48 EEPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 



10. Exploration of the Colorado river, under Lieutenant J. G. Ives.— 

 This expedition started in September, accompanied by Dr. J. S. 

 Newberry, surgeon and geologist, and H. B. MoUhausen, artist and 

 zoologist. Stveral collections made by these gentlemen about San 

 Diego are on their way_, but have not yet been received. 



The more important private explorations from which specimens 

 have been received are as follows : 



11. Region around Fort Tejon, California, hy J. Xantus de Vesey. — 

 The collections made by Mr. Vesey will compare favorably with any 

 obtained under government auspices, and embrace complete series of 

 the animals and plants of the vicinity of Fort Tejon, as far as met 

 with ; they also include quite a number of new species. 



12. Southern Illinois and Northern Red river, hy R. Kennicott. — Mr. 

 Kennicott, under a commission from the Northwestern University, at 

 Evanston, Illinois, to procure for its museum a collection of specimens 

 of the natural history of the northwest, visited southern Illinois in the 

 spring, and after exploring the vicinity of Cairo and New Madrid 

 for several months, proceeded to the Red river of the North, within 

 the British possessions, and nearly to Lake Winipeg. The collections 

 made cover all branches of zoology. 



13. Coast of Florida, hy G. Wurdemann, United States Coast 

 Survey. — Mr. Wurdemann's collections were in continuation of those 

 of previous years, and included a great variety of species, among them 

 several birds new to the fauna of the United States. 



14. Red river of the North and of Nelson's river, U. B. Territory, 

 hy Donald Gunn, esq. — A large collection of birds and mammals made 

 in these regions by Mr. Gunn, assisted by Mr. John Isbister, have 

 added much to our knowledge of the distribution of species. 



A collection of about 150 species of birds of Arctic America, Mexico, 

 and Guatemala, presented by John Gould^ esq., of London, has fur- 

 nished very important data for comparison and determination of species 

 of the United States. 



Of the numerous ether collections made it is impossible to give an 

 account here. The detailed list of contributions and donations will, 

 however, furnish additional information on the subject. 



In conclusion it may be proper to state, that of the government expe- 

 ditions mentioned above, that under Mr. Campbell was organized by 

 the State Department ; those under Lieutenant Warren, Lieutenant 

 Bryan, Colonel Johnston, Captain Pope, and Lieutenant Ives, by the 

 War Department ; those under Mr. Magraw and Mr. Leech, by the De- 

 partment of the Interior ; and those under Captain Page and Lieu- 

 tenant Michler, by the Navy Department. 



In the reception of collections from the California coast, the Institu- 

 tion is under great obligations to the California Mail Steamship 

 Line, composed of the United States Mail Steamship Company, the 



