The Smithsonian Institution, being desirous of obtaining information with regard to the periodical phenomena of animal and vegetable life in North America, respectfully invites all persons who may have it in their power, to record their observations, and to transmit them to the Institution. The points to which particular attention should be directed, are the first appearance of leaves and of flowers in plants; the dates of appearance and disappearance of migratory or hybernating animals, as Mammalia, Birds, Reptiles, Pishes, Insects, Ac; the times of nesting of Birds, of moulting and littering of Mammalia, of utterance of characteristic cries among reptiles and insects, and any thing else which may be deemed noteworthy.

A list of plants is appended, to which particular reference should be had in making observations. It has been prepared from materials furnished by Dr. John Torrey and others, and will be found to contain many species distributed throughout the United States, together with a number indigenous to, or cultivated in Europe. For the present, attention may be paid alone to the time of flowering of these species, this period in all cases being indicated by the first appearance of the anther in the expanding flower.

The Smithsonian Institution is also desirous of obtaining detailed lists of all the animals and plants of any locality throughout this continent. These, when practicable, should consist of the scientific names, as well as those in common use; but when the former are unknown, the latter may be employed. It is in contemplation to use the information thus gathered, in the construction of a series of tables, showing the geographical distribution of the animal and vegetable kingdoms in North America.

List of Plants to be particularly observed.

Acer rubrura, L., Red or soft maple.

- pgeudo-platanns, L., European sycamore.

- saccharinum, L., Sugar maple.

Achillea millefolium, L., Millefoil or yarrow.

Actea rubra, Willd, Red baneberry.

- alba, Bigelow, White baneberry - necklace weed;

Asclepiaa (syriaca) cornuti, L., Milkweed.

aesculus hippocastamim, L., Horaechestnut, (fruit rough and prickly.)

- glabra, Willd., Ohio Buckeye, (fruit rough and prickly.) *

- pavia. or flava, Ait., Yellow buckeye;

(fruit smooth.)

Ailanthus glandolosus, Tree of heaven.

Amelanehier canadensis, Torr. and Gray, Shad bush, servieebcrry.

Ampelopjris quinquefolia, Michx., American ivy - Virginia creeper. Alisma plantago, L., Water plalntain. Amygdalus nana, L., Flowering almond. Anagallis arvensu, L., Pimpernel, Poor man's

. weather glass. Anemone nemorosa, L., Windflower; wood anemone. Aplectrnm byemale, Nutt., Putty root, or

Adam and Eve. Apocynum androsssmifolium, L., Dogbane. Aquilegia canadensis, L., Wild columbine. Amaryllis atamasco, L.. Atamasoo lily. Arethnsa bulbosa, L., Aretbusa. Arnm triphyllam, L., Indian turnep. Aristolochia sipho, D'Her., Dutchman's pipe. Azalea nudiflora, L., Common red honeysuckle. Bignonia (Tecoma) radicana. Juss., Trumpet creeper. Catalpa bignonioides, Walt., Gatalpa tree.

- Indian bean.

Caltha palnstris, L., Marsh marigold.

Carpinus americana, Michx., Hornbeam, iron-wood.

Celastrusscandens, L., Bittersweet, waxwork.

Convolvulus purpureus, L., Common morning glory.

Cercis canadensis, L., Red bud; Judas tree.

Chelidonium majus, L., Celandine.

Chionanthus virginica, L., Fringe tree.

Cimifuga racemosa, Ell., Black snake root; rattle snake root.

Clay tenia virginica, L., Spring Beauty.

Corchorus japonicus, Yellow rose; (flowers all the year.)

Cornus florida, L., Flowering dogwood. (The time of expansion of the real flower, not of the white involucre.)

Crataegus crus-galli, L., Cockspur thorn.

- coccinea, L., Scarlet fruited thorn.

- oxycantha, L., English hawthorn. Cynoglossum officinale, L., common hound's tongue.

Dentaria laciniata, Muhl., Cut leaved tooth-wort.

Dicentra cucullaria, D. C, Dutchman's breeches.

Digitalis purpurea, L., Purple fox-glove.

Draba (Erophyla) verna. L., Whitlow grass.

Epigaea repens, L., Trailing arbutus; ground laurel.

Erythronium americana, Smith, Dog tooth violet, or adder's tongue.

Geranium maculatum, L., Cranesbill.

Gentiana saponaria, L., Soapwort gentian.

Gleditschia triacanthos, L., Three thorned acacia, honey locust.

