20 RERORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



Brussels, by which the Belgian Academy will become a center of scientific 

 exchanges. 



During the past year we have received as usual, from persons abroad, 

 copies of works to be distributed gratuitously to institutions and in- 

 dividuals in this country. 



Tne following are the regulations which are to be observed by parties 

 availing themselves of the privilege of the Smithsonian system of ex- 

 change : 



" The Smithsonian Institution receives parcels at any time with 

 assurance of speedy delivery, at least to the more important addresses, 

 upon the following conditions, which must be strictly observed : 



" 1. Every package without exception must be enveloped in strong 

 paper, and secured so as to bear separate transportation by express or 

 otherwise. 



" 2. The address of the institution or individual for whom the parcel 

 is intended must be written legibly on the package, and the name of 

 the sender must be written in one corner. 



" 3. Xo single package must exceed the half of a cubic foot in bulk. 



" 4. A detailed list of addresses of all the parcels sent, with their 

 contents, must accompany them. 



" 5. No letter or other communication can be allowed in the parcel, 

 excepting such as relates exclusively to the contents of the package. 



" 6. All packages must be delivered in Washington free of freight 

 and other expenses. 



" Unless all these conditions are complied with, the parcels will not 

 be forwarded from the Institution, and, on the failure to comply with 

 the first and second conditions, will be returned to the sender for cor- 

 rection. 



"The Institution recommends that every parcel shall contain a blank ac- 

 knowledgment, to be signed by the recipient and returned, either through 

 the agent of the Institution, or, what is still better, direct by mail, to the 

 sender. Should exchanges be desired for what is sent, the fact should also 

 be explicitly stated on the accompanying circular. Much disappointment 

 has often been expressed at the absence of any return in kind for trans- 

 missions; but unless these are specifically asked for they will fre- 

 quently fail to be made. It will facilitate the labors of the Institution 

 greatly if the number corresponding to the several addresses in the 

 Smithsonian printed catalogue be marked on the face of each parcel; 

 and for this purpose a copy of the work will be forwarded to all who 

 apply for it. 



i: Specimens of natural history will not be received for transmission, 

 unless with a previous understanding as to their character and bulk." 



LIBRARY. 



It was stated in the last report that the accessions to the library dur- 

 ing 1871 had not been as large as they were the year before, on account 



