32 United States Explorhig Expedition. 



to be of great service hereafter, not less to the historian than 

 the philologist. 



The birds of the expedition already make a fine display in 

 the National Gallery, although but two-thirds are yet arranged. 

 In all there are about 1000 species collected, and double that 

 number of specimens. Contrary to expectation, many of the 

 birds of Oceania were found to have a very limited range. 

 Some of the groups have species peculiar to themselves, and 

 several insessorial species were found to be confined to a single 

 island. About fifty new species were obtained. 



The field for mammalia affbrded by the voyage has been 

 very limited. None of the Pacific islands, including New 

 Zealand, contain any native mammalia, except bats. Much 

 interesting information was, however, obtained relative to spe- 

 cies met with on the continents visited, and a few new species 

 were collected. 



The following is a list of the number of species in the other 

 departments of zoology, as nearly as can now be deter- 

 mined : — 



Fishes, .... 829 Shells, .... 2000 

 Reptiles, .... 140 Zoophytes, exclusive of Co- 

 Crustacea, ... 900 rals, . . . .300 

 Insects, .... 1500 Corals, .... 450 



Of these the number of new species, is nearly as fol- 

 lows : — 



Fishes, . . . .250 Shells, .... 250 



Reptiles, .... 40 Zoophytes, exclusive of Co- 

 Crustacea, . . .600 rals, . . . .200 

 Insects, . . . .500 Corals, , . . .100 



The following catalogue contains the number of species of 

 reptiles and fishes collected at the islands and countries visit- 

 ed;— 



Madeira and Cape Verds, 



Rio Janeiro, 104 



Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, 



Valparaiso, 



Peru, 



Paumotu Islands and Tahiti, 

 Samoa (or Navigators'), 



2 



