24 REPOET OF THE SECRETARY. 



lating* to the exchange system shall be passed through the mails under 

 frank of the Smithsonian Institution, the chief clerk of which certifies 

 to the contents of each jDackage. 



Zoological Specimens for the Museum, contributed by Menageries. — For a 

 number of years the Institution has been indebted to the proprietors of 

 the menageries of the country for the contribution of animals dying 

 from disease or otherwise while in their charge, the principal establish- 

 ments in this connection being those of Messrs. Barnum, Bailey, and 

 Hutchinson; Mr. Adam Forepaugh; the Central Park Menagerie, in 

 charge of Mr. W. A. Conklin ; and the Zoological Gardens at Philadel- 

 phia, under the direction of Mr. A. E. Brown. 



From time to time specimens have been received in this way, and thus 

 a large number of highly-prized additions have been made. The addi- 

 tional advantage of having them in the flesh in more or less perfect con- 

 dition, enables them to be mounted under the best possible auspices. 



In order to make some return to the contributors, the Institution 

 offered to have post-mortem examinations instituted of specimens re- 

 ceived, and the cause of death or disease reported to the senders. For 

 this purpose the co-operation of the Army Medical Museum was in- 

 voked and was cheerfully rendered, and an examination of each subject 

 received is usually made under the direction of Dr. John S. Billings. 



The National Museum reserves the skins and skeletons, while the 

 Army Medical Museum makes any preparations of the viscera, &c., 

 that may be desired by it. 



NECROLOGY. 



From among those connected with the Institution, I have but one 

 death to record. 



Edward Foreman, M. D., was born in Baltimore, October 29, 1808. 

 After reaching manhood, he was for 12 years an assistant professor in 

 the University of Pennsylvania. In 1848, he was appointed an assist- 

 ant in the Smithsonian Institution by Professor Henry. He was en- 

 gaged in organizing the meteorological system established by the In- 

 stitution, and rendered efficient service in this department ; and also 

 in conducting the correspondence and arranging the details of the 

 scientific lectures. In 1852 he accepted the position of chief examiner 

 in the Patent Office, which he retained for eight years. In 1874 he re- 

 turned to the Smithsonian Institution as an assistant in the ethnologi- 

 cal division of the National Museum. His death occurred April 14, 

 1885, at his residence in this city. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



The Tyndall Trust Fund. — It wiU be remembered that when Prof. 

 John Tyndall of the Eoyal Institution of Great Britain, at the solicita- 

 tion of scientific friends in this country, made a visit to it in the latter 



