20 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



California. — As usual, the collections from California have been of 

 much importance, and furnish material not only for the reserve collec- 

 tions of the National Museum, but also for distribution and exchange. 



The most important collection was furnished by Mr. Charles H. Town- 

 send, an employe of the United States Fish Commission at the salmon 

 hatchery on the McCloud River. Large collections of birds and their 

 eggs, skins of mammals, specimens of reptiles and fishes, fossil re- 

 mains, &c, have all been sent in large quantity, furnishing the means 

 for an elaborate monograph of the animal productions of Shasta County. 

 Mount Shasta itself was visited, and the distribution of animal life 

 carefully noted. Mr. Livingston Stone, who has charge of the salmon 

 hatchery, also made some important contributions. 



From Mr. J. J. McLean, Signal Service observer at Cape Mendocino, 

 were received some very desirable collections ; and Mr. K. E. C. Stearns 

 also furnished large numbers of antiquities, as well as of recent shells. 



Lower California, Arizona, and Nerc Mexico. — The explorations of this 

 region by the several correspondents of the Institution have furnished 

 some valuable matter, especially the gatherings of Mr. L. Belding in 

 the vicinity of the Gulf of California. 



Nearly a quarter of a century ago Mr. John Xantus, an accomplished 

 naturalist and collector, prosecuted an extended exploration to Cape 

 Saint Lucas and the southern end of the Gulf of California, in the in- 

 terest of the Smithsonian Institution. The additions made by that 

 gentleman to our knowledge were of the utmost interest and impor- 

 tance. 



Since then almost nothing has been done in that region until in 1881, 

 when, at the suggestion of the Institution, Mr. L. Belding, of Califor- 

 nia, undertook to revisit the same region, with a view of ascertaining 

 what changes, if any, had occurred since the time of Mr. Xantus, and 

 whether any additional facts or species could be obtained. 



Starting on his mission in 1881, Mr. Belding was occupied at La Paz 

 for about three months, from the middle of December to the middle of 

 March, making side trips to Espiritu Santo and other points in the 

 vicinity. 



He then proceeded to Cape Saint Lucas by steamer, and from there to 

 San Jose, where he remained until May 18, with occasional excursions 

 to Miraflores, after which he returned to California. 



During this time Mr. Belding gathered a great many extremely ac- 

 ceptable specimens, which were duly transmitted to the Smithsonian 

 Institution. He ascertained that most of the species which were found 

 by Mr. Xantus, and supposed to be peculiar to Cape Saint Lucas, had 

 quite an extended distribution northward, although he was unable to 

 define exactly their limitations. 



His collections included all kinds of animals, even to the marine 

 invertebrates, some plants, and some very interesting archaeological 



