REPOET OF THE SECRETARY. 51 



of the work of the Institution, it is hoped, cau be greatly extended 

 during the coming year, in view of the immense number of duplicates 

 which will be found in the Land-Office collection and in the collections 

 just received from the various Government expeditions. 



A large number of specimens in mineralogy and geology were also 

 boxed up and transmitted to Professor Egieston and Professor Newberry, 

 of the School of Mines in New York, under the existing- arrangement 

 with those gentlemen to select and label a perfect single series for the 

 National Museum and to exchange the duplicate specimens in its interest. 

 Numerous returns have already been received of valuable material, 

 adding greatly to the richness of the lithological department. 



Dr. Coues, assistant surgeon in the Army, having volunteered to pre- 

 pare a monograph of the smaller rodents of North America for publi- 

 cation by the Institution, received at Baltimore the entire collection of 

 specimens, both in alcohol and in skins. Having subjected these to a 

 careful criticism, he made the duphcates into thirty sets, which will be 

 distributed in the course of the coming year to the different museums 

 in this country and Europe, in return for which we shall doubtless 

 receive some valuable additions to the cabinet. 



A few of the small number remaining on hand of sets of minerals, geo- 

 logical specimens, shells, &g., have been sent out to various addresses, 

 and as also several series of birds, &c., mammals, skeletons, eggs, &c. 

 The entire number of specimens thus sent forth will be found in an 

 accompanying table. 



The museum may now be considered as in much better condition than 

 it has ever been before. The process of renovation is progressing as 

 rapidly as possible, and will, before long, be completed. The establish- 

 ment of better store-rooms in which to keep the unmounted skins of 

 animals, and the alcoholic collections, has enabled us to work to much 

 better advantage. As fast as each department can be re-organized and 

 placed in a satisfactory condition, pains will be taken to eliminate the 

 duplicates, and distribute them as authorized. The result will be to 

 greatly reduce the bulk of crude material to be cared for by the Insti- 

 tution, and to render a great service to the cause of scientific instruc- 

 tion by disseminating authentically-labeled types of the various species. 

 Eeturns of great value may be expected also for these specimens. 



There is, however, a great deal to be done before the collections at 

 present in the National Museum may be considered as finally arranged, 

 to say nothing of those yet to be received. The greater portion of the 

 ethnological museum will need to be properly mounted on tablets, or 

 otherwise prepared for permanent exhibition, and labeled. As soon as 

 the cases in the large hall of the Institution can be completed, these 

 specimens will be placed in position. It is intended to prepare a large 

 number of effigies representing accurately the lineaments, dress, and 

 form of the tribes of Indians, and to place upon these their correspond- 



