EEPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 41 



animals are dwindling down, like the aboriginal inhabitants, under 

 the deadly influence of civilized man. Myriads of the lower orders 

 of animal life, as w T ell as of plants, disappear with the destruction of 

 forests, the drainage of swamps, and the gradual spread of cultiva- 

 tion, and their places are occupied by foreign invaders. Other races, 

 no doubt, without actually disappearing, undergo a gradual change 

 under the new order of things, which, if perceptible only in the 

 course of successive generations, require so much the more for future 

 proof an accurate record of their state in the still unsettled condition 

 of the country. In the Old World almost every attempt to compare 

 the present state of vegetation or animal life with that which existed 

 in uncivilized times is in a great measure frustrated by the absolute 

 want of evidence as to that former state ; but in North America the 

 change is going forward, as it were, close under the eye of the observer. 

 This consideration may one day give great value to the reports of the 

 naturalists sent by the government, as we have seen, at the instance 

 of the Smithsonian Institution and other promoters of science, to 

 accompany the surveys of new territories." 



The total number of contributors to the collections of the Institution 

 in 1867 was 163. The total number of primary boxes or packages 

 received was 320. The general character of these additions will be 

 learned from the table at the end of the report; they vary from 

 single specimens to boxes filled with a variety of objects, the latter 

 being far the most numerous. Among the most important may be 

 mentioned the collections of the Russian telegraph expedition, those 

 of Dr. Butcher, of Mr. Carmiol, of Colonel Grayson, of Professor 

 Sumichrast, of Dr. Hayden, of Mr. Hudson, and of Dr. Palmer. 



To the Zoological Garden of Hamburg, Dr. W. H. Sigel, director, 

 the Institution is indebted for the present of a number of European 

 house sparrows, which had been asked for with the view of natural- 

 izing them in Washington and vicinity, in order to secure the aid of 

 these nimble and voracious birds in ridding the fruit and shade trees 

 of this region from noxious insects. Although 300 were embarked, 

 only five reached the Institution (in August last) alive. These were 

 immediately liberated and have remained in the proximity of the 

 building during the winter. For further notice of these sparrows see 

 general correspondence. 



The Institution is indebted to Mr. T. A. Randall, of Warren, Pa., 

 for a large number of living menopoma alleglieniensis from the Allegheny 

 river. Such of these as survived were sent to several of the Zoologi- 

 cal Gardens of Europe, and others will probably be transmitted in the 

 ensuing spring. 



