REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 47 



Cobb's Island, off the Eastern Shore of Virginia, during the past sum- 

 mer, for the purpose of collecting skins of the adult and young water 

 birds abounding in that vicinity. Although rather late in their under- 

 taking (July 29) they were quite successful, obtaining a number of in- 

 teresting species during their stay of ten days. 



For several years past Mr. F. A. Ober has been engaged, under the 

 auspices of the Smithsonian Institution, in making observations and 

 collections in natural history and archaeology in the West India Islands ; 

 this group, strange as it may appear, furnishing almost a virgin field of 

 research. In the course of his labors, beginning in 1877, Mr. Ober 

 visited a number of the islands and collected many specimens; of these 

 the birds have already been worked up, fully catalogued, and described 

 by Mr. Lawrence in the proceedings of the National Museum. No less 

 than twenty new species of birds have been added to science, and a great 

 deal of information obtained in regard to their geographical distribu- 

 tion. The National Museum is now in possession of what is believed to 

 be the most complete collection of West Indian birds extant ; a very 

 important corollary to its North and Central American series. The other 

 collections made by Mr. Ober were mainly of archaeological objects and 

 reptiles. 



Mr. Ober has lately published an interesting account of his travels, 

 entitled "Camps in the Caribees." 



Prof. J. L\ Steere, of the University of Michigan, at Ann.Arbor, who 

 has an excellent record as an explorer in China, Formosa, and else- 

 where, invited the Smithsonian Institution to a co-operation in a pro- 

 posed exploration of the Amazon River during the past summer. He 

 was accordingly provided with certain apparatus and material for col- 

 lecting, and made excellent use of his opportunities. Since his return 

 he has contributed to the National Museum a collection of the ancient 

 pottery from the island of Maranon, and other localities in the Amazon 

 Biver, thus filling a very serious gap in our archaeological museum. 

 During Professor Steere's previous explorations in the East, the Smith- 

 sonian Institution was the consignee of his collections, and rendered 

 much service in securing their safe and inexpensive transmission to 

 America. 



Dr. Cliarles J. tiering, of Paramaribo, Surinam, still maintains his 

 interest in the Smithsonian Institution, by sending to it collections in 

 natural history and archaeology. Several parcels have been forwarded 

 by him during the past year, flu 1 contents of which will be mentioned 

 nnder his name in the list of acquisitions. 



Dr. Otto Finsch, the eminent ornithologist and naturalist, and for 

 many years director of the Natural History Museum at Bremen, in 

 Germany, alter completing his recent explorations in Siberia, under- 

 took to visit the islands of tin 1 . Pacific Ocean, partly in the interest of 

 the !'>(". 1 in Museum, partly at the expense of the Ilumboldt Exploration 

 Fund, and partly at his own. 



