54 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



manuals of science, attaining the rank of monographs. This has been done 

 in the Catalogue of North American Serpents in the Museum of the Smith- 

 nian Institution, published in January, 1S53, which, in a compact vol- 

 ume of one hundred and eighty-eight pages, contains full and original 

 descriptions of one hundred and nineteen species — all belonging to the 

 Institution, with the exception of five ; and some of these, with many ad- 

 ditional ones, have been received since that time. Similar catalogues of 

 the other reptiles are in an advanced stage of progression, and will be 

 ready for publication early in 1854. 



In addition to the preparation of these catalogues, much has been 

 done in the classification and description of the collections sent in by 

 the various exploring expeditions. Considerable progress has been 

 made towards the preparation of the several reports of the natural his- 

 tory of the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey, the survey of 

 the North Pacific railroad route by Gov. Stevens, that of the Central 

 route by Lieut. Whipple, that of the United States Astronomical Expe- 

 dition to Chili by Lieut. Gillis, and several others. The preparation of 

 many hundred sheets of drawings of new species for these reports has 

 been carefully superintended. The reports prepared upon the natural 

 history of the explorations by Capt. Sitgreaves and Capt. Marcy, have 

 already been published by Congress. Some of these I now lay before 

 you. 



A large amount of valuable information relating to the descriptions, 

 and the habits and manners of species, has been received during the 

 year — much of it bearing directly upon important questions in science 

 and rural economy. A very extensive correspondence has been re- 

 quired for the purpose of stimulating investigations and calling attention 

 to the solution of particular problems. It is much to be regretted that 

 tlie Institution has no medium of its own through which the information 

 thus received can be promptly presented to the world. A monthly 

 bulletin, of considerable size, could readily be filled with communica- 

 tions of this kind, as well as with brief notices and descriptions of col- 

 lections received. 



REGISTERS OF PERIODICAL PHENOMENA. 



The blank registers of periodical phenomena issued in the winter of 

 1S52-'S, have been returned filled, and in connexion with those for the 

 previous year, still in manuscript, form a body of information of the 

 highest value. These will be carefully reduced, and published at an 

 early period. A new edition having become necessary, a revision of 

 the old lists of plants was carefully made by Drs. Torrey and Gray, 

 and the revised form will be distributed in a few weeks. Instructions 

 for making collections of microscopical organisms and infusoria have 

 been added. 



ASSISTANCE IN THE MUSEUM. 



As the time has already arrived when more attention and labor 

 should be given to the collections of the museum to make them fulfil 

 all the purposes of instruction of which they are capable, it is very 



