Zoology 723 



in like style. In 1853 Professor Baird and Doctor Girard 

 published a descriptive work on the " Serpents " of the coun- 

 try as the first part of a " Catalogue of North American Rep- 

 tiles " ; but this also was the last as well as the first of its kind. 

 The continuous work began later, and the publications, under 

 various -guises, were essentially of two kinds lists of spe- 

 cies and descriptive monographs. But first efforts were made 

 to obtain the requisite material, and circular letters asking for 

 specimens, and often accompanied by special instructions for 

 collecting were sent out broadcast. Entomologists were ap- 

 pealed to and instructed in numerous circulars and pam- 

 phlets ; the earliest of which were published in the annual 

 Report of the Institution for 1858. 



These were followed in subsequent years by many others 

 relating to insects, mollusks, fishes, reptiles, birds, and bird's 

 eggs, mammals, and skeletons. 



Intimate relations had been established between the Smith- 

 sonian Institution and officers of the Hudson Bay Company, 

 through the friendly agency of Robert Kennicott, who had 

 been for some time a sojourner in the company's territory, 

 and had inspired a spirit of collecting and observation. A 

 special " Circular to the Officers of the Hudson Bay Com- 

 pany" was therefore published in 1860, indicating desiderata 

 and containing instructions for collecting as well as for me- 

 teorological observations. 



In 1867, when the United States acquired from Russia the 

 territory subsequently named Alaska, but then generally 

 known simply as Russian America, another pamphlet was 

 prepared for an expedition sent to the territory by the Trea- 

 sury Department. This pamphlet was entitled, " Suggestions 

 Relative to Objects of Scientific Investigation in Russian 

 America" (1867), and covered very largely the same field 

 as the preceding circular. 



