REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 53 
pended in the preparation of an original report on the forest trees of 
America, by Dr. Gray. This work, however, has been interrupted 
for some time, but will be resumed, it is expected, during the present 
year. 
General Zoology.—A large part of the collections made by the In- 
stitution belong to the general class of zoology, intended to advance 
the study of animal life upon the continent of America. 
The ornithology of America has always been a speciality of the 
Smithsonian Institution, more efforts having been made to perfect its 
collection in this department than any other. The Institution has pub- 
lished the first part of a work by Dr. T. M. Brewer, suitably illus- 
trated, on the distribution and habits of North American birds during 
the breeding season, with descriptions and figures of their eggs, the 
materials being derived entirely from the collections of the Institution, 
and mostly made at its special request. ‘This is the first separate 
work on North American zoology ever prepared. A catalogue of 
North American birds, prepared by Professor 8. F. Baird, has been 
extensively used at home and abroad in labelling collections. 
Professor Baird is now engaged in preparing a general report 
on our knowledge of North American ornithology to the present 
date, with the addition of the species of Central and South America 
and the West Indies; the materials being derived almost entirely 
from the specimens collected by the Institution, which have been in- 
creased since the publication of the extensive work on the same sub- 
ject by Professor Baird in the Pacific railroad report, from 12,000 to 
35,000. 
The collections which have been made by the Institution for the 
illustration of mammalia have been very extensive, amounting to 
6,000 specimens, and have not only included many duplicates of the 
species previously known, but a very large number entirely new to 
science. A catalogue of North American mammals, chiefly those 
collected by the Institution, prepared by Professor Baird, has been 
published and distributed to those interested in the study; also a 
monograph of North American bats, prepared by Dr. H. Allen. 
Materials are now in course of accumulation to complete the account 
of the classes of mammals of North America which have not been in- 
cluded in the publications of the Institution and Pacific railroad 
reports. 
As with all American vertebrata, the collections of reptiles and 
fishes made by the Institution have been very extensive, and numer- 
