REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 37 



Livingston Stone, and of various localities on the great lakes, and in 

 the States of Maine and New Hampshire. 



The marine collections from the coast of Maine, Vineyard Sound, 

 Ehode Island, Fort Macon, Cuba, and the Bermudas have already been 

 referred to. The European collection presented by Messrs. Sars, Boeck, 

 and Collett, as also those of Dr. Mobius, of Kiel, will also be of much 

 value for purposes of comparison. 



The invertebrates gathered under similar auspices have also been 

 very numerous, and will furnish ample means for distribution to other 

 museums. 



In accordance with the policy of the Institution, all the specimens of 

 human anatomy, including crania and skeletons from the ancient 

 mounds, have been turned over as soon as received to the Army 

 Medical Museum, while the insects and the plants have, in like manner, 

 been deposited with the Agricultural Department. 



The total number of distinct donations received during the year 1872 

 amounted to 315 entries, comprising 544 separate packages and coming 

 from 203 different donors. 



The corresponding figures for the year 1871, consist of 271 donations, 

 comprising 400 packages. 



Work done in the museum. — The addition of so large a stock of ma- 

 terial to the collections already in charge of the Institution, of course, 

 involved a great deal of labor, such as the unpacking and classifying 

 of the objects; the labeling of all, at least as to localities; the entering 

 in their respective record-books; the putting such of them in order 

 as required it ; placing such as were ready for immediate exhibition 

 on their respective shelves; and storing the rest away where they could 

 most readily be referred to on occasion. 



All dry objects of an animal nature generally need prompt attention 

 to prevent their being affected by mold or by the attacks of insects ; 

 ethnological objects usually requiring to be thoroughly cleaned and 

 poisoned, while skins of animals, furs, Indian robes, dresses, &c, must 

 be immersed in some poisonous solution before they can be considered 

 as permanently secure. All this has been effected with as much thor- 

 oughness as the time and force at the command of the Institution would 

 permit. 



In addition to this, it was found that the immense collection of objects 

 of dresses and ornaments belonging to the ethnological galleries, were 

 more or less infected by moths, and it became necessary to subject the 

 entire series to a process of renovation, embracing many thousands of 

 specimens. 



The transfer of the mounted birds and mammals from the old stands 

 to those of a neater form has also been prosecuted to a considerable ex- 

 tent during the year, several thousands having been so treated, to the 

 manifest improvement of the general appearance. 



