REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 23 



DIVISION OF BOTANY. 



FOSSIL AND RECENT PLANTS. 



The collections of fossil and recent plants continue under the care of 

 Mr. Lester F. Ward, of the U. S. Geological Survey, assisted by Mr. F. 

 H. Knowlton. Much of the material in the collection of fossil plants is 

 in the hands of Prof. Leo Lesquereux, of Columbus, Ohio, for determina- 

 tion, but nothing has recently been published by him. Mr. Knowlton has 

 been carrying on an investigation of the microscopical structure of the 

 wood and lignite of the Potomac formation. The results of his work 

 are to be published in one of the bulletins of the U. S. Geological Sur- 

 vey. 



The collection of fossil plants now contains 8,462 specimens. 



The collection of recent plants has been greatly enriched during the 

 year, notably by the addition of the material collected by Dr. Edward 

 Palmer in southwestern Mexico. This includes about eight hundred 

 species, of which one fifth are new to science. Mr. Pringle made valu- 

 able contributions to the fauna from Mexico, and from Mr. S. Applegate 

 was received a small collection of Alaskan plants. Much interesting 

 material which was exhibited at the New Orleans Exposition, has been 

 added through the courtesy of the Government of Gosta Kica. 



The herbarium of the late Mr. O. E. Pearce has been received during 

 the year. This includes over 600 finely mounted species, together with 

 a large number of duplicates. Other collections of interest and value 

 were received from Dr. J. G. McCormick, Mr. J. W. Johnson, and Prof. 

 Alfred Duges. 



Active work in this department has been mainly confined to the de- 

 termination of the material received. It is estimated that there are 

 32,000 specimens in the collection. Thirty entries have been made in 

 the catalogue during the year. 



DIVISION OF GEOLOGY. 



DEPARTMENT OF MINERALS. 



The honorary curator, Prof. F. W. Clarke, chief chemist of the U. S. 

 Geological Survey, reports satisfactory growth in the collections under 

 his charge. 



The mineral collection received some remarkable specimens of quartz,- 

 stibnite, and amber from the Educational Museum at Tokio, Japan. A 

 collection of 74 specimens of Swedish minerals collected by L. J. Igel- 

 stroni was purchased. 



Among the important accessions to the series of gems were those 

 from Mr. G. S. Bement, of Philadelphia, Mr. Thomas Wilson, of Wash- 

 ington, and Mrs. Spencer F. Baird. From the Treasury Department 

 was received a collection of 133 small diamonds and 150 pearls, which 

 were presented in 1840 to President Van Buren by the Imaum of Muscat. 



The collection of meteorites now numbers about 301 " falls," of which 

 141 have been obtained during the year. 