Gillenia trifoliate, Moench., Indian physic.

Gymnocladus canadensis, Lam., Kentucky coffee-bean tree.

Halesia tetraptera, Willd., Snow-drop tree.

Hepatica triloba, Chaix., Round lobed liverwort.

Houstonia ccerulea. Hook, Bluets, innocence, etc.

Hypericum perforatum, L., St. John's wort.

Hydrangea arborescens, L., Wild hydrangea. Iris versicolor, L., Large blue flag. Juglans regia, L.. English walnut.

- nigra, L., Black walnut. Kalmia latifolia, L., Mountain laurel. Lamium amplexicaule, L., Dead nettle Lauras benzoin, L., Benzoin odoriferum,Nees.,

Spice bush, Benjamin bush.

Lappa major, (Arctium lappa,) Gaeertn., Common burdock.

Ligustrum vulgare, L.. Common privet.

Lobelia cardinalis, L., Red cardinal flower.

Lonicera periclymenum, L., Foreign spurs.

- sempervirens, Ait., trumpet honeysuckle. Lonicera tartarica, L., Foreign spurs. Linaria vulgaris. Mill., Common toadflax. Lupin us perennts. L., Wild lupine.

Lilum philadelphicum, L., Wild lily.

Liriodendron tulipifera, L., Tulip tree. American poplar.

Magnolia glauca, L., Small or laurel magnolia, sweet bay.

Morns rubra, L., Red mulberry.

Nuphar advena. Ait., Yellow pond lily, splat-terdock.

Nymphssa odorata, Ait., Sweet scented water lily.

Orontium aquaticum, L., Golden club, never-wet.

Oxalis violacea, L., Violet wood sorrel.

Platanus occidentals, L., Buttonwood, sycamore.

Persica vulgaris. L., Peach.

Lodopbyllum peltatum, L., Mandrake, May apple.

Pentstemon pubescens,Sol,Downy pentstemon.

Pontederia cordata, L., Pickerel weed.

Populns tremuloides, Michx., American aspen.

Pogonia ophioglossoides, Nutt, Adder's tongue.

Ptelea trifoliata, L., Shrubby trefoil.

Pulmonaria (Mertensia) virginica, D. C, Lungwort.

Pyrus communis, L., Common pear tree.

Pyrus malus, L., Common apple tree.

Qnercus alba, L.. White oak.

Rhamnus cathartic*, L., Common Buckthorn.

Rhus cotinus, L., Smoke tree.

-----typhina, L., Staghorn sumac.

Rhus glabra, L., Smooth sumach.

Ribes rnbrum, L., Currant.

------grossularia, Gooseberry.

Robinia pseud-acacia, L., Common locust.

Rosa centifolia.L., Hundred leaved or cabbagge rose.'

-----Carolina, L., Swamp rose.

Rubus odoratns. L.,Purple flowered raspberry.

Sagittaria sagittifolia, L., Arrow weed.

Sambucns canadensis, L., Common elder. nigra, L.

Sangninaria canadensis, L. Blood root.

Saponaria officinale, L., Soapwort, bouncing bet.

Sarracenia purpurea, L., Side-saddle flower.

Saxifragra virginiensis,Michx., Early saxifrage.

Sassafras officinale, Nees., Sassafras.

Silene pennsylvanica, Michx., Wild pink.

Smilacina bifolia, Ker., 2 leaved Solomon seal. Staphylea trifolia, L., American bladder nut. Syringa vulgaris, L., Lilac. Symplocarpus foetidus, Salisb., Skunk cabbage. Tilia amcrlcana, L.? Bays wood, white wood,

American lime, or linden. Tradescantia virginica, L., Spider-wort. Ulmus americana, L., American elm. Verbena hastata, L., Blue vervain. Viburnum opulus, L., Snowball bush.

------opulifolium, Mx., Nine bark.

Viola lanccolata, L., Lance leaved violet.

------cucullea, Ait.. Hood leaved violet.

Vitis aestivalis, Mich., Summer grape.

First appearance of the following animals, and if possible, time of depositing eggs.

Pandion carolinus, Gm,, Fisk hawk. Hirundo purpurea, L., Martin. Tardus migratorius, L., Robin. Sialia Wilsonii, Sw., Blue bird. Agelaius phoeniceus, L., Red wing black-bird, and any other species of birds. Salmo salar. L., Salmon Alosa, Shad. Acipenser, Sturgeon. Cry of toads and frogs. - Catydid.

------Locust. (Cicada.

Appearance of fire-flies.