158 Memorial of George Drozvn Goode. 



Donations from individuals and from members of the Institution. 



The Iowa collection of mineralogical and geological specimens, made by R. D. 

 Owen, Esq., under the direction of the Treasury Department. 



The collection of mineralogical and geological specimens which had been in 

 deposit in the Bureau of the Corps of Topographical Engineers. 



The collection of portraits of distinguished Indians, and the collection of Indian 

 curiosities which had been on deposit in the War Department. 



The :ninerals, books, papers, and personal effects of the Smithsonian bequest. 



The two shipments which have been received from the Exploring Squadron, con- 

 sisting of minerals, specimens of natural history, works of art, implements of war, 

 and curiosities. 



The books, minerals, and works of art belonging to the late Columbian Institute. 



The books, papers, and proceedings of the late American Historical Society. 



Cabinets and specimens, deposited by members in trust, lor public use. 



It can not be said that these materials are now arranged. The space which has 

 been appropriated to the temporary use of the Institution — the eastern half of the 

 upper room of the Patent Office — is entirely insufficient for such a purpose, as well 

 as the means and time which have been devoted to them. But as more just concep- 

 tions in those respects, as well as the value of the collections, will be derived from 

 an exhibition in detail of the latter, it will now be laid before you. 



About 1,000 volumes of books and numbers of pamphlets. 



About 50 maps and charts. 



About 500 castings in plaster, medals, and seals. 



Ten pieces of statuary, marble, or plaster. 



One hundred and sixt3'-eight paintings. 



About 1,600 bird skins, of which rather more than 400 have been cleaned, stuffed, 

 and mounted, and deposited in cases, but which yet require ej^es and to have labels 

 properly written and affixed. They also require to be scientifically arranged, the 

 first labor being necessarily limited to the preparing of the skins and putting them 

 under the protection of cases. It may be proper to remark that to clean, stuff, and 

 put in position six bird skins a day, is the greatest result from the labors of an expert 

 and experienced taxidermist, and that so much can be done only with skins in good 

 order and of moderate-sized birds. Much less is the most that can be done with skins 

 that have been twisted and for a long time closely packed, or with skins of large 

 birds or of quadrupeds, a single skin of a large bird often requiring from one to 

 two daj's. 



About t6o skins of quadrupeds, about 50 of which have been stuffed, set up, and 

 put in cases. 



About 200 glass jars have been filled with mollusca, fishes, and reptiles, but these 

 yet require to be divided into more jars and to be arranged, classified, and named; 

 and there yet remains 2 barrels and 10 kegs of wet and soft specimens, which have 

 not been opened, except to replenish, when necessary, the preservative material. 



There are about 50,000 botanical specimens, embracing many that are extremely 

 rare and entirely new. An able botanist, Mr. Nvittall, who has had the examination 

 of this collection, pronounced it equal, if not superior, to any in the world, of the 

 kind and from the same regions. He was for a short time employed to aid in the 

 arranging of the specimens, and assigned them to orders and genera, but they yet 

 require the greater labor of specific distinctions. 



There are about 3,000 specimens of insects, the greater part of which have been 

 arranged in genera, but yet require the further and more laborious arrangement into 

 species. A large collection of insects, said to be one of the finest of Europe, has 

 lately arrived in New York, to be placed in deposit in the Institution for the benefit 

 of the public. It is from that well-known and eminent naturalist, C. F. Castleneau, 

 Esq., a member of the Institution. We have also notice of a collection of minerals 

 being on its way from the School of Mines of Paris, as a present to the Institution. 



