56 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



offer premiums for the best collections in particular departments of 

 natural history, (within the State,) with the privilege of taking the 

 others offered at a fair valuation. This would excite a spirit of 

 emulation between societies and individuals, which could not fail of 

 beneficial results, independently of the value of the collections them- 

 selves. The credit of having been the first to propose this plan in 

 America is, perhaps, due to the Ottawa Atheneum, of Ottawa, Canada, 

 ■which* has offered premiums of from two to ten pounds, amounting 

 in the aggregate to £33 10s. 



F — Distribution of Collections. 



With increasing materials at its command, the Institution is able 

 to do more and more in furnishing the means of scientific research to 

 naturalists at home and abroad, either as an absolute donation or as 

 an exchange for specimens received or promised. More assistance of 

 this kind has been rendered in 1855 than in any previous year. Thus 

 many specimens of American turtles and terrapins have been sent to 

 Professor Agassiz to aid him in preparing materials for the first vol- 

 ume of his great work on American zoology. To Dr. J. Wyman also 

 have been sent specimens of lophoid fishes and Perennia branchiate 

 reptiles, to be used in his investigations. Coleoptera have been sent to 

 J. L. Leconte, mammals to Major LeConte, eggs of birds to Dr. T. 

 M. Brewer ? infusorial earths to Professor Bailey, plants to Drs. Torrey 

 and Gray. 



A collection of 21 species of North American serpents was sent to 

 the Jardin des Plantes, of Paris, embracing a number not previously 

 in its possession. Many living specimens were also sent, but unfortu- 

 nately lost, in a manner previously referred to. Duplicates of collec- 

 tions received have also been sent to institutions in this country, as 

 fishes, birds and mammals to the Philadelphia Academy of Natural 

 Sciences, fishes to the medical department of Pennsylvania University , 

 mammals to the Boston Society of Natural History, &c. 



G — Exchange of Specimens. 



Much has been done by the Institution in 1855, as in preceding 

 years, in the way of facilitating the labors of naturalists, by bring- 

 ing into communication those of like tastes in different parts of this 

 country, or the world. Many persons have thus been enabled to secure 

 important additions to their means of research. Its extensive lists of 

 "workers in natural science throughout the world enables the Institu- 

 tion readily to meet the wishes of parties, by referring at once to those 

 most likely to assist in accomplishing some special object. 



Among the gentlemen who are desirous of having their wishes 

 made known to fellow-workers in science, may be mentioned the fol- 

 lowing : 



M. Zanardini, of Venice, desires to exchange specimens of Medi- 



* Journal of Education for Upper Canada, (Toronto,) November, 1855, page 175. 



