52 KEPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1890. 



57 specimens of Cambrian, Lower Silurian, and Upper Silurian fossils. 

 These specimens represent 25 genera and 35 species. 



Botany. — Dr. I. Hag-en, of Trondbjem, Norway, sent in exchange a 

 fine collection of Norwegian mosses, representing 320 species. A 

 partial equivalent for this collection has been already transmitted, and 

 a further sending will be made before long. 



Minerals.— From the Royal Museum, Stockholm, Sweden, were re- 

 ceived specimens of minerals from Sweden, Norway, Finland, and 

 Greenland. This collection was sent in exchange for a collection of 

 minerals which had been previously transmitted. 



The Museum of Natural History, Paris, France, has sent in exchange 

 for minerals received, a meteoric stone from Aumale, Algeria, and two 

 meteorites. 



From the Australian Museum, Sydney, New South Wales, through 

 the U. S. Geological Survey, were sent in exchange 32 specimens of 

 Australian minerals and rocks. 



The British Museum, London, England, sent 3 casts of meteors and 

 a specimen of orpiment, also 86 specimens of minerals. Three boxes 

 of minerals were sent in exchange for this collection. 



PUBLICATIONS. 



In the report for 1889 (pp. 54-65) the history and condition of the 

 publications of the National Museum are fully discussed. The increase 

 in the publication fund, which would have made possible a more generous 

 distribution of the volumes of is Proceedings" and the " Bulletin," has 

 not been allowed by Congress. 



To meet the numerous applications for the volumes of these publica- 

 tions, the following circular was printed : 



CIRCULAR RELATING TO THK PUBLICATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL 



MUSEUM. 



The Smithsonian Institution will probably find it necessary to discontinue the repub- 

 lication of the Proceedings and Bulletins of the National Museum for distribution to 

 libraries, the cost being found too heavy a burden upon its limited publication fund. 



Congress has been asked to increase the annual appropriation for the Museum pub- 

 lications, in order that every important library and institution of learning may be 

 supplied with a full series of those hereafter to be issued. Should Congressional ac- 

 tion be favorable, a request will be made for the republication of the back volumes for 

 the use of the same libraries and institutions. 



In the meantime the publications of the years 1883 and 1889 will be sent to a lim- 

 ited list of libraries, chiefly scientific, in the United States and abroad. 



Bulletins No. 17 to No. 32, and Proceedings, Vols, v to xi, iuclnsive,can not bo sup- 

 plied at present. Bulletins No. 1 to No. 16, and Proceedings, Vols, i to iv, are included 

 in the Smithsonian series of Miscellaneous Collections. 



The number of copies of the earlier publications, printed under the authority of 

 the Interior Department, was very small, and a few copies placed at the disposal of 

 the National Museum were used for distribution to scientific societies and museums, 

 and to individual specialists and in exchauge for collections. 



