REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 39 



ties, the rule has been strongly recommended of attempting to pre- 

 serve nothing except what is strictly local. "It is the experience 

 of societies," says Dr. Jardine,* the celebrated Scotch naturalist, 

 "that general collections are encumbrances, and in most instances 

 get destroyed for want of care, or they are dispersed. Within these 

 fetv^ years the really fine and valuable collection of the Zoological 

 Society of London, chiefly presented by the late N. A. Vigors, a 

 first-rate scholar and naturalist, and containing many unique things 

 from our scientific exploratory voyages, has been sold. That of the 

 Entomological Society has also been sold, and the greater part of that 

 belonging to the Linnaean Society was sold' during the last month, 

 because there was not sufficient space to keep what had been pre- 

 sented to them. The collection of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 

 is now undergoing the same process." 



During the past year the woi'k of labelling the specimens in the 

 museum, so that the common, as well as the scientific name of each 

 article may be distinctly exhibited, has been continued. 



Explorations. — The only explorations during the past year, under 

 the auspices and at the expense of the Institution, are, 1st, the con- 

 tinuation of that of Mr. Xantus on the western coast of Mexico ; and, 

 2d, that by Mr. Meek in New Jersey and th-e lower part of Virginia. 

 The explorations of Mr. Xantus extended several hundred miles 

 along the western coast of Mexico in a region little known, and very 

 abundant in interesting objects. 



The exploration of Mr. Meek related to the collection of complete 

 series of shells to illustrate the tertiary formation of the seaboard of 

 New Jersey and Virginia. Several series of shells were obtained, 

 which are in the process of being accurately labelled, and are intended 

 for distribution to some of the principal colleges of the country. 



Exchanges. — The important aid rendered to science and literature 

 by the system of international exchange which has for many years 

 been actively carried on by the Institution, is still everywhere highly 

 appreciated. Our operations in this line are becoming more and 

 more extensive, requiring an additional amount of time, labor, and 

 attention, as well as largely increasing in expense. The great liber- 

 ality of many of the transportation companies alone enables us to 

 carry on the system in its present extent, and we again tender our 

 acknowledgments, especially to the following parties, who have 



* Address of Sir W. Jardine, president of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History 

 and Antiquarian Society, December, 1863 



