588 ANNUAL EEPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925 



less than an arrangement vvitli learned societies tlirotigliout the world 

 to recii)rocally can y liee the publications of learned societies, or of 

 individual scientific men, intended for gratuitous distribution. 

 This system was afterwards taken up by various governments which, 

 through treaties, bound themselves to exchange their own publica- 

 tions in the same way. Since the inauguration of this service, over 

 16,000,000 pounds of books and pamphlets have been carried to every 

 part of America and to all other countries of the world. The Institu- 

 tion, existing not only for America, in which it has over 20,000 

 correspondents, but for the world, has throughout Europe, Asia, 

 Africa, and the islands of the sea, over 40,000 correspondents — more 

 outside the United States than within — justifying the words " Per 

 Orbem " as the device on the Smithsonian seal. For many years 

 carried on solely at the expense of the Smithsonian private funds, 

 a small yearly grant from the Government for the exchanges was 

 begun in 1881. Since the year 1886 the cost of the exchanges has 

 been mainly borne by congressional appropriations. 



EXPEDITIONS, EXPLORATIONS, AND EXHIBITIONS 



In all its history the Smithsonian Institution has been promi- 

 nently connected with the exploration of little-known districts of 

 the earth, and the collection of specimens and scientific data from 

 them. In many of the Government surveys the Institution has 

 cooperated. The great National Herbarium, which for a long time 

 has been housed by the Smithsonian Institution, has been enriched 

 by its expeditions. The famous Roosevelt African Expedition, 

 which brought back a rich collection of African fauna, was carried 

 out under Smithsonian auspices. Extensive collections representing 

 the East and West Indies, Australia, and Southeast Asia have been 

 made for the Smithsonian Institution for many years by the gen- 

 erosity of Dr. William L. Abbott. Archeology, astronomy, botany, 

 ethnology, geology, paleontology, zoology, and other sciences have 

 all benefited by the journeys of members of the Institution's staff 

 to distant lands. Notable among such expeditions are the solar eclipse 

 expeditions, the solar radiation expeditions. Doctor Fewkes's explora- 

 tions of prehistoric American ruins in the southwest, and Doctor 

 Walcott's studies of Cambrian fossils in the Canadian northwest. 



The Smithsonian Institution has participated prominently in 

 almost all of the large expositions held in the last 50 years in 

 America and Europe. Yery numerous diplomas and medals attest 

 the appreciation which its exhibits evoked. 



For the promotion of education large numbers of specimens have 

 been distributed to schools and colleges throughout our country. 

 These specimens are fully labeled and described in a way to assist 

 in the instruction of pupils. 



