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39 

Institution accepted the custody of the great collections of the U.S. Exploring Expeditions, among which were many specimens of the characteristic mammals of the most remote parts, all of the highest interest and some entirely new to science.

It was these expeditions under Government patronage which gave the collections their initial impetus, and in the greatest measure filled the exhibition-cases and storage-boxes of the Museum.  But there was another source of supply [[strikethrough]] as well.  the contributions of private collectors [[/strikethrough]] which assumed considerable importance in this decade, and [[strikethrough]] occupied the front rank, [[/strikethrough]] became pre-eminent in the next. - the contributions of private collectors.  The additions from this quarter were principally of examples of species inhabiting the eastern United States but in part also those of Central [[strikethrough]] Ame [[/strikethrough]] and British America.  Even at this early day there was scarcely a