REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 63 



Distribution and use of Specimens. — The policy of rendering the 

 specimens as conducive as possible to the immediate promotion of sci- 

 ence has been constantly observed, and for this "purpose not only 

 have new specimens been furnished to those engaged in original in- 

 vestigations, but the duplicates of such as have been examined have 

 been made up into sets for distribution. 



From the materials principally furnished by the Institution, Dr. 

 Gill has prepared % synopsis of North American seals, about to be 

 published by the Esses Institute of Massachusetts, and has continued 

 the description of new species of fishes. He has also examined the 

 skulls of Mammals in the collection, and among them has made the re- 

 markable discovery of a peculiar generic type of tapirs, still living 

 on the Isthmus of Panama, but which has escaped the notice of pre- 

 vious investigators. 



Ample materials have also been furnished Professor Baird for the 

 preparation of an additional part of his review of American birds, 

 and the means have been furnished Dr. Bryant, Mr. Cassin, and Mr. 

 Lawrence, for prosecuting their investigations in relation to orni- 

 thology. A large number of reptiles have been sent to Professor 

 Cope, ofHaverford College, Pennsylvania, including' a series from 

 Arizona and Central America; the new species will be described in 

 the proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences, 

 and a more elaborate monograph of the whole is to be presented 

 for publication to the Institution. Dr. Brewer has been supplied with 

 eggs and nests of birds, for the continuation of his work on North 

 American Oology, the first part of which was published in the elev- 

 enth volume of Smithsonian Contributions. 



In all cases where assistance is thus extended to individuals in the 

 prosecution of their particular studies, there is an implied understand- 

 ing that full credit shall be given to the Institution for the facilities 

 afforded. This condition has generally been properly observed, al- 

 though in some few cases the acknowledgment has not been quite so 

 explicit as the benefits received would appear to demand. 



So extended has become the field of modern science that divi- 

 sion of labor is here as essential as in the mechanic arts, and a mas- 

 tery of principles and details can only be the reward of attention con- 

 centrated on a few branches; as, therefore, the organization of this 

 Institution does not contemplate the support of a corps of professors 

 engaged in a comprehensive cultivation of science in all its branches, 

 but would rather invite the aid and procure the collaboration of 

 those who may be disposed to render gratuitous service for the fur- 

 therance and advance of knowledge for its own sake, many of the 



