REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 49' 



If the duplicates now in possession of the Institution were to be 

 distributed on the plan of demanding an equivalent of specimens in 

 exchange, the returns would fill far more than the unoccupied space 

 now in the Smithsonian building, and an additional edifice would be 

 required, "the cost of which would either diminish the original fund or 

 absorb for years to come the accruing interest. It is evident, therefore, 

 that unless the museum be restricted within definite limits, the active 

 operations which have given so much reputation to the Institution, and 

 made the name of Smithson as familiar as a household word in every 

 part of the world, must ultimately cease. It has, therefore, been con- 

 cluded to confine the special collections of the Institution to type speci- 

 mens, illustrating the natural history of the American continent. 

 Even the cost of the preservation of these will be more than can well 

 be afforded from the income of the original bequest. Indeed the Insti- 

 tution could do much more service to the cause of natural history, were 

 Congress to accept as a gift the Smithsonian building and all its speci- 

 mens for the purpose of establishing a separate museum, and suffer the 

 Smithsonian income, thus freed from the expense of supporting so 

 costly an establishment, to be entirely devoted to the active operations 

 of the programme of organization. 



It is not intended by the foregoing to decline accepting foreign 

 specimens in cases in which they may be required for special investi- 

 gation and comparison ; on the contrary, it is a part of the policy of 

 the Institution to furnish, as far as possible, to original investigators 

 aid of this kind. 



For an account of the labors connected with the collections and the 

 museum, in detail, I must refer to the communication, herewith ap- 

 pended, of Professor Baird. 



Exchanges. — The system of exchange still continues to perform an* 

 important part in the literary and scientific intercourse between this 

 country and other parts of the world. During the year 1860 it has 

 increased more rapidly than in any other period of the same length, 

 and is now the principal medium of literary and scientific communica- 

 • tion between the American continent and foreign countries. It is not 

 confined on this side of the Atlantic to the United States, but extends 

 to Canada, the West Indies, and South America. 



As a natural consequence of the extension of this part of the opera- 

 tions, the cost of carrying it on has correspondingly increased, and it 

 will be impossible with the limited income of the Smithsonian fund to 

 enlarge the system, or even to continue it in its present dimensions, 

 4 



