24 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



hands oi all those who are engaged in the same line of research, and 

 to insure due credit to himself from the countenance and support of 

 the Institution. 



The packages transmitted during the past year amounted, in the ag- 

 gregate, to 1,604. They weighed 12,220 pounds, and occupied nearly 

 400 cubic feet of space. 



The receipts of works from abroad, in exchange for those sent out 

 by the Institution, are much greater in value, as well as in number, 

 than those of last year. The whole number of articles received for the 

 library of the Institution during 1S53, is 2,556. For other institutions, 

 1,052 packages have been received. The number of separate works 

 which these contain is unknown. 



The Museum. — Additions during the past year have been made to the 

 museum from all branches of natural history and ethnology. They 

 are principally derived from various portions of our own country, par- 

 ticularly from the region between the Mississippi river and the Pacific 

 ocean. 



The Institution has taken the temporary charge of most of the col- 

 lections of the various exploring expeditions which have been sent out 

 during the past year. For a detailed account of the additions, I beg 

 leave to refer to the accompanying report of Prof. Baird. 



In accordance with the spirit which should pervade all parts of the 

 Institution, much good may be done in the way of promoting natural 

 history by distributing duplicate specimens among the cabinets of the 

 country and recommending the establishment, by associations of teach- 

 ers and others, of local collections, and b}^ giving directions for con- 

 ducting museums of this kind. The Institution, during the past year, 

 has done good service in this way, and will continue and extend this 

 means of diffusing knowledge. 



Researches. — Though little has been done immediately by the Institu- 

 tion, since the date of the last report, in the way of original research, 

 yet it has rendered important aid to physical geography and natural his- 

 tory, by the facilities which it has afforded the several exploring parties 

 which have been fitted out during the past year, for railway and boun- 

 dary surveys, in the regions west of the Mississippi. The instruments 

 have been compared, implements constructed, and practical instruction 

 given in the art of observation and the means of preserving specimens. 



The secretary has devoted considerable time, as a member of com- 

 missions appointed by government, to scientific investigations. These 

 duties, as well as those above mentioned, are performed entirely with- 

 out remuneration; and the Institution is thus, in various ways, repaying, 

 to a considerable extent, whatever expenditure the government has 

 made on account of the Smithsonian bequest. 



The Library. — The library during the past year has received an ad- 

 dition of 5,433 articles, the most valuable portion of which have been 

 derived from the Smithsonian exchanges. The whole number of books, 

 etc., now in the library is 25,856. 



At its last session, Congress appropriated $3,000 to begin the pre- 



