56 EEPOET OF THE ASSISTANT SECEETAEY. 



collection of humming birds, amounting to over 150 species. Professor Agassiz 

 has determined and returned the collection of Echini. 



Mr. Gill has continued his examinations of the fishes of Cape St. Lucas, col- 

 lected by Mr. Xantus, and published many new species from them. 



DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIMENS. 



The distribution of duplicate specimens has been continued as fully as time 

 and opportunity would allow. Several large collections of mammals, birds, and 

 eggs have been sent off, together with a considerable number of sets of marine 

 shells. Dr. Foreman has been engaged for some time in making up the duplicate 

 Unionidae into series, of which about twenty sets will soon be ready. 



WORK DONE IN THE MUSEUM. 



The mounted mammals and birds which occupied the Museum Hall at the 

 beginning of the year have all been identified, and to most of them neatly writ- 

 ten labels have been affixed. This portion of the work will be completed as 

 soon as the clerk assigned to the duty can accomplish it. All the sj)ecimens 

 have been carefully examined, and those attacked by insects have been re- 

 moved and baked or exposed to the vapor of benzine. A few skins have 

 been mounted of species possessing a particular interest. 



"The collection of skulls has been cleaned and rearranged in the southeast gal- 

 lery. The series of rocks, and in part that of minerals, have been placed on 

 their proper shelves. Nothing further has been done with the shells, the col- 

 lections in this department not having been returned by the gentlemen having 

 them in charge. 



All the miscellaneous boxes of specimens in the Institution have been un- 

 packed and their contents assorted and distributed. All the crude material in 

 the building has thus been put into condition for examination, and given out to 

 investigators for arrangement, with the exception of a portion of the fossils and 

 the general ethnological collection. These will, however, all be unpacked and 

 examined in the ensuing year. 



The progress of work upon the collections already in the Institution at the 

 beginning of the year was much interfered with by the necessity of receiving a 

 large number of specimens formerly belonging to the National Institute, and 

 sent from the Patent Office (where they had been stored) by the Commissioner 

 of Patents. Much of this material was in an exceedingly damaged condition, 

 requiring instant attention and much labor to preserve it in even tolerable con- 

 dition. 



The cataloguing of specimens in the record books of the Institution has been 

 carried forward during the year by the insertion of nearly 10,000 additional 

 entries, many of them covering each a number of specimens. The present ag- 

 gregate of entries is about 75,000, embracing at least 500,000 or half a million 

 of specimens. "When it is remembered that none of the plants, and insects, and 

 but few of the fishes and invertebrates, have yet been recorded in this way, 

 some estimate may be formed of the extent and value of the material for re- 

 search in charge of the Smithsonian Institution. 



