“ 
eM: a arts may be encouraged by providing a room, free of ex- 
pense, for the exhibition of the objects of the Art-Union and other 
similar societies. i 
2. A small appropriation should annually be made for models of 
antiquities, such as those of the remains of ancient temples, &c. 
#43. For the present, or until the building is fully completed, besides 
the Secretary, no permanent assistant will be required, except one, to 
act as librarian 
give lectures on subjects of general interest. 
‘ en the building is completed, and when, in accordance with 
the act of Congress, the charge of the National Muséum is given to the 
Smithsonian Institution, other assistants will be required. 
This programme of organization is followed by remarks by Professor 
Henry, the distinguished Secretary of the Institution. 
8. Tenacity of Life in Black Ants; by Dexter Marsh, (in a letter 
to Prof. Silliman.)—lI was led to the following experiments, by hearing 
the discussion on the subject of the hybernation of animals, at the meet- 
ing of t ciation of American Geologists and Naturalists, at Bos- 
ton, last mber. ay 
hile cutting wood in February last, 1 discovered a number of large 
black ants, in a partially decayed block, frozen perfectly solid, so they 
would not bend without breaking. I cut off the heads of a number of 
them, and after keeping them in a cold place half an hour, without 
their showing any appearance of life, I placed them, with some whose 
heads I did not sever, in a warm sunny exposure, and in about ten min- 
utes they came to life, so as to kick about smartly, and throw them- 
selves over and over, like a hen with her neck wrung, and in about five 
minutes died; while the others ran off. " 
A few days after this, I tried the same experiment on some more, by 
keeping them an hour and a half after cutting off their heads, and they 
too began to show signs of life by moving their legs considerably ; but 
just at this time, the sun became clouded, and, the wind blowing cold, I 
could not restore them further to life, but it was enough to satisfy me 
that they may be kept hours, and perhaps days, or weeks, after their 
heads are taken off, and still be restored to life. 
