REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 71 



to London, free of expense, in the ship belonging to the Hudson's 

 Bay Company, and then transmitted to this country. 



Beside the aid furnished by the Institution, it is proper to state that 

 the chief portion of the funds used in meeting Mr. Drexler's expenses 

 were supplied by Dr. Henry Bryant, of Boston. 



Explorations on the Labrador Coast. — Mr. Elliot Coues, of Washing- 

 ton; visited the Labrador coast last spring, in the vessel chartered by 

 Mr. John W. Dodge, and spent several months there, going as far 

 north as Rigolette. His collection consisted chiefly of birds and eggs, 

 of which several rare species were procured. 



During the United States Coast Survey expedition to Cape Chad- 

 leigh, on the steamer Bibb, for the purpose of observing the total 

 eclipse of the sun of July 18, a number of specimens were obtained by 

 Mr. W. A. Henry, one of the party. 



Explorations in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, by Dr. Henry Bryant. — Dr. 

 Bryant chartered a vessel at Gaspe, and in it spent several months 

 visiting various points in the Gulf and on the adjacent coasts. His 

 researches were principally in reference to the breeding of the water 

 birds, and important facts in regard to this point were collected by 

 him. Full series of his specimens have been presented by him to the 

 Institution. 



Exploration of the Coast of Labrador and of Greenland, by Williams 

 College. — This expedition, composed of students of Williams College, 

 under the direction of Prof. Chadbourne, spent several months along 

 the above-mentioned coasts, making interesting collections of natural 

 history, selections from which have generously been supplied to the 

 Smithsonian Institution. 



Explorations on the Southern Coast of the United States. — Interesting 

 collections from the vicinity of Micanopy have been received from Dr. 

 Bean, and others from Dr. Bryant. Dr. J. B. Holder, now medical 

 officer at Fort Jefferson, Tortugas, has made valuable contributions, 

 chiefly of birds and eggs, serving to extend and complete those of Cap- 

 tains Wright and Woodbury, and Dr. Whitehurst. Specimens of 

 several rare birds were also received from Captain Woodbury. From 

 Mr. Maslin and Mr. Keyser, tidal observers of the United States Coast 

 Survey, collections were also received, made in the vicinity of Char- 

 lotte harbor and Cedar Keys. Sergeant Alexander, at Fort Macon, 

 North Carolina, has also transmitted numerous specimens. 



Dr. Stimpson and Mr. Gill spent some weeks in the vicinity of Beau- 

 fort, North Carolina, daring the past spring, and occupied themselves 

 principally in an investigation of the marine fauna of that region. 

 Many species of shells were collected, some of very remarkable char- 

 acter, as being previously known only as fossils of our coast deposits. 

 Specimens of an Amphioxus were obtained, not recorded before as be- 

 longing to the American fauna. 



Explorations in the interior of the United States. — Reference has 

 already been made to the results of various Government expeditions in 

 the Rocky Mountains and elsewhere. In addition to these, valuable 



