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tions publicly and officially made ; but tbere are many valuable specimens 

 procured in a private way whose acquisition must depend on the co-opera- 

 tion and assistance of officers of the various expeditions, and of heads of de- 

 partments. Officers stationed at the various military posts, have it in their 

 powder to do much, by procuring the objects of Natural History in their 

 vicinity, and forwarding them to Washington. It is earnestly hoped 

 that this co-operation may be obtained generally. 



Next in importance to North American objects of nature, are those of 

 Europe. The ties uniting the two continents are not merely those of moral, 

 civil and political relationship, for the connection existing between the 

 Natural History of the two is almost as intimate. A large proportion of 

 the genera found in the one, occur in the other, often the same species, or 

 those that are very closely allied. This is true of all orders of animals and 

 of most families of plants. 



Next to Europe comes Japan, a region which, in some respects, is more 

 closely allied to our country, than even Europe. This is especilly the 

 cas3 wath respect to the reptiles, some of which, as species of Plestiodon, 

 and others have been considered by eminent herpetologists absolutely 

 identical with North American. Unfortunately there are at the present 

 time almost insuperable difficulties in the way of procuring Japanese 

 specimens; the Dutch Naturalists being the only ones who have succeeded 

 in exploring even the shores of this country. Little can be done, there- 

 fore, except by exchange with the museums of Holland. 



With ren^ard to collections from other countries than those specified, 

 the best rule will be to seek for those series which the other museums of 

 the country do not possess. What these are, I do not, at present, feel 

 prepared to state; but hope to have it in my powder in a future re- 

 port, to illustrate more fully this subject, in a general account of the dif- 

 ferent collections in North America. 



It may, perhaps, be well to indicate briefly the branches of North 

 American Natural History which have recieved most attention. Mam- 

 malia have been ably investigated by Godman, Harlan, Audubon, Bach- 

 man and others ; the present state of our knowledge of the subject being 

 exhibited in the works of the two last named gentlemen. There is, 

 however, no good collection of these animals; that of the Academy of 

 Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, being much the best in the countay. The 

 private collection of Mr. Audubon is more complete than any other. It is 

 a mortifying fact that this gentleman was obliged to have recourse to 

 foreign museums for the purpose of figuring and describing certain North 

 American species, which should have been accessible in one collection, at 

 least, in this country. 



The ornithological collections of the country, both public and private are 

 very numerous. Among the former, that of the Academy of Natural 

 Sciences, is by far the best. The New York Lyceum, and the Boston 

 Natural History Society have pretty good collections. Of private collec- 

 tions, among the best are those of Messrs. Bell, Giraud and Lawrence, of 

 New York. The ornithology of North America, east of the Mississippi, 

 has been pretty well worked up, but much remains to be done west of 

 this boundary. 



General collections of North American reptiles are very rare in this 

 country, that of the Philadelphia academy as usual, being the best among 

 public museums. , 



