REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 43 



the'help of thermometers furnished by the Fish Commission or the Signal 

 Office, a valuable body of material has been obtained, throwing impor- 

 tant light on the movements of fish in relation to their physical sur- 

 roundings. 



NECROLOGY. 



During the year 1881 1 have to report the loss by death of two among 

 the employes of the Smithsonian Institution; one of these, Mr. John 

 H. KiCHARD, which took place at Philadelphia on the 18th of March ; 

 the other, Miss Maggie Connor, at Washington, on the 20th of ISToveni- 

 ber. Mr. Richard was a Frenchman by birth, but a resident for many 

 years of this country, and for a long time occupied a prominent position 

 amongnatural history draughtsmen. Originally employed by Professor 

 Holbrook in the preparation of the jjlates of his great works on the 

 rei)tiles and fishes of South Carolina, he entered the service of the 

 Smithsonian Institution nearly thirty years ago, and was employed for 

 many years in making illustrations of reptiles and fishes for the re- 

 ports of the Pacific Railroad, the Mexican Boundary, the Wilkes Ex- 

 ploring expeditions, &c. Resigning his position, he for some years en- 

 gaged in business in Philadelphia as a colorist, still doing more or less 

 work for the Institution. Subsequently he resumed his old situation, 

 and for seven or eight years he has been principally employed in paint- 

 ing casts in i^laster and papier-mache of American fishes and cetaceans, 

 the white work having been done under the direction of Mr. Joseph 

 Palmer. The excellence of these representations has been universally 

 commended, especially as exhibited to the general jniblic at the Inter- 

 natioDal Exhibition in Philadeliihia and the Fishery Exhibition in Ber- 

 lin. The death of ]\Ir. Richard leaves a gap among the capable natural- 

 history artists of this country. 



Another death among the employes of the Smithsonian Institution 

 was that of Miss Maggie Connor, who died of consumption on the 

 20th day of November. Her father was one of the earliest employes of 

 the Institution and died in its service, and Miss Connor has been for 

 many years connected with the record department of the Museum. 



It is, perhaps, proper to mention also the death of Mr. George W. 

 Riggs, on the 25tli day of August, a gentleman who, although not at 

 the time immediately associated with the Institution, had long been its 

 financial agent, and who has rendered many very important services in 

 connection with his profession as a banker. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



For many years Mr. Townend Glover, both before and during his con- 

 nection with the Department of Agriculture, was engaged in preparing 

 and in engravingon copper, in time outside of that due to the department, 

 a series of illustrations of the economical entomology of the United 

 States, until failing health and the almost entire loss of eyesight pre- 



