REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 55 



Collectious of a similar character were also received from Col. J. T. 

 Abert, of tlie Engineer Corps, Washington, D. C, and from B. W. Ever- 

 mann, of Indiana University. 



Gaological specimens were contributed by O. A. Blackman, N. W. 

 Wood, and O. Whitcomb, of Leavenworth, and a collection of coal plants 

 by Fletcher M. Noe, of Indianapolis. Some interesting fishes were sent 

 by Prof. David S. Jordan, jiresident of Indiana University. 



Joica. — J. W. Presion, of Baxter, and li. J. llaiglit, of Davenport, 

 sent zoological specimens. 



From the Charles City IMarble Comiiany was received a beautiful 

 s])ecimeu of the so-called madrepore marble, a form of ornamental stone 

 not hitherto known in the arts. 



Kansas. — Bcptiles from southern Kansas have beeu received from 

 Charles Kuby, U. S. Army, stationed at Fort D. A. Russell, Wyo. 

 Various zoological specimens Lave also beeu received from A. M. Fuller, 

 of Lawrence ; E. Bumgardner, of Holtou, and Warren Kenans, of Selina. 

 Dr. W. S. Xewlou, of Oswego, has sent moUnsks from the Xeosho ]tiver 

 and neighboring streams for identification. From A. B. Baker, of 

 Banner, Trego Couutj', were purchased skeletons of the black-footed 

 ferret, Futorins nigrii)cs^ one of the rarest of American mammals. 



Dr. A. C. Peale, of the U. S. Geological Survey, sends an interest- 

 ing contribution to the department of physical geology, and Dr. A. li. 

 Chase, of Millwood, contributes bones and teeth of mastodon obtained 

 at a <lepth of 30 feet below tlie surface. Fossil shells were sent by 

 Lvobert Jlay, of Junction City. 



Kentuckij. — Zoological specimens were ppesented by Mrs. l^icllar(l 

 Carter, of Cloverport, and T. 11. Morgan, of Lexington. 



Prof. J. It. Procter, director of the Geological Survey of Kentucky, 

 presents a large collection illustrating the (;oal formation of the State, 

 including eight carefully prepared groups of specimens showing sec- 

 tions of different veins. Geological specimens were iilso leceived from 

 M. E. Morgan, of Gratz. Kentucky Q. Smith (Gerard Fowke) sent 

 two collections of archaeological objects. 



Louisiana. — C. J. Barrows, commissioner for Louisiana at the New 

 Orleans Ex])osiiiou, presented an exceedingly interesting collection of 

 the clothing and weapons of the Shetimasha Indians, including several 

 of their curious blow-pipes, used for the propulsion of arrows — the 

 only weapons of the kind found among natives of North America; also 

 sami)les of basketry from the Choctaw Indians; corn-husk basketry 

 made by the negroes, and specimens of nankeen cotton and decorticated 

 moss fabrics. 



Minerals were received from S. IL Houston, of New Orleans. John 

 M. Avery, of New Iberia, who has made many valuable contributions 

 to the Museum from the salt v/orks on the island of Pelit Anse, i>re- 

 sents beautiful si)ecimens of salt illustrating cleavage. 



ilf«m^.— Samples of basketry from the Passama<juoddy Indians were 

 received from IMrs. Fannie Fattangal, of Washington, D. C. 



