44 EEPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



fisli, niollusca, ami other mariue objects, together with minerals, rocks, 

 and phvnts. 



Mr. William H. Ball also contributed largely from the region a 

 little to the south of that occupied by Mr. Elliot, namely, Unalaska 

 and some adjacent islands. The most marked feature of Mr. Dall's 

 contribution consists in the rich collections of prehistoric objects, some 

 of them found in localities of which the native Aleuts have no tradi- 

 tion as being the site of ancient settlements. The series is or interest, as 

 showing the state of civilization among the progenitors of these i)eople. 

 Other objects collected by Mr. Ball couvsist of marine invertebrates, 

 fishes, and numerous birds, eggs, &c. Among the eggs are several new 

 kinds, which, with the contributions by Mr. Elliot, nearly comi)lete the 

 desiderata of the National Museum in regard to the water-birds of the 

 North Pacific. 



Some contributions have also been obtained from Professor Harring- 

 ton, the companion of Mr. Ball. It should be stated that Mr. Ball 

 has been engaged since July, 1871, in the service of the Co^ast Survey, 

 in surveying the Aleutian Islands, and that the collections made by 

 him, like those of Mr. Elliot, were gathered entirely at his own ex- 

 pense, at such periods as could not be occupied by any regular official 

 work. In addition to the specimens just named, skulls of rare species of 

 cetaceans were supplied by Cai)tain Scammon, who has also added to 

 them others from Southern California. 



From Oregon have been received several series of Indian relics, and 

 a number of human and other crania, i^resented by Mr. Bissell. 



California has furnished some curious remains of fossil vertebrates 

 from Point Conception, presented by Mr. Sceva, and collections of 

 Sacramento salmonidcc Irom Mr. Stone. Br. L. O. Yates has continued 

 his contributions of ancient relics, as also of minerals and fossil remains. 

 Some rare birds' eggs and nests have been furnished by Mr. William 

 A. Cooper, of Santa Cruz. 



From the States and Territories in the interior of North America, 

 especially those of the Great Basin and of the Eocky Mountain region, 

 the collections have been principally made on the part of the Govern- 

 ment expeditions, nearly all of which have had the center of their opera- 

 tions within these boundaries. Among these we may mention, first, the 

 parties of Professor Jlayden, who renewed in 1872 his explorations of 

 1871 in the Geyser basins of the Upper Yellowstone, as also farther to 

 the west, in the regions between Fort Hall and the Three Tetons. 



In addition to the researches prosecuted by his own immediate party, 

 and its division under charge of Mr. Stevenson, with Professor P. H. 

 Bradley as geologist, there were several subsidiary explorations prose- 

 cuted in connection with Br. Hay den's labors, by Professor Joseph 

 Leidy in Wyoming, and by Professors Meek and Bannister, Professor 

 Lesquereux, and Professor E. B. Cope, all of whom added largely 

 to the general collections, the total number of boxes of specimens re- 



