134 EXTRACTS FROM THE CORRESPONDENCE. 



[The condiiion referred to as required by the Smithsonian Institution is that 

 suitable returns be made from the duplicates iu the collections of the Museum 

 when called for. This condition is made on the part of the institution to favor 

 the formation of museums in this country.] 



British Museum, Jultj 20, 1865. 

 Dear Sir : I enclose the letter and form which you brought me on the 17th 

 instant from the principal librarian. In reference to the fourth condition, after 

 due inquiry and inspection, I should be prepared, when required, to submit to 

 the trustees a series of duplicates, in my opini(jn suitable in the sense of equiva- 

 lency, iis a return for the type series of fossils proposed to be presented con- 

 ditionally by the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, United States, 

 I remain, dear sir, yours truly, 



RICHARD OWEN. 

 Thomas Butler, Esq., 



Assistant Secretary BritisJi Museum. 



From Professor JVilliam H'mclis. 



Toro.\to University, March 26, 1866. 



Dear Sir : The additional proof just received of the liberality with whicb 

 the Smithsonian Institution uses its duplicates in promoting science claims some- 

 thing more than the mere formal expression of our gratitude, and is, I assure 

 you, very highly appreciated by myself and my colleagues in the management 

 of our museum, and by all the authorities of our University. 



Permit me to explain that the objects of the museum are first to afford the 

 best attainable materials for instruction in the several branches of natural science 

 to the professor of that department in University College; secondly, to afford 

 opportunities for private and special study to any persons seeking them; and 

 thirdly, to offer a pleasing and instructive exhibition to the public at large, 

 which is opened at all proper hours without any payment, and is extensively 

 visited both by our own citizens and the numerous travellers from the United 

 States, the most intelligent of whom have expressed themselves in the most 

 flattering terms respecting its interest and beauty. We perhaps excel most in 

 birds, and so far as the representation of the few families that remain unrepre- 

 sented in the collection, and the completion of our North American series, 

 nothing is more desirable to us. In mammalia we aim chiefly at obtaining the 

 moderate-sized native animals, and a few of the more deviative forms, not having 

 either space or funds for attempting more. We have a good instructive series 

 of shells and some special collections, and this branch is a favorite one. We 

 have many fine insects, and greatly desire to extend and improve that collection. 

 We have some excellent specimens of fishes, both British and Canadian, and a 

 few Chinese and West India. We have some Crustacea and echinoderraata and 

 a few good polypifera, but are comparatively deficient in these interesting 

 branches. Our botanical collection includes about 7,000 species, chiefly European 

 and North American, with many fine forms from all parts of the globe. We 

 are somewhat crippled in funds, -which checks very rapid increase, and we have 

 no means of accumulating duplicates to any extent, but we should feel the 

 sincerest pleasure in rendering any service within the reach of our efforts to the 

 Smithsonian Institution as a ])roof of our estimate of the value of its conti'i- 

 butions to science and the liberality with which it seems to be conducted. 

 Our specimens are throughout systematically arranged and handsomely ex- 

 hibited. I should have said above that we have some good reptilia and am- 

 phibia, yet very few comparatively. 



