8 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



By the courteous aid of the Secretary of War and of the Adjutant- 

 General, instructions were given to the commanders of military posts at 

 Fort Keogh and Fort Maginnis, Mont., and Fort McKinney, Wyo., to 

 render Mr. Hornaday all the aid in their power towards his laudable 

 object; and the expedition left in June for the field of operations. 

 Although a number of skeletons and skulls were found on the plains, 

 it was with great difficulty that one buffalo bull was killed ; this proving 

 to bo in a condition scarcely fit for mounting, the party reluctantly 

 returned to Washington with the intention of starting again in the 

 autumn when the chances would be somewhat better. 



A number of good skins of antelopes, mammals, and birds were ob- 

 tained by the party. 



California. — A considerable amount of work has been done in Cali- 

 fornia, especially by Lieut. P. H. Ray, U. S. Army, formerly in charge 

 of the Point Barrow expedition. This officer, with a thorough knowl- 

 edge of what is desired, made an extremely valuable collection, illus- 

 trating the manners and customs of the Hoopa Indians, of whom he had 

 charge, and his contribution is one of th'e most interesting yet made to 

 the galleries of the National Museum. 



A somewhat similar collection, though not so extensive, was made by 

 Mr. Loren W. Green, of the fish-hatching station at Baird, Cal. This 

 includes especially a number of Indian bows and arrows, «&;c., with the 

 apparatus used in constructing them, including a full set of implements 

 for making stone arrow points. 



Mr. Townsend, whose explorations in Alaska have been referred to, 

 also made extensive explorations on the coast of California, especially 

 at Humboldt Bay, in the northern part of the State. lie obtained val- 

 uable statistics in regard to the fisheries of that region, and made many 

 important collections for the National Museum. lie then proceeded 

 southward to the whaling stations along the southern coast of the State, 

 with special reference to the California gray- whale fisheries. He found 

 that so far from approaching extermination this species is re-establish- 

 ing itself, and is becoming quite abundant in the lagoons of Lower Cal- 

 ifornia. 



Arizona. — A large collection in ethnology was made by Dr. Palmer 

 in this Territory in continuation of previous operations. 



Extensive collections in addition to former gatherings were made, 

 partly in Arizona and i)artly in New Mexico, by Mr. E. W. Nelson. 

 These including very fine i)Ottery of a somewhat novel type obtained 

 from the graves, as also a number of interesting specimens of mammals, 

 birds, &c. 



New Mexico. — Yery interesting contributions in zoology, &c., have 

 been received from Dr. E. W. Shufeldt, since his detail as medical officer 

 at Fort Wingate; his labors as a collector being supplemented by his 



