EEPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 37 



tributed throiigh the State Department to the consular and diplomatic 

 agents of the United States in Central and South America, asking aid 

 in completing the collection of birds, and we doubt not that much 

 new and valuable material will thus be obtained. 



The following are the rules which have been adopted in regard to 

 the disposition and use of the collections: 



First. To advance original science, the duplicate type specimens 

 are distributed as widely as possible to scientific institutions in this 

 and other countries, to be used in identifying the species and genera 

 which have- been described. 



Second. For the purposes of education, duplicate sets of specimens, 

 properly labelled, are presented to colleges and other institutions of 

 learning in this country. 



Third. These donations are made on condition that due credit is to 

 be given the Institution in the labelling of the specimens, and in all 

 accounts which may be published of them. 



Fourth. Specimens are presented to foreign institutions, on condi- 

 tion that if type specimens are wanted for comparison or other use 

 in this country they will be furnished when required. 



Fifth. In return for specimens which may be presented to colleges 

 and other institutions, collections from localities in their vicinity shall 

 be furnished when wanted. 



In the disposition of the undescribed specimens of the collection, 

 the following considerations have been observed as governing prin- 

 ciples: 



First. The original specimens are not to be intrusted for descrip- 

 tion to inexperienced persons, but to those only who have given evi- 

 dence of ability properly to perform the work. 



Second. Preference is to be given to those who have been engaged 

 in the laborious and difficult enterprise of making complete mono- 

 graphs. 



Third. The investigator may be allowed, in certain cases, to take 

 the specimens to his place of residence, and to retain them for study 

 a reasonable time. 



Fourth. The use of the specimens is only to be allowed on condition 

 that a series of types for the Smithsonian museum will be selected 

 and properly labelled, and the whole returned in good condition. 



Fifth. In any publications which may be made of results derived from 

 an investigation of the materials from the. Smithsonian collection, full 

 credit must be accorded to the Institution for the facilities which 

 have been afforded. 



