42 NOTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



in addition to the complete series of specimens to be retained on the 

 shelves. 



Among the more important collections thus distributed may be men- 

 tioned one of 145 species of North American birds, in 199 specimens, 

 to the Swedish Academy of Sciences at Stockholm, in return for a very 

 valuable collection of skins and skeletons of north European mammalia; 

 97 species and 160 specimens of North American birds to Mr. F. 

 Sturm, of Niirnburg, in return for collection of birds, &c, from central 

 Europe ; 104 lots of fishes and invertebrates to Professor Agassiz, of 

 Cambridge, in return for numerous donations of duplicates from his 

 pre-eminently valuable collection ; fishes of Massachusetts to Dr. D. 

 H. Storer, of Boston, to assist him in the preparation of his memoir on 

 the fishes of the State ; numerous birds and quadrupeds, both European 

 and North American, to the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences; 

 eggs of American birds to Dr. T. M. Brewer, for his work on North 

 American oology ; large numbers of North American coleoptera to Dr. 

 Leconte, for his memoirs on this department of entomology, &c. The 

 list is capable of considerable extension, but there is enough to show 

 how the Institution has endeavored to co-operate with all societies and 

 individuals, engaged in special investigations, requiring materials ad- 

 ditional to those already in their possession. 



It will, however, be sufficiently evident that the Smithsonian In- 

 stitution cannot indiscriminately undertake systematic exchange of 

 specimens with other parties — with individuals especially. The force 

 of the natural history department is not now sufficient for this, and may 

 never be. To the mere collector, as distinguished from the investigator, 

 it will not be expedient to distribute specimens to any considerable 

 extent, as the disposable stock may be reduced so low as to render it 

 difficult or impossible to do proper justice to the student. While, 

 however, the Institution cannot undertake the mere business of exchange 

 with individuals, unless in exceptional cases, and even with institutions, 

 it can do and has done much to facilitate such exchange between other 

 parties. Scarcely a week passes without the communication of infor- 

 mation of the readiness or desire of exchange in particular departments 

 on the part of different individuals or associations. All notifications or 

 applications of the kind are systematically recorded in the proper 

 books and duly referred to when occasion requires. 



LIST OV THE PRINCIPAL DONATIONS TO THE MUSEUM OF THE SMITH- 

 SONIAN INSTITUTION DUB1NG 1854. 



Professor E. B. Andrews* — Keg of fishes from the Ohio river. 



Commodore J. AulicJc, U. 8. N. — Leaf of Talipot palm (Corypha um- 

 hracaulifera) from Ceylon. 



Joseph B. Austin. — Jar of reptiles from Para. 



Spencer F. Baird. — Two kegs and one hundred jarsof fishes, andinver- 

 tebrates, with skins of birds, skulls and teeth of sharks and rays; from 

 Beesley's Point, Cape May county, New Jersey. One keg of fishes 

 from Greenport and Riverhead, Long Island. One keg of fishes from 

 the fresh and brackish waters about Sing-Sing. New York. One keg 



