The Smithsonian Institution 



the building up of a museum, and the publications which it 

 has stimulated or provided for in various ways. This review 

 will be a simple narrative of facts in which no criticism or 

 commendation will be indulged in. 



EXPLORATIONS 



ONE of the most efficient means by which the Institution has 

 advanced zoological science has been through the respect 

 which its chiefs have enjoyed from the heads of government 

 departments, and the consequent readiness with which the 

 government authorities have carried out suggestions for in- 

 vestigations in connection with various operations. 



The general government had early recognized the advisa- 

 bility of exploration of the wild territory acquired from time 

 to time, and numerous surveying expeditions had been de- 

 spatched for that purpose. The first of special importance 

 was the famous expedition of Lewis and Clarke "performed 

 during the years i8o4-'o6," and the narrative of which has 

 been published in many editions, culminating in the luxurious 

 one recently edited by Doctor Elliott Coues. This expedi- 

 tion was the precursor of many others. Attempts were made 

 in connection with some of them to further our knowledge of 

 the fauna and flora of the countries traversed ; but, with one 

 exception, zeal was unaccompanied by knowledge, and the 

 results were negative. (The exception was Major Long's 

 " Expedition from Pittsburg to the Rocky Mountains, per- 

 formed in the years 1819-20," to which the first great Ameri- 

 can zoologist, Thomas Say, was attached as naturalist.) But 

 after the Smithsonian Institution had been housed and fully 

 organized, favoring conditions for scientific direction super- 

 vened. No important surveying party was then despatched 

 without a naturalist nominated or approved by the Institu- 



