REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 



57 



IDENTIFICATION OF SPECIMENS. 



Continued progress has been made during tlie year in the determination and 

 arrangement of the species in the Smithsonian collections, and the cabinet is 

 gradually becoming more and more useful for reference and study. Any appa- 

 rent shortcoming in this respect will be excused in view of the fact that the 

 work done is mainly a voluntary contribution on the part of gentlemen engaged 

 in making special examinations of the Smithsonian collections, and the Insti- 

 tution is under many obligations for their assistance. 



DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIMENS. 



In accordance with the plan of the Institution, as fast as the identification 

 of the species is satisfactorily accomplished, the duplicate specimens are set 

 aside for distribution to such museums at home and abroad as appear to be 

 suitable recipients. The total number of objects thus distributed to the end 

 of the year 1863, all properly determined and labelled, amounts to 26,651 

 species, and 50,601 specimens, as shown by the following schedule : 



Statement of specimens of natural history distributed by the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution up to December 31, 1863. 



In the index to the three volumes of transmissions of specimens for examina- 

 tion, or donation, the names of two hundred and fifty-nine institutions and indi- 

 viduals are entered up to August, 1863. 



N. B. — The preceding enumeration of specimens distributed does not include 

 the specimens ("duplicates) retained by collaborators in behalf of certain author- 

 ized collections — as of insects, by Messrs. Lecoute, Uhler, Morris, Ostensackeu^ 

 Saussure, Edwards, Hagen, Loew, Scudder, &c. ; of vertebrate fossils, by Leidy, 

 for the Philadelphia Academy ; of fishes, by Professor Agassiz ; shells, by 

 Messrs. Carpenter, Binney, Tryon, &:c. ; mammals, by Messrs. Leconte, Allen. 

 &c. ; birds, by Mr. Cassin ; reptiles, by Mr. Cope ; plants, by Messrs. Torrey, 

 Gray, Engelman, and Eaton. These will probably amount to at least 10,000 

 species, and 30,000 specimens additional. 



The cataloguing of specimens in the record-books of the Institution has been 

 continued during the year, and, as will be seen by the accompanying table, now 

 amounts to 86,547 entries, being an increase, since 1863, of over 12,000. 



