4 MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. [Apr. 



[A.] 



EEPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 



OF THE 



MUSEUM OF COMriRATIYE ZOOLOGY, 



For the Year 1871. 



On the point of leaving Cambridge for an extensive journey, 

 to explore the greatest depths of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, 

 on both sides of the American Continents, I deem it my duty to 

 state to this Board, what measures I propose to take for the 

 management of the Museum during my absence. 



Owing to the rapid increase of the institution, the manage- 

 ment of its business affairs has become very laborious. For the 

 last two years, Mr. T. G. Cary has taken chief charge of this 

 part of the work, giving his whole time to it, with untiring and 

 disinterested devotion. With your approbation, I propose to en- 

 trust it entirely to him during my absence ; while Mr. A. Agas- 

 siz would advise on matters more especially concerning the 

 scientific interests of the Museum. 



With reference to the regular work of the different depart- 

 ments, I propose to transfer to the heads of each department 

 the daily supervision I used to make personally of its progress, 

 and I have prepared written directions for them all, to serve as 

 a guide. 



Mr. J. A. Allen is entrusted with the care of the Mammalia 

 and Birds. He has been especially directed to put in order, for 

 the purposes of the Museum, the collections he is now making 

 in the Rocky Mountains, with Messrs. Bliss and Bennett. I 

 have further directed him to dispose of our duplicates, by ex- 



