36 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1912. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



Of duplicates separated from the collections in the course of the 

 work of classification about 8,000 specimens, chiefly minerals, ores, 

 fossils, and recent animals, were distributed to schools and colleges for 

 teaching purposes. About 16,000 duplicates were also used in making 

 exchanges, whereby material of similar value was obtained for 

 addition to the permanent collections. To specialists connected with 

 other scientific establishments some 11,500 specimens, mainly bio- 

 logical, were sent for study, principally in the interest of the Museum 

 and for the purpose of securing the identification of material which 

 could not be determined here. 



The number of persons who visited the new building during the 

 year was 281,887, the older Museum building, 172,182, and the Smith- 

 sonian building, 143,134, being equivalent to an average daily attend- 

 ance at each of the three buildings of 800, 550, and 457, respectively. 

 The total Sunday attendance at the new building, beginning October 

 8, amounted to 64,987, an average by Sundays of 1,666 persons, or 

 more than double the daily average for the same building. 



The publications issued during the year comprised the annual 

 report for 1911, volumes 39, 40, and 41 of the Proceedings, and 3 

 Bulletins, besides 59 papers from the Proceedings, Bulletins, and Con- 

 tributions from the National Herbarium, printed separately. The 

 total number of copies of publications distributed was about 67,000. 



The library received additions to the extent of 1,791 books, 3,608 

 pamphlets, and 276 parts of volumes, and at the end of the year was 

 estimated to contain a total of 42,002 books and 69,670 unbound 

 papers. With the completion of the arrangements in progress all of 

 the works on natural history will be transferred to the new building, 

 leaving the older quarters for those relating to the arts and industries 

 and history, and by this division the congested condition of the 

 library which has so long prevailed will be relieved. 



The facilities offered by the new building were often availed of 

 during the year for congresses and meetings relating to science and 

 art. Among the more important bodies which met or were received 

 there were the American Association for the Advancement of Science 

 and affiliated societies, the National Academy of Sciences, the Ameri- 

 can Federation of Arts, the American Institute of Architects, and 

 the Red Cross Conference. 



Respectfully submitted. 



Richard Rathbun, 

 Assistant Secretary in Charge U. S. National Museum. 



Dr. Charles D. Walcott, 



Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 



October 31, 1912. 



