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and others. In this I am also borne out by my own experience. For se- 

 veral years past, I have been in the habit of visiting different portions of 

 tlie United States, mainly in search of vertebrate animals. Accompanied on 

 such occasions by zealous volunteers, I have succeeded in accumulating very 

 extensive collections, including very many rare, and even undescribed spe- 

 cies, besides obtaining much valuable information in regard to the general 

 history of animals and plants. 



It is mainly to the employment of collectors, that the great European 

 museums owe their richness. In most of these a regular corps is employed 

 continually, in travelling through various portions of the world and gath- 

 ering large numbers of duplicates which are ultimately distributed, in ex- 

 change to other institutions. 



In cases where memoirs, containing descriptions of animals or plants are 

 presented to the Institution for publication, it should, as far as possible, be 

 made a condition of their acceptance, that a series of the objects described 

 be deposited for the purpose of being placed on record, and as authenticating 

 the species. These should be labelled by the author, and the names thus 

 attached, be ever afterward retained, even though they may have been in- 

 correct, or may have been modified by subsequent discoveries. Individuals 

 too, should be requested to present shnilar specimens to be kept in the 

 same manner, illustrating descriptions published elsewhere than by the 

 Smithsonian Institution. 



At some future period, when the number of duplicates is sufficiently large, 

 it may be possible to furnish lyceums, schools, colleges and other institutions 

 with series of specimens properly labelled and arranged, of various branches 

 of Natural History. Individuals too, engaged in special investigations, 

 may hereafter find it practicable to procure objects in such quantities or of 

 such character, as to render material, if not indispensable aid. This feature 

 will, however, require the cordial co-operation of naturalists and collectors, 

 to render it practicable. 



I may remark that for the assistance of those who may be unskilled In 

 the collecting, preservation and packing of specimens, a pamphlet containing 

 the directions is now in preparation, and w^ill shortly be Issued by the Insti- 

 tution. This wall be of considerable size, and in addition to the merely 

 taxidermical portions, will contain notices of special desiderata, in particular 

 portions of the world ; a brief indication of the principal divisions of Natu- 

 ral History ; and notices of the most accessible sources to which the be- 

 ginner must apply for information respecting the different branches of the 

 subject ; the whole illustrated by figures. 



Respectfully submitted, 



SPENCER F. BxiIRD 



December 31, 1850. 



