REPORT OP ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 67 



genus, and plates of DinicMhys pustulosus were lent to Dr. C. R. East- 

 man of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cam bridj>e, Massachusetts. 

 English Carboniferous i>elecypods were sent to Dr. G. H. Girty of the 

 U. S. Geological Survey. A collection of thin sections of slates was 

 lent to Prof. T. Nelson Dale, Williamstown, Mass. 



In the foregoing paragraphs allusion is made only to specimens sent 

 in response to special applications. In addition, a large number of sets 

 of marine invertebrates, minerals, rocks and ores, etc., have been dis- 

 tributed among educational establishments desiring such material both 

 for study and exhibition. In this connection it may be stated that very 

 few of these collections are left, and unless special provision be soon 

 made by Congress which will enable the Museum to engage the services 

 of competent assistants to select the duplicate specimens from the 

 various collections and make them up into sets, that branch of Museum 

 work will have to be practically suspended. It is quite impossible for 

 the present force of assistants in the scientific divisions to leave their 

 regular duties for special work of this character, which, while very 

 desirable and intended to be helpful to other museums, colleges, etc., 

 has in it no element of gain whatever to the National Museum. 



COOPERATION OF THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS OF THE 



GrOVERNMENT. 



The cooperation of the various Executive Departments and Bureaus 

 of the Government has continued during the year, and has resulted, 

 as usual, in the addition to the collections of valuable and interesting 

 material. This is especially so in the case of the U. S. Geological Sur- 

 vey, the U. S. Fish Commission, and the Department of Agriculture. 

 The Museum not only benefits largely by the law providing that all 

 Government collections shall be turned over to it after they ha^'e served 

 the purpose for which they were obtained, but it also profits materially 

 by the hearty cooperation and courtesy so frequently manifested by 

 Government ofiicials. A statement of the material transmitted by the 

 various Departments will be found in the Accession List (Appendix ii). 

 The collections of particular interest are also referred to by the head 

 curators in their annual reports. 



Especial mention should be made of the valuable services rendered 

 without remuneration by many of the members of the scientific staff 

 of the Museum. There are now thirteen curators, one assistant cura- 

 tor, and fifteen custodians who serve the Museum without pay. The 

 majority of these are in the employ of other Departments or Bureaus 

 of the Government, but have willingly given to the Museum such time 

 and attention as could be spared from their regular official duties. 

 There are also two collaborators, three associates in zoology, and one 

 in paleontology who are attached to the staff in an honorary capacity. 



