THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 53 



Rio Grande, from Major Emory. Dr. O. W. Gibbs presented a musk 

 deer, from Java, and Mr. Steenberg has contributed many of the spe- 

 cies from Greenland, and Scandinavia. The collections of Capt. Van 

 Vliet and Lieut. Couch include many species from Mexico and Texas. 

 Some valuable specimens from Minnesota were received from Mr. 

 Cavileer and Dr. Head. 



Birds. — The additions to this department have been very great, 

 amounting to over 400 species, and more than 1,000 specimens. Of these 

 250 species are from the Rio Grande country, North Mexico, the 

 Rocky mountains, and west of the Rocky mountains. Here, as well 

 as among mammals, there have occurred some new species. Of re- 

 markable perfection of preparation was a collection of 50 species of 

 Cahfornia birds, presented by Dr. Hermann; and the North Mexican 

 series of Lieut. Couch have been of extraordinary magnitude and im- 

 portance. Capt. Van Vliet, Mr. J. H. Clark and Mr. Arthur Schott 

 under Major Emor}' , and Dr. Crawford, have gathered many valuable 

 specimens in Texas. Species from Michigan have been received 

 from the Rev. Chas. Fox ; of Wisconsin, tiom Dr. Hoy and Mr. Barry ; 

 of Ohio, from Dr. Kirtland and Chas. Pease; of Louisiana, from Mr. 

 Jas. Fairie. 



Reptiles cmd Fishes. — As heretofore, owing to the particular attention 

 invited to this department, the additions to the alcoholic collections 

 have been most marked, especially of reptiles and fishes. Every por- 

 tion of the country has been laid under contribution, and the additions 

 to our knowledge of the distribution of species, as well as of their 

 zoological character, have been of the greatest value. There is scarcely 

 a State or Territory in the Union which has not sent a representation. 

 The most marked results have been the addition to the Fauna of the 

 United States of the dipsadians among serpents, and the characini, 

 ants, the hesh water labroids, among fishes. Nearly two thousand glass 

 jars have been filled with the specimens received, after being assorted ; 

 of which 200 were of serpents alone. The principal contributors have 

 been Major Emory, Governor Stevens, Lieut. Whipple, Dr. Hammond, 

 Dr. Jeffrey, Prof Winchell, Drs. G. C. and B. F. Shumard, Dr. Hoy, 

 Rev. A. C. Barry, Dr. Barratt, Mrs. Daniel, Major Rich, Capt. Van 

 Vliet, James Fairie, S. F. Baird, Maj. Hagner, Maj. Sibley, Rev. 

 Chas. Fox, Dr. Head, J. D. Sergeant, Mr. Kennicott, Mr. Dean, Capt. 

 Atwood, Leo Lesquereaux, J. H. Richard, Prof Agassiz, Capt. Furra- 

 gut, D. B. Boden, &c. 



Invertebrata. — Manv valuable collections of invertebrata have been 

 added during the year, the most important being a series from Grand 

 Manan, from Mr. Wm. Stimpson, and illustrating his paper published 

 in the Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge. Others from the coast 

 Massachusetts were sent by Capt. Atwood, and from Florida and the 

 Gulf of Mexico by Dr. Hammond, Dr. Jeffrey, and Major Emory. 

 Some interesting contributions have consisted of specimens of Gordius 

 from the bodies of crickets and grasshoppers, contributed by ]Mr. San- 

 ford and Mr. Eveleth. 



Plants. — An extensive collection of plants of Alabama, was received 

 from Prof A. Winchell, to whom the Institution is indebted for valu- 

 able specimens in all departments of natural history. Dr. Ravenel has 



