118 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1891, 



between tlie Sinitlisoniaii Institntion and the varions departments and 

 bnreans of tlie (lovernnient. The coUections made by the Wilkes ex- 

 ploring expedition, the Perry exi)edition to Japan, and other naval 

 expeditions, and the material gathered by the scientific officers of the 

 Pacific Railroad snrvey, the Mexican Bonndary survey, and the sur- 

 veys carried on by the Engineer Corps of the Army, constitute the 

 very ground worlv of the collections, the nucleus \\\)on which has been 

 built its present structure. Indeed, had it not been for this cooperation 

 on the part of the Government departments, the successful development 

 of the collections would be extremely difficult, perhaps impossible, with 

 the limited resources at the command of the Museum. The friendly 

 interest displayed by officials at homo and abroad, at all times and in 

 every capacity, not only when officially detailed but during the leisure 

 h<mrs at their disposal, is worthy of the greatest praise and encourage- 

 ment. Nor has this interest been confined to any one bureau or depart- 

 ment. The friendly competition which has been engendered has aroused 

 t(j action officers in almost every bureau of each of the dei^artments. 

 This interest has been sliown not only in the collection of an enormous 

 jiniount of material, but in its proper preservation and careful trans- 

 portation to Washington, when collected. 



The special ways in which this cooperation on the part of the depart- 

 ments and bureaus of the Cxovernment has manifested itself, may be 

 thus enumerated: 



(1) By assistance rendered to persons conducting investigations for 

 the Smithsonian Institution. 



(2) By the direct effort of Government officials in making collections 

 for the National Museum, which is under the direction of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution. 



(3) By the willingness of Government officials at distant points to 

 notify the Institution of the occurrence of remarkable specimens and 

 phenomena. 



(4) Bj' the transfer to the National Museum of collections which had 

 been deposited in one or another of tbe departments for safe-keeping. 



(5) By assigning persons to the Smithsonian Institution for special 

 training, with a view to enabling them to observe accurately and to 

 collect intelligently when afterwards engaged in their regular duties. 

 (This is applicable chiefly to the Navy Department.) 



((!) By transmitting to the Institution the results of observations as 

 well as collections made by officers, at their post of duty, in behalf of 

 the Institution. 



(7) By assistance rendered in connection with the transportation of 

 collections to Washington. 



(8) By the receipt of collections made by other departments of the 

 Government service, and studied and identified by officers of those de- 

 l)artments before l)eing transferred to the custody of the Museum. 



(9) By the detail of officers connected with various dei)artments and 



