74 MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. [Feb. 



absence of such standards has been a serious obstacle and incon- 

 venience to American naturalists. The largest number of such speci- 

 mens has been obtained from the collection of Dr. de Koninck, which 

 has been secured for the Museum. The Smithsonian Institution has 

 also made most valuable donations to the Museum from its rich 

 stores. Indeed, our institution is constantly benefited by the gener- 

 osity and kindness of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 

 whose liberal direction of the establishment under his charge greatly 

 enlarges the sphere of its usefulness. Whenever any special investiga- 

 tions have been going on at the Museum, the specimens of the Smith- 

 sonian collections belonging to the groups under examination have 

 been placed at our disposal, and have afforded us the most valuable 

 assistance. Dr. Poey has most generously forwarded to us the origi- 

 nals of his description of the fishes of Cuba, among which are unique 

 specimens, and from Dr. Iinhoff we have received many thousand 

 European insects. 



As soon as the system of exchanges inaugurated with many of the 

 great museums of the Old World shall have been carried out, it is 

 expected that the number of well-authenticated original specimens 

 will be greatly increased. We have already received highly valuable 

 returns from the Museum of Copenhagen, and arrangements have 

 been made with the Jardin des Plantes, from which valuable speci- 

 mens have already been received, through Professor Valenciennes ; 

 and with the Zoological Museums of Stuttgard, Freiburg, and Mont- 

 pelier, as well as with the Anatomical Museum in Vienna, for similar 

 exchanges. Professor Milne-Edwards has kindly offered to superin- 

 tend himself the selection of the Crustacea from the Jardin des Plantes 

 intended for us. Exchanges have also been made with Amherst Col- 

 lege and with several private individuals ; and an active system of 

 exchanges is constantly going on with the Essex Institute of Salem, 

 from which the Museum has received most valuable specimens. From 

 the Earl of Enniskillen we have received many fossil fishes, and also 

 a magnificent fossil Irish elk, which forms one of the principal orna- 

 ments of the Museum. 



From the explorations carried on in foreign countries under the 

 auspices of the Museum, very large collections have been received, 

 through Mr. Garret, from the Kings Mills and Society Islands. 



