that the fiscal year, instead of extending from 

 January to December, shall correspond with the Government fiscal year, 

 and extend from July to the following June, inclusive, the present re- 

 port will include the history of the operations of the Institution for the 

 first half of 1885 only. The same restrictions in regard to time will 

 apply to the reports of the National Museum, the Bureau of Ethnology, 

 and the system of International Exchanges which have been placed by 

 Congress under the direction of the Institution. As heretofore, there 

 will also be some account of the operations of the United States Fish 

 Commission, and those of the Geological Survey, which, although not 

 controlled in any way by the Institution, are so closely affiliated with it 

 as to render proper some notice of them. 



SMITHSOlJflAN INSTITUTION. 



mTKODUCTORY. 



The general routine work of the Institution continues to be much the 

 same as in previous years, and while no specially new features have 

 been introduced, considerable extension has been made in some dejjart- 

 ments, and increased precision and efficiency in all. In the way of 

 extra duty the principal occasion has been the International Exposition 

 at New Orleans, where the Institution (by requirement of law) made a 

 very extensive display. 



The new work on the eastern portion of the Smithsonian building has 

 been entirely finished, and much progress made in renovating the cen- 

 tral portion. 



A considerable number of valuable publications have appeared, and 

 others are in press. 



The work of the Museum continues to increase in magnitude, much 

 material having been received from the New Orleans Exposition. 



THE BOARD OP RBGrENTS. 



It is with great regret that 1 announce the termination of service on 

 the Board, of General WiUiam T. Sherman, his term having expired and 

 H. Mis. 15 1 



