43 [ 1 ] 



BIRDS. 



A collection of about five hiindretl species of North American Birds, in skini', consisting of 

 about twenty-live hundred specimens in the varioii? stages of age, sex, and season. 



Aliout two iiundred and fifty species of European Birds, in one tiiousand specimens. 



Lggs of about one hundred and fifty species of North American Birds. Duplicates of many of 

 them, in some ca-ics amoiiii ing to over a hundred of a single species. The nests accom- 

 pany the eggs of many of these species. 



Nests and Eggs of about seventy-five species of European Birds, likewise in duplicate. 



REPTILES AND FISHES. 



A collection of the Reptiles and Fishes of the United States, at present contained in more than 

 five Iiundred glass jars, and in numerous barrels, kegs and tin vessels. Most of the 

 .species are represented i)y numerous s[)eciinens, amouniiug in certain cases to hundreds 

 and even thousands of a single species. No a[)proxi(niition can, at present, be formed as 

 to the number, cither of the specimens or of the species. Very many, especially of ihe 

 Fishes, are still nndescribed. Most of them have been personally collected in special expe- 

 ditions to various parts of the country, such as Eastern and Western Pennsylvania, the 

 (ireat Lakes, Northern and Eastern (Jhio, Southern and Western Virginia, &c. Others 

 have been lurnished by contributors in Georgia, Florida, Mississip[)i, Aikansas aiid other 

 states. This collection is es[)ecially rich in l)alracliiaii reptiles, which are [ue-erved in 

 large nniiibers in all their peculiar conditions of translbrmalidii. 'J'liere is, in addition to 

 these, a good collection of the fresh water Fishes and Ke[)tiles of Central and Eastern 

 Euro[)e. 



EMBRYOLOGY. 



Embryos of many Birds, Mammals, and Batrachian Reptiles. 



OSTEOLOGY. 



Skulls and Skeletons of many North A.meric.an vertebrata, amounting to some six Iir.ndred 

 specimens. A considerable tiumber, also, belonging to European species. 



Also, Microscopical sections of Teeth and Bone of various species of North America ver 

 tebrata. 



FOSSIL REMAINS. 



A large collection of fossil bones from various eaves in Pennsylvania and V''ireinia. This in- 

 cludes nearly all tlie species of Mammalia now living in the United .Slates, with quite a 

 number of those which are now eiuirely extinct. Uheloniaii remains likewise in large 

 number. 



HavinsT thus presented the general statistics of the Museum up to 

 the present time, I next proceed to a statement of the more active 

 operations of the Natural History department of the Institution. For an 

 account of wliat had been done up to 1850, hy Messrs Lindheimer, Fend- 

 ler jfnil Wright, I would refer to the Appendix to yotir last re{)ort (for 

 ]S4n. The expeditions undertaken since that time, have heen those of jNIr. 

 Culhertson and myself. 



The expe lltion of Mr. Thaddeus Culhertson took place daring the past 

 summer. For several years I have been receiving valua!)le specimens 

 iVom different friends, in the Upper Missouri, whose other (hities, however, 

 })revented them from collecting as much as could h;\\v heen wished. 

 Mr. Culhertson being about to visit this region for the l)enellt of his health, 

 olfered to make for the Smithsonian Instittition such collections in Natural 

 History, as might be indicated to him as desirable; I accordingly prejiared 

 a list of desiderata, and among others, directed his attention to the eocene 

 deposits of White River, known as the Mauvaises Terres or l)ad lands. Tie 

 accordingly set out from St. Louis, in April, in company with his brother 

 A, Culhertson, Esq., for many years connected with the American Fur 

 company, and then on liis way to look after its affairs in the remote regions 



