

o2 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



2. Quantitative examinations, or the determination of the percentage 

 of the different components of the specimens, can only be made at ^ie 

 expense of the applicant ; the charge to be in proportion to the time 

 expended in the work, e. g., from $5 to $50, according to whether it is 

 partial (determination of silver, lead, or iron, &c, only), or full (deter- 

 mination of every thing). 



3. The report of quantitative examinations will be given under the 

 name of the expert to whom the specimen shall be submitted, and not 

 under that of the Smithsonian Institution. 



4. All applications for the determination of specimens must be made 

 by letter, addressed " Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution." • - 



5. The specimens examined, or part of them, will be retained by the 

 Institution. 



0. All specimens to be delivered to the Institution free of expense. 



NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



The National Museum was established by the Government in 1842, at 

 which time it consisted principally of specimens collected by the Wilkes 

 exploring expedition. It was transferred from the Patent Office to the 

 care of the Smithsonian Institution in 1858, where it has been enlarged 

 by all the collections made by exploring and surveying parties of the 

 several bureaus of the War, Navy, Treasury, and Interior Departments, 

 and those of the Smithsonian Institution. 



The following report from Professor Spencer F. Baird, assistant sec- 

 retary, gives an account of the additions to the museum and the various 

 operations connected with it during the year 1877: 



REPORT OP PROF. SPENCER F. BAIRD ON THE MUSETBI. 



Increase of the Museum. — It was hardly to be expected that the addi- 

 tions to the National Museum in 1877 should compare with those of 

 1875 and 1876, including, as they did, the results of large expenditures 

 for the purpose of making a suitable exhibit at the International Exhibi- 

 tion of 1876 of the ethnology and of the resources of the United States, as 

 derived from the animal and mineral kingdoms, with their accessories. 

 The reduction in the yield, however, proves to be much less marked 

 than was anticipated j and the aggregate of receipts has been far be- 

 yond that of any previous year, with the exception of those mentioned. 

 The number of donors was 342, of douations 489, and of separate pack- 

 ages 815. 



As heretofore, the additions to the Museum consisted of five classes: 

 First, those supplied by the different government expeditious, in accord- 

 ance with the law of Congress. Second, the donations from private 

 individuals, made either spontaneously, or in response to special invita- 

 tions and requests. Third, the results of exchanges, prosecuted with 

 various establishments or individuals at home and abroad. A fourth 



