PREFACE 



The Smithsonian Institution was established in 1846 as the result of 

 the bequest of James Smithson, an English scientist. He bequeathed 

 his entire fortune to the United States of America for the purpose 

 of founding "an establishment for the increase and diffusion of 

 knowledge among men." For the increase of knowledge, the Insti- 

 tution is continuously engaged in research in many branches of science, 

 as well as scientific expeditions to all parts of the world; the diffusion 

 of knowledge is accomplished principally by the extensive exhibits 

 in its museums, its art galleries, and its zoological park, and by several 

 series of publications which are distributed throughout the world. 



Probably the best known of these series is the Annual Report of the 

 Board of Regents, usually called the Smithsonian Annual Report. A 

 Report has been published every year since 1846, and starting with 

 1849 a General Appendix was included in each volume for the purpose 

 of disseminating information on important and interesting scientific 

 investigations. The "Advertisement" introducing the General Ap- 

 pendix to each volume states its function as follows: 



The object of the General Appendix to the Annual Report of the Smithsonian 

 Institution is to furnish brief accounts of scientific discovery in particular 

 directions; reports of investigations made by staff members and collaborators 

 of the Institution; and memoirs of a general character or on special topics that 

 are of interest or value to the numerous correspondents of the Institution. 



It has been a prominent object of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian 

 Institution from a very early date to enrich the annual report required of them by 

 law with memoirs illustrating the more remarkable and important developments 

 in physical and biological discovery, as well as showing the general character 

 of the operations of the Institution; and, during the greater part of its history, this 

 purpose has been carried out largely by the publication of such papers as would 

 possess an interest to all attracted by scientific progress. 



In 1880, induced in part by the discontinuance of an annual summary of 

 progress which for 30 years previously had been issued by well-known private 

 publishing firms, the Secretary had a series of abstracts prepared by competent 

 collaborators, showing concisely the prominent features of recent scientific prog- 

 ress in astronomy, geology, meteorology, physics, chemistry, mineralogy, botany, 

 zoology, and anthropology. This latter plan was continued, though not 

 altogether satisfactorily, down to and including the year 1888. 



In the report of 1889, a return was made to the earlier method of presenting 

 a miscellaneous selection of papers (some of them original) embracing a 

 considerable range of scientific investigation and discussion. This method has 

 been continued to the present time. 



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