REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 51 



EXPLORATIONS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 



7. Exploration of the vicinity of Fort Tejon, California, Inj Mr. 

 John Xantus. — During the year 1858 a natural history exploration, 

 commenced in 1857, has been nearly completed by Mr. Xantus, while 

 connected with the military post at Fort Tejon, which, for extent and 

 thoroughness, has perhaps scarcely a parallel on our continent, con- 

 sidering the fact that it was made in about sixteen months by one 

 person, almost constantly occupied in official duties, and under 

 various discouragements. The collections of Mr. Xantus filled 24 

 large boxes, and included nearly 2,000 birds, 200 mammals, many 

 hundreds of birds' nests and their eggs, with large numbers of reptiles, 

 fishes, insects, plants, skulls, skeletons, &c., all in the highest condi- 

 tion of preparation and preservation, and furnishing such accurate and 

 detailed information of the zoology and botany of Fort Tejon as we 

 possess of but few other points in the United States. Mr. Xantus 

 also made copious notes of the habits and characters of the species, 

 with numerous drawings. 



8. Other points on the toest coast. — Valuable collections from the 

 vicinity of Fort Umpqua, Oregon, have been received from Dr. Vol- 

 lum, Irom about San Diego, made by A. Cassidy, and from Monterey, 

 made by A. S. Taylor. A collection of shejls, &c., made by Captain 

 Stone in the Gulf of California, assisted by Mr. Sloat, has supplied 

 the first specimens ever received from that region, proving of great in- 

 terest. Mr. James Wayne has also furnished important collections 

 from the Columbia river. 



9. liochy mountains. — A collection of birds from Cantonment Burg- 

 wyn, sent in by Dr. W. W. Anderson, has added a new species of 

 birds to our fauna. Interesting collections of mammals and birds 

 from Fort Massachusetts were also made and presented by Captain 

 A. W. Bowman and Dr. McKee. Captain Marcy, in collecting speci- 

 mens of the Lagopus leucurus, or white tailed ptarmigan, has added to 

 the fauna of the United States an interesting species of bird hitherto 

 only found in British America. 



10. Other regions of North America. — Additional collections of the 

 animals of the Red River of the North have been received from Mr. 

 Donald Gunn, and of Texas, from Major G. H. Thomas. Mr. Thos. 

 E. Blackney, of Chicago, has contributed one of the few specimens of 

 whooping crane (Grus americana) found in collections. The collections 

 of Florida animals by Mr. Gustavus Wurdemann, made in continua- 

 tion of previous years, have been very valuable, adding, as they have 

 done, several new species of birds, reptiles, and invertebrates to our 

 fauna ; collections made in northern Wisconsin by Mr. Kennicott, 

 and in many other regions by contributors, mentioned in detail in the 

 alphabetical list at the end of this report, have also been of much 

 value. 



11. Other parts of the loorld. — The exotic additions consist chiefly 

 of collections made in the Sandwich Islands by Mr. W. 11. Pease 

 and on the Isthmus of Panama by Captain J. M. Dow and the Rev. 

 Jos. Rowell. 



