47 [ 108 ] 



Minerals and Geological specimens. —These have consisted of coals from 

 the Island of Formosa, a slab of itacolumite from Brazil, gold quartz from. 

 California, &c. The Commissioner of the General Land Office has transferred 

 to the Institution the. valuable collection of minerals and fossils made by Dr. 

 D. D. Owen in his survey of the northwest. 



Ethnology.— J. W. Foster, Esq., has given to the Institution specimens 

 of cloth found in an Indian mound ; and the Hon. J. B. Balestier various 

 articles of dress worn by native tribes in Borneo. Specimens of Indian 

 pottery have also been presented by Mr. William E. Guest. 



Present state of the collections. — During the past year the collections of 

 specimens in alcohol have all been carefully assorted, separated and labelled 

 as far as this could be done under a press of other duties. A large number 

 of kegs have been emptied of their contents, and placed in jars. Other 

 portions of the collections, the skins and skeletons of vertebrata and 

 invertebrata have been kept in order, although little can be done for their 

 arrangement and exhibition, until the completion of the museum room. At 

 present it is considered best to keep the specimens boxed up, as far as can 

 be done with safety. When the large room is finished but little time will 

 be required to arrange and expose the specimens to the best advantage. 



The following enumeration of the alcoholic preparations will convey 

 some idea of the richness of this branch of the Smithsonian collections. 



