REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 9 



thorough accoinplislimcnt as a naturalist and investigator. The result 

 has been to furnish to the Institution much information of great inter- 

 est in connection with the region in question. 



The researches of the Ethnological Bureau conducted in the region 

 of Arizona and New Mexico, have been made principally by Col. James 

 Stevenson and the Messrs. Mendeleff, full reference to which will be 

 found in the accompanying report of the Director of the Bureau of 

 Ethnology. The explorations of the mounds throughout the country 

 have been carried on under the direction of Prof. Thomas. 



Mr. E. W. Nelson has also contributed many interesting specimens, 

 both of zoology and of ethnology, gathered in New Mexico. 



From Mr. Thomas Keam, of Keam's CaOon, a very hearty co-worker 

 of the Ethnological Bureau and of the U. S. Geological Survey, large 

 collections have been received on deposit, which add materially to the 

 value of the present ethnological display. 



No explorations of any special magnitude have been made in the older 

 liarts of the United States, with the exception of what has been prose- 

 .cuted in the line of geology and palaeontology by the U. S. Geological 

 Survey. Many thousands, however, of specimens have been gathered 

 by the Survey in Florida, Alabama, Texas, and elsewhere, which will 

 be dwelt upon hereafter. 



Atlantic coast of the United States. — As in previous years, the U. S. 

 Fish Commission has been the principal contributor from this part of 

 the coast and the adjacent high seas, and the continued researches of 

 tlie steamers Albatross and Fish JlawJc are noteworthy iu tlieir results. 



The completion of the schooner Oranqms, for the service of the U. S. 

 Fish Commission, will doubtless add to the yield, especially as this 

 vessel is well fitted for making collections of all kinds. It did not, 

 however, get fairly into commission until about July 1. 



Mexico and Central America. — For a number of years past the Insti- 

 tution has had a much valued correspondence with Prof. A. Dug^s, an 

 eminent Mexican naturalist, resident at Guanajuato, and especially in- 

 terested in determining accurately the animals and plants of his neigh- 

 borhood. This gentleman has, for a long time, sent to the Institution 

 all tbe specimens that he has been unable to identify, with permission 

 to the Institution to retain the greater part of them, and this has re- 

 sulted in adding to the cabinet many specimens of great rarity. 



From Governor A. K. Shepherd, of Batopilas, collections of minerals 

 have been received j also from Mr. M. E. Wilkinson, specimens in alco- 

 hol of mammals, reptiles, and fishes. 



Some ancient pottery has been supplied by Eev. David A. Watkins, 

 of Guadalajara. 



George F. Gaumer, formerly United States consul to Yucatan, now 

 engaged in special explorations in that and adjacent regions, has con- 



