REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 21 



a strikinjs: contrast to the rich plains on the Atlantic slope. The num- 

 ber of animal forms, as well as the vegetable, decreases perceptibly in 

 proportion as we advance from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It is wor- 

 thy of note that while the species belonging to the western province sel- 

 dom, if ever, find their way to the eastern division, those, on the contrary, 

 in the latter province, spread to within a short distance of the shores of 

 the Pacific. The difference in the elevation of the ground which exerts 

 in Mexico such a great influence over the geographical distribution of 

 animal species, exists only in a slight degree in the Isthmus of Tehuau- 

 tepec, the highest point of the territory, not being elevated more than, 

 from 500 to 2,800 feet above the level of the sea. 



The fifth bulletin, a " Catalogue of the Pishes of the Bermudas," is 

 based chiefly upon collections in the United States National Museum, 

 made and described by G. Brown Goode. 



A visit to the Bermudas during the months of February and March, 

 1872, afforded the author opportunities for collecting the notes and 

 specimens upon which this paper is based. At the time of his visit only 

 seven species of fishes had been recorded from this locality, and the 

 only authentic information regarding the fish-fauna was contained in 

 one short chapter of a work by John Matthew Jones, of England. In 

 the present list, Mr. Goode enumerates seventy-five species, most of 

 which were personally observed. 



Bulletin No. 6 consists of a tabular classification prepared by Pro- 

 fessor Goode, to facilitate the work of collecting and arranging the 

 materials gathered by the Institution for the International Exhibition, 

 to illustrate the resources of the United States as derived from the ani- 

 mal kingdom. With a view to its future use in the classification of the 

 articles of the kind which it includes, it is presented in a permanent 

 form as a part of the Miscellaneous Collections. It forms a pamphlet of 

 140 octavo pages, of which the following are the several divisions: The 

 first group, section A, is an index of the whole series, including all 

 North American animals which are directly beneficial or injurious to 

 man. Section B embraces all instruments and methods employed by 

 the hunters, trappers, and fishermen of North America, aboriginal and 

 civilized. It is a monograph of all matters relating to the chase and 

 fisheries of the country. Section C includes all methods of utilizing an- 

 imal products. Section D presents a list of all useful substances derived 

 from the animal kingdom, and section E all articles illustrating the cul- 

 ture and protection of useful animals. Though this work was hurriedly 

 prepared for use at the Centennial Exhibition, and is necessarily incom- 

 plete, yet it will serve as a basis for other attempts of a similar char- 

 acter, and will be of especial use in making preparation for future Inter- 

 national Exhibitions. 



Centennial Outline Map of the United States and other 2)ort ions of North 

 America. — In order to serve as a basis for showing the larger features 



