REPORT OP THE SECRETARY. 33 



The works on insects have been prepared especially to facilitate the 

 study of this branch of natural history — a taste for which has much 

 increased in this country of late years, principally through the exer- 

 tions of the Smithsonian Institution ; and it is believed that, with the 

 growing enthusiasm manifested for this study, specimens of nearly all 

 the species which inhabit North America will soon be collected and 

 accurately described. The practical bearing of a knowledge of ento- 

 mology, in its application to agriculture and the arts, as well as in its 

 scientific relation to general zoology and physical geography, have 

 been pointed out in previous reports. I may mention, however, as an 

 interesting fact exhibiting the relation of animal life to the peculiarities 

 of climate and soil in different parts of the world, that Baron Osten 

 Sacken has ascertained that the same species of insects which inhabit 

 the arid plains of the western portion of our continent are nearly 

 identical with those found on the steppes of Russia. 



The next class of publications of the Institution consists of the series 

 of annual Reports to Congress. The first reports were in pamphlet 

 form, and merely gave an account of the operations of the Institution 

 and the proceedings of the Regents. Each report, however, since 1853, 

 consists of a volume in which is given, in an appendix, some of the 

 lectures delivered at the Institution, extracts from correspondence, and 

 information of a character suited to the meteorological observers and 

 other persons interested in the promotion of knowledge. The first 

 volume of this series (that for 1853) contains a reprint of all the pre- 

 vious reports of the Secretary, the will of Smithson, the act of organi- 

 zation, and all the facts necessary to a history of the establishment 

 from its commencement. The report for 1859 contains the usual 

 amount of matter, which has thus far been restricted by the action of 

 Congress to 450 pages. The number of copies printed by order of 

 Congress was 10,000, of which only 4,500 were given to the Institu- 

 tion for distribution; whereas, of the report for 1858, the Institution 

 received 7,000 copies. On account of this reduction in the number of 

 copies, we have been obliged to curtail the list of distribution, and to 

 confine it principally to our meteorological observers and to those who 

 have manifested their interest in the work by making special applica- 

 tion for it. 



In order to ascertain whether the publications of the Institution are 

 received by the persons to whom they are addressed, a ■ ■Tinted form of 

 acknowledgment is sent, to be returned with the signature, post office, 

 and occupation of the recipient. The receipts, which have been care- 

 fully bound in a series of volumes as vouchers for the fa : ithful discharge 

 3 



