REPORT OF PROFESSOR BAIRD, 



SECRETAKY OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 

 FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1887. 



To tJie Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution : 



Gentlemen : I have the honor to present herewith the report of the 

 operations and condition of the Smithsonian Institution for the year 

 1886-'87. 



There is also given, in accordance with established usage, a summary 

 of the work performed by the branches of the iniblic service placed by 

 Congress under its charge, namely, the National Museum and the Bu- 

 reau of Ethnology. 



THE BOARD OF REaENTS. 



By the organic law of August 10, 1846, the Vice-President of the 

 United States is made a member of the Board of Regents ; and in the 

 absence of a Vice-President, it has been held that the President of the 

 United States Senate occupies the same position. At the date of the 

 last annual report, Hon. John Sherman, by virtue of his office as the 

 acting Vice-President pro tempore, was a Regent of the Institution. In 

 consequence of his resignation of that office, the Hon. John James In- 

 galls was elected by the United States Senate its President, February 

 26, 1887 ; and is accordingly a Regent. 



The only other change in the Board since the last annual report is the 

 vacancy occasioned by the death of the Rev. Dr. John Maclean (for- 

 merly president of Princeton College), who was so long identified with 

 the history of the Institution and so closelj^ associated with its late Sec- 

 retary, Professor Henry. Dr. Maclean died August 10, 1886, and as a 

 just mark of respect to his memory the building was closed on the day 

 of his funeral, August 13, 1<S86. 



The action of the Board in regard to Dr. Maclean was the adoption of 

 the following resolutions after an eloquent and feeling tribute had been 

 paid to his memory by Dr. James C. Welling, chairman of the Execu- 

 tive Committee, whose remarks in full will be found in the journal of 

 proceedings of the Board of Regents : 



" Whereas since the date of the last annual meeting of the Board of 

 Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, its members have been called 

 H. Mis. 600 1 1 



