THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 91 



tion 3,000 feet, both ascending and descending tlie Cordilleras, and at 

 each 100 miles in crossing the pampas. Having accidentally broken 

 his barometer and injured his chronometer, shortly after leaving Men- 

 doza, Lieutenant MacRae, as soon as he arrived in the United States, 

 volunteered to return at his own expense for the purpose of completing 

 observations which the loss of these instruments prevented him from 

 doing on his first trip. Permission being granted by the Navy Depart- 

 ment, he again embarked for South America, reached Mendoza from 

 Buenos Ayres in time to observe the solar eclipse of November 30, 

 1853; twice crossed the Portillo pass at an elevation of 14,319 feet ; 

 again passed over the Cumbre and Uspallata passes, 12,65G feet ; and 

 finally returned to the United States in March, 1854. 



Lieutenant MacRae made such collections in natural history as his 

 limited opportunities allowed; among them anew species of the curious 

 genus Tricliomijctenis. He also procured several fine specimens of 

 Cavia australis. 



The report of his journeys will be found embodied in the first volume 

 of the report of the United States naval astronomical expedition. 



Japan Expedition. 



Although not specially an exploring party, yet the magnitude of the 

 squadron sent out under charge of Commodore Perry, and the import- 

 ance of the interests committed to his charge, render a brief notice 

 necessary in this place. The principal object of the expedition was to 

 form a treaty with the emperor of Japan for the protection of American 

 interests in and about the island, as well as to look after these interests 

 generally in that quarter of the globe. The squadron, under command 

 of Commodore Perry, consisted of the steamers Mississippi, Powhatan, 

 and Susquehanna; the sloops of war Macedonia, Pl^anouth, Saratoga, 

 and Vandalia ; and the store ships Supply, Southampton, and Lexing- 

 ington. With a portion of this fleet Commodore Perry arrived at Jeddp 

 bay on the 8th of July, and, after a brief interview with one of the 

 ministers of state, left, to return in the spring of 1854. Of the happy 

 results of this renewed visit, and of the treaty made with such import- 

 ant bearings on commerce and humanity, I need not here speak, as they 

 are well known to every one. Commodore Perry has returned to the 

 United States, bringing with him copious journals of the voyage, with 

 numerous drawings, and many collections illustrating the natural pro- 

 ducts and manufactures of Japan. Collections of plants, seeds, reptiles, 

 and fishes, of much interest, were also made by Dr. James Morrow, 

 agriculturist to the expedition. 



Brig Dolphin. 



Lieutenant O. H. Berryman, in command of the brig Dolphin, has 

 been engaged in a continuation of his previous labors and those of 

 Lieutenant Lee of sounding the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, in con- 

 nexion with the researches of Lieutenant Maury on the winds and cur- 

 rents of the ocean. His results have been of the highest interest to 

 science, as well as of very great practical value to the navigator. The 



