REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 



41 



111 the report for last year (1889-'90) a tabulated statement, similar in 

 character to the preceding table, Avas inadvertently omitted, and is 

 therefore inserted in this idace : 



Deparlmeut. 



Oriental antiquities 



Ethnology 



Pottery 



Preliistorii! anthropology 



Mammals 



Bird.s 



Reptiles and batiachians 



Fi.shis 



Mollusks 



The registrar has completed an alphabetical index of the distribu- 

 tions since 1874, which includes more than 0,700 shipments. A card 

 catalogue, arranged l»y names of recipients, has also been prepared, 

 showing the distributions of S])ecimens made to each museum, college 

 or individual. This catalogue is very useful, showing at a glance the 

 relations of this kind which have existed l)etween the National Museum 

 and the establishments referred to on the cards. The file c(mtainiiig 

 the papers relating to the distribution of specimens has been amplified 

 and improved, and is now in excellent condition for reference. 



It may be interesting to compare the total amount of distributions 

 made during the decade ending in 188(> with the total for the decade 

 completed last year. These figures are given in the following table, 

 showing an increase of about 00 per cent in favor of the more recent 

 decade : 



Totttl niinihers of S2)ecimni>i dixli-ihiiled diirinf/ ihe decades 1S'71 to IS'SO and ISSl 1o 1S90, 



respeotireJi]. 



DISTKIBUTIOX OF DUPLICATES. 



*Tiie decrease in the number of specimens distributed during this year is due to t lie constantly 

 increasing i)ressure of routine work in the scit-ntitic departments ami to the inability of the curators 

 to complete the separation of the duplicates for distribution. 



