52 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



of these localities are in the region between the Mississippi and the 

 Pacific, many of them never before represented in natural history cabi- 

 nets. This condition of things has been, in great measure, due to the 

 labors of the various government parties organized for the survey of 

 the boundary line between the United States and Mexico, and of the 

 several routes for a Pacific railroad. Without a single exception, all 

 these parties have been fitted out at the Smithsonian Institution with 

 all necessary instruments and apparatus for natural history research, 

 much of it contrived with special reference to the exigencies of the par- 

 ticular service involved. Full instructions were also supplied, by which 

 persons without previous practice were enabled to master all the gen- 

 eral principles required for making observations and collections of every 

 kind. ♦ 



In addition to the above official explorations, many of a more private 

 character, and of greater or less extent, have been made by different 

 persons, and transmitted to the Institution. The general result is 

 to be seen in the large number of jars, kegs, boxes, and shelves filled 

 with specimens of all kinds. From this it will be seen that the army 

 has contributed a very large proportion of the whole receipts, affording 

 a gratifying proof of the interest felt in the deposit at the metropolis, of 

 complete collections of the natural histor\' of North America. 



Owing to the liberality of the officers of the various expeditions, and 

 of the bureaus under whose charge they were fitted out, every facility 

 was aft{)rded in authorizins; the necessarv li:)rce and funds to meet 

 the wants of science as connected with these ex})lorations. In this way 

 the entire cost was defrayed by government, so that the Institution has 

 been called upon only to make the necessary expenditures for govern- 

 ment, and to give a general supervision to the whole. 



Nor have the materials collected by the government parties been 

 allowed to lie idle ; on the contrary, they have been put, immediately on 

 their arrival, into the hands of competent naturalists and skilful artists, 

 for the elucidation and illustration necessary to fit them for appearing 

 as a portion of the reports which the various parties have been called on 

 to make. 



I shall now proceetl briefly to mention the general character of the 

 additions to the Museum during the year, referring for particular infor- 

 mation to the alphabetical list of donors subjoined. It is im])ossible at 

 the present time to give an accurate enumeration of all the species 

 received, especially as so many are entirely new. Every specimen, 

 however, is labelled, as soon as it arrives, with the name of the donor 

 and locality; and in the descrij^tive catalogues now in course of prepa- 

 ration, the complete account of the whole will be presented in a sys- 

 tematic fiirm. The general history of the explorations, too, will be found 

 to embrace more detail than can here be given. 



Mammals. — During the past year many species of North American 

 mammals have been received, embracing quite a notable proportion 

 of" the smaller forms fi'om North America, especially the squirrels, sper- 

 mophiles, and weasels. The Louisiana sj^ecies have been received 

 from Mr. Fairie ; those of Wisconsin, from Dr. Hoy ; of the Rocky 

 mountain range, from the expedition of Governor Stevens; of the lower 



