1868.] 13 [Custodian. 



I'eceived from Dr. C. T. Jackson, and the Guatemalan animals 

 purchased of Dr. Van Patten. 



Under the joint auspices of the Smithsonian Institution 

 and this Society, Col. Grayson has successfully explored the 

 natural history, and especially the ornithology, of the island 

 of Socorro, one of the Revillagigedos, sitiiated off the west 

 coast of America, in latitude 19° N. The birds obtained, 

 although not very numerous, prove of j^ecuUar interest ; they 

 are nearly all new to science, and distinct from the species, 

 either of the neighboring continent, or of the Tres Marias, 

 islands still nearer the coast. The manuscript notes of Col. 

 Grayson, together with the animals obtained, are in the 

 hands of Professor Baird, who will furnish a memoir ujton 

 them, for oirr publications. 



Besides the work of construction already refciod to, we 

 have opened in the Museum a geological room, together with 

 the botanical room in its rear, wliich had been closed during 

 the preparation of the former. Storage, packing and spirit 

 rooms have been fitted up in the basement, and the elevator 

 rendered more serviceable by its removal to the opposite side 

 of the building. About a year ago, the Council secured 

 temporary aid for the arrangement of the Mollusks, and in 

 the month of January, engage!! Mr. F. G. Sanborn as perma- 

 nent assistant. In addition, a new system of labelling the 

 collections has been lately introduced, Avliich will a<ld much 

 to their unity, attractive appearance and ready usefulness, 

 and tlie cases have been numbered, as a preliminary step to 

 the preparation of a Visitor's Guide Book. 



The number of visitors to the museum has probably in- 

 creased, but the demand upon the Janitor's time during the 

 work of construction has rendered his enumeration very 

 imperfect ; by count there have been 34,625 visitors during 

 the year. The museum has been open to the public one 

 hundred and five days; on Thursdays, to ticket holders, 

 fifty-three days ; the average attendance on public days has 



