54 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 
ous monographs or articles have been published relative to them in 
the Pacific railroad reports and the proceedings of different natural 
history societies, the Institution having published a synopsis of the 
serpents of North America, and a monograph of the Cottoids. 
The Institution has materially aided the study of the entomology 
of this country, not only by the collections in that branch, but by 
preparing and publishing a series of works for the purpose of ex- 
hibiting the state of knowledge on the subject and facilitating its 
further advancement. It has published and distributed the follow- 
ing under this head : 
Instructions for collecting and preserving insects, and catalogues, 
synopses, or monographs of the Diptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, 
and Neuroptera, prepared by the most competent authorities in Eu- 
rope and America. 
It has also in course of preparation works relative to the Hymen- 
optera, Homoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera, &. — 
In the preparation of these publications the Institution is indebted 
for gratuitous assistance to Dr. Jno. Leconte, Baron Osten Sacken, 
and others. 
Conchology.—A large collection of specimens of shells was received 
from the United States exploring expedition, which has been much 
increased by subsequent additions. All the shells of the west coast 
of the United States, and those generally collected by the exploring 
expedition, have been put into the hands of Mr. P. P. Carpenter, of 
England, the new ones to be described for publication, and the dupli- 
cates of the whole to be arranged for distribution to museums, col- 
leges, and other establishments. This work is nearly completed, 
and a large number of partial sets of the shells have been distributed 
in accordance with the plan just mentioned. The publications on 
this subject are lists of North American shells, circulars relative to 
collecting, an elementary introduction to the study of conchology, 
and an extensive work in two octavo volumes on the Bibliography 
of North American Conchology, by W. G. Binney, and a monograph 
of the Corbiculade, by Temple Prime. Besides these a number of 
articles are in the press or in course of preparation. 
Microscopy.—Encouragement has been given to this branch of 
science by importing, as samples, simple formsof working microscopes, 
and also by stimulating our native artists to greater exertion in the 
construction of this instument, by ordering the best that could be 
produced. Samples of microscopic organisms have been collected 
