50 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



The collections made by Mr. Busseil, one of the photographers of the 

 expedition, at Hobart Town and vicinity, were also very important, and 

 included some specimens obtained from the Colonial Museum for trans- 

 mission to the Smithsonian Institution. 



From Mr. Edwin Smith, of the United States Coast Survey, in 

 charge of the party on Chatham Island, have been received some inter- 

 esting crania of the Maori and Moriori tribes. 



As in previous years, the operations of the United States Fish Com- 

 mission, under my charge, have furnished a rich yield of additions to 

 the National Museum. Its headquarters for the season were established 

 at Wood's Hole, Massachusetts, the same station as that of 1871; and 

 the improved facilities for collecting were made use of to secure large 

 numbers of marine animals, embracing a stock for distribution as dupli- 

 cates to other establishments. 



WorJc done in connection with the National Museum. — As might be 

 expected, the increased number of contributions during the year has 

 involved a corresponding amount of labor in the way of unpacking, 

 recording, and general fitting for permanent preservation, taxing 

 severely the efforts of the regular force and that enlisted temporarily 

 for the purpose of meeting the exigencies of the Centennial Exhibition. 



The actual number of entries made in the record-books of the Insti- 

 tution during the year was 12,578, carrying the total forward to 210,327. 



A large amount of labor has been performed also upon the general 

 collections. The reptiles and fishes have been put in excellent order by 

 a transfer to suitable bottles, labeling and recording. The mammals 

 and the skins of more or less birds have been re-arranged in new cases, 

 and are now in excellent condition. The entire collection of duplicate 

 birds' eggs has been overhauled, and a number of sets selected for dis- 

 tribution to scientific establishments. 



The taxidermists have been diligently at work and have more than 

 doubled the number of mounted animals of the collection, and greatly 

 increased that of the birds. The work of preparing plaster-casts of 

 fishes, reptiles, and cretaceans has also been continued, and this sec- 

 tion is now believed to be entirely unique. 



Outside of the building, as usual, much has been done on the Smith- 

 sonian collections. Dr. James Lewis, of Mohawk, N. Y., has continued 

 his labors upon the fresh-water and land shells of the United States 

 belonging to the Institution, having labeled the reserve series of Uni- 

 onidce, &c, and returned them to the Institution, the duplicates in large 

 part being made up into sets for distribution. 



Mr. J. A. Allen has had several groups of American mammals, espe- 

 cially the squirrels and the rabbits, from the Institution for the prepa- 

 ration of a series of monographs. Dr. Elliot Coues has continued his 

 labors upon the collection of mice, and has also monographed the 

 American carnivora. 



A large number of specimens of insects has been turned over to the 



