REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 55 



bitioii to Pliiladolpbia. Opinions of experts are at present divided as to 

 wliether this is actually of meteoric origin, or a representative of almost 

 the single instance of metallic iron in considerable masses, as a native 

 metal. Whatever be the actual fact, it makes no difterence in the in- 

 terest of the specimen ; and its acquisition, even for a short time, by the 

 National Museum, is a subject of cong'ratulation. 



Scientific investigation of coUcctions. — As in j>revions years the collec- 

 tions of the jSIational Mnseum, in charge of the Smithsonian Institution, 

 have been freely open to the examination of competent investigators. 

 It is preferred, of course, that this work be prosecuted in Washington; 

 but w here it is impossible to do this there is no hesitation in sending arti- 

 cles or collections, under suitable conditions, to any part of the Avorld. 



Most of this work of investigation is done by the resident naturalists 

 connected with the Smithsonian Institution, directly or indirectly — the 

 mammals by Professor Gill and Dr. Coues ; the birds by Mr. Kobert 

 Eidgway ; the reptiles by Dr. II. C. Yarrow and Dr. Bean ; the fishes by 

 Professor Gill, Mr. Goode, and Dr. Bean ; the mollusks and marine inver- 

 tebrates by Mr. William H. Dall ; the insects by Professor Eiley ; the 

 fossils by Prof. Charles A. White; the minerals by Dr. F. M. Eudlich; the 

 plants by Dr. Geo. Vasej^ 



Outside of Washington the principal collaborators have been, for the 

 mammals, Mr. E. D. Alston, London, and Mr. J. A. Allen, of the IVIuseum 

 of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Mass.; for the birds, Mr. George N. 

 Lawrence, of New York, Dr. P. L. Sclater, of London, and Mr. Osbert Sal- 

 vin, of Cambridge, England ; for reptiles and vertebrate fossils, Prof. 

 E. D. Cope, of Philadelphia. These gentlemen have all rendered more 

 or less service in this connection by investigating the specimens, identify- 

 ing those that were previonsly known, and describing the new species. 



Distribution of collections. — The extent of the distribution of specimens 

 during 1878 will be seen by reference to the table tit the end of this re- 

 I)ort. It has been quite large, and has furnished much educational 

 and scientific material. It is expected, however, that a very much larger 

 amount will be sup})lied during the year 1879. There is a great number 

 of duplicates of minerals, rocks, fossils, &c., which cannot be reached 

 until the liberality of Congress shall appropriate the necessary means to 

 erect the new building for the National ^Museum. Such building is 

 required even for the unpacking of the si)ecimens and the separation of 

 the series to be reserved for ])ermanent dis[)lay. This will leave a large 

 quantity of surplus material, of considerable \'ariety, which will enable 

 the Institution to supply to a good degree the wants and applications 

 of many colleges, academies, and scientific societies throughout the 

 country. 



GALLERY OF ART. 



The principle of co-operation and not of competition which has for so 

 many years been the basis of action of the Smithsonian Institution, finds 



