464 The Smithsonian Institution 



In connection with the explorations of Culbertson, already 

 mentioned, we first learn of the association of Professor Baird 

 with this branch of the work of the Institution. His services 

 had been recently engaged by the Institution, and he was des- 

 tined to play a most important part. Himself an enthusiastic 

 explorer in many lines of natural history, and withal % a man 

 of most engaging conversation and industrious habits, he was 

 able greatly to aid the cause of exploration both by supply- 

 ing thoroughly practical directions for observation and by im- 

 pressing on those in authority the importance of investigations 

 of natural phenomena. 



He was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Institution in 

 1850, and only three years had passed when the great series 

 of Pacific Railroad surveys and the Mexican boundary survey 

 were undertaken by the government, while at the same time 

 very numerous minor explorations, both under government 

 and private auspices, were instituted. Of the two years 1853 

 and 1854 Professor Baird writes: 



"The number of important scientific explorations embraced 

 in this period mark it conspicuously in the history of Ameri- 

 can discovery. Most of these are due to the appropriation 

 for the survey of the China seas and Behring's Straits, and 

 that for a survey of the several routes for a railroad to the 

 Pacific (although many more private expeditions were set on 

 foot), in addition to the regular operations of the United 

 States and Mexican Boundary Survey, whose labors during 

 the past years were in continuation of those commenced 

 before. Many reports of explorations, commenced or com- 

 pleted prior to 1853, have been published during this period." 1 



He gives an account of twenty-six important explorations 

 undertaken in these two years, including the six Pacific Rail- 



1 " Smithsonian Report," 1854, page 79. 



