REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 27 



There was also an appropriation of $800 for fire protection for the 

 Smithsonian and Musenni buildings and the Astro-Physical Observ- 

 atory. 



EXCHANGES OF SPECIMENS ^riTII INSTITUTIONS AND INDIVIDUALS 



ABROAD. 



The Museum has for many years maintained exchanges of specimens 

 not only with domestic institutions but also, and chiefly, with foreign 

 museums. This practice has enabled the Museum to dispose profita- 

 bly of its duplicates, and at the same time to furnish museums and 

 colleges in other countries with valuable American material for display 

 or study. The Museum has exchange relations with almost every 

 museum of importance in the world. Exchanges of specimens not infre- 

 quently lead to exchanges of publications also, and by this means the 

 Museum library has received numerous accessions. Especially has this 

 been the case since 1894, when a special effort was made to obtain from 

 foreign museums publications which at that time were wanting on our 

 shelves. 



The exchanges of si)ecimens with institutions at home are so indicated 

 in the Accession List, which is printed as Api)endix ii. The exchanges 

 with foreign museums and other institutions and individuals abroad 

 are here briefly referred to. 



FOREIGK EXCHANGES IN 1894-95. 



Birdfi. — Birds' skins have been sent to Mr. A. Boucard, Oak Hill, 

 Spring Vale, Isle of Wight, England, in continuation of exchanges. 



From the La Plata Museum, La Plata, Argentina (Dr. Francisco P. 

 Moreno, director), have been received birds' skins. Similar material 

 has been transmitted in exchange. 



Birds' skins have been forwarded to Mr. Victor Bitter von Tschusi 

 zu Schmidhoffen, ITallein, Salzburg, Austria, in exchange for material 

 already received. 



Nineteen birds' skins have been sent to Eev. H. B. Tristram, The 

 College, Durham, England, in continuation of exchanges. 



Reptiles and hatrachlans. — Two specimens of Menohranchus Latastei 

 have been received from Dr. John H. Gamier, Lucknow, Ontario, 

 Canada. 



From the Museum Senckenbergianum, Frankfort-on-the-Main, Ger- 

 many, have been received, through Dr. O. Boettger, two lizards from 

 China. A specimen of Anniella pulchra and two specimens of Ter- 

 rapene ornata have been forwarded in return. 



Fishes. — A cast of a fish has been sent to Dr. Ehrenbaum, director, 

 Biological Station, Heligoland. Marine invertebrates have been asked 

 for in return. 



From the Indian Museum, Calcutta, India (Surg. Cai)t. A. Alcock, 

 superintendent), have been received sj)ecimens of deei)-sea fishes from 



