REPORT OP ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 



27 



Table showing the nature of duplicate material distributed between July, 1885, and July, 



1886. 



Objects. 



Species. 



Specimens. 





14 



26 



Pottery . . . 



626 







42 



Mollusks .. . . 



295 



759 





1, 453 



Arehseoloo-y .. 





241 



Minerals -. . ......... ........ 



318 



200 



61 



1,862 



Marine invertebrates, 32 sets .. 



18, 000 

 260 



Miscellaneous . .. . 



Plants ..... . ...... 



49 



Rocks 



145 

 61 

 12 



7 



221 



Mammals , 



98 



Casts of fishes _. 



12 



Reptiles 



7 





331 













23, 987 









The number of applications for drawings and photographs of the 

 standard styles of cases used in the Museum, which have been favorably 

 acted upon during the year, has been 115. In addition, 57 sample cases 

 and drawers have been lent to colleges and other institutions desirous 

 of examining their construction, with a view to adopting similar forms 

 in their own museums and laboratories. 



The Mexican Geographical and Exploring Commission, from which 

 were received valuable collections of birds and other* natural history 

 objects, requested to be supplied with a full series of papers, working- 

 drawings, etc., in connection with the operations of the Museum. In 

 response to this request, a box was forwarded, containing thirteen cyano- 

 types of working-drawings of Museum cases, sixteen photographs of 

 cases, a complete set of blanks and circulars used in the administration 

 of the Museum, together with a set of Museum circulars and plans of 

 the Museum buildings. The Smithsonian Institution and U. S. Fish 

 Commission also sent specimens of blanks and circulars. 



The preparation of a set of casts of fishes and reptiles for the Ameri- 

 can Museum of Natural History, in New York, was commenced and 

 partially completed during the year. 



In October, 1885, the preparation of a duplicate collection of building- 

 stones for the museum above referred to, was completed. This task 

 was undertaken in continuation of an engagement entered into be- 

 tween the American Museum of Natural History and the late Dr. George 

 W. Hawes, while in charge of the collection of building-stones in the 

 Museum and of the work of gathering material for the Tenth Census. 



Foreign exchanges. — Exchanges have been made with several foreign 

 museums and institutions. Nine mammal skins have been received from 



