REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 23 



Many important additions and corrections have been obtained in this 

 way which will add much to the value of the works. The request has 

 been made that these proof-sheets should not be considered as express- 

 ing the final views of the authors, but only intended to obtain the 

 information above mentioned. 



The ninth article of the series, by Mr. Prime, is well advanced in 

 printing, and will be completed in 1864. In addition to the purely 

 North American species, it will contain descriptions and wood-cut 

 figures of those of Central and South America, as well as of the West 

 Indies, thus embracing all the members of the family found in the 

 New World. 



The tenth and eleventh articles are still in process of preparation, 

 and the engraving of the wood-cuts for their illustration has com- 

 menced. 



The twelfth article — the first part of the Bibliography of North 

 American conchology by Mr. Binney, mentioned in the last report as 

 in press — has been completed and distributed. It forms a volume 

 of 650 pages, and contains a list of the publications of American au- 

 thors relative to conchology in general. As might reasonably be 

 expected, some omissions have occurred of titles of papers overlooked 

 or not met with, but copies have been sent to all the working con- 

 chologists of the country, with the request to furnish rectifications and 

 additions to be inserted in an appendix to the second part. This 

 second part, which is now in the press, is intended to include an 

 account of the writings of foreign naturalists relative to American 

 conchology, and will also contain, beside the additions and corrections 

 of the first volume, copious indexes of authors and names of genera 

 and species. About 250 pages are stereotyped, and the whole work, 

 probably filling over 500 pages, will be finished during 1864. 



The thirteenth article, check list by Mr. Meek, has been completed 

 and put to press. It contains a list of all the species of cretaceous 

 fossils described by authors up to the end of 1863, and will constitute 

 an important aid in the labor of cataloguing and labelling collections, 

 being prepared in the same style as that of the check-lists of North 

 American shells, published by the Institution some years ago, which 

 have been so much sought after by conchologists and amateurs. 



Another series of works belonging to the miscellaneous collections 

 is intended to facilitate the study of American insects. Of this series 

 the several articles are as follows: 



1. Instructions for collecting and preserving insects. 



2. Catalogue of the described Diptera (flies, musquitoes, &c.) of 

 North America, by Baron Osten Sacken. 



