51 [ 108 ] 



of the first seren volumes already published were destroyed in the same fire 

 which consumed the library of Congress in December, ISol. This is the 

 more melancholy, since but seventy copies were distributed. The issue ot 

 a second and enlarged edition is still more imperatively called for than 

 before. This might be published at a moderate cost, by using less expen- 

 sive paper and doing without t-olored plates. It is believed that one thon- 

 sand copies each of the entire series of volumes of text already i.^sued could 

 be republished for less tluin fifteen thousand dollars. 



The first volume of the History of the Indian Tribes oi the United States, 

 by Henry K. Schoolcrnft, with illustrations by Captain S. Eastman, was 

 published last winter. It contains a vast body of information useful to the 

 historian, the ethnologist and the philologist, and is j^rofusely illustrated 

 with plates, forming the most luagnificent work, with the exception of the 

 reports (^f the Exploiing Expedition, ever issued by our goverrnnent. 

 Several additional volumes, it is understood, will be published at short 

 intervals. 



The report of Lieutenant Simpson's expedition into the Navajo country, 

 in New Mexico, published last summer, contains much matter of great 

 interest to the ethnologist. Some interesting observations were also made 

 on the natural history of the country, and specimens of a new species of 

 axolotl procun d, shortly to be described by myself, under the name of 

 Siredon lichevigerv>^. This has erroneously been considered as a fish with 

 legs. The report is accompanied by seventy-two plates. So great was 

 the interest excited by (his work, that it has been reprinted as a booksel- 

 ler's speculation. 



The vahuil)le report of Messrs. Foster and Whitney, on the copper lands 

 of Lake Superior, was also published last summer. The portion in relation 

 to the iion laiuis and the couPitry geneially is now in i)iess, and will shortly 

 appear as a congressional document. It will l)c accompanied by numerous 

 plates, and Vt^ill contain pakeontological matter of the highest interest. 



4. REGISTRY OF PERIODICAL PHENOMENA. 



In the spring of 18ol, with the assistance of Dr. Torrey and Di-. Fore- 

 man, a list of plants to be observed for the period of flowering and fruit- 

 ing was prepared. This was not issued until a comparatively late period 

 of the season, when too late to be of much use to more southern observers. 

 Copies were sent to all the meteorological observers reporting to the Insti- 

 tution, and to such other individuals as were supposed to be interested in 

 the matter. From many of these returns have been received which have 

 been embodied in your report ; and it is hoped that by renewing the circu- 

 lar earlier in the season, a much fuller series of observations will be obtained 

 in regard to the periodical phenomena of animals and plants, which will 

 permit of many interesting generalizations in a natural history, as well as 

 meteorological point of view. It is proposed to modify the first list by the 

 omission of some species not of general distribution, and the addition of 

 others, as well as by calling attention more particularly than before to the 

 phenomena of animal life. 



