S. Mis. 53. 55 



supplies the most northern locality yet known of tliis species. Some 

 valuable mammals, from Western America, have been presented by 

 the Academy of Natural Sciences. Skulls and horns of the common 

 deer have been received from Mr. Stanley, Mr. Guest, and others. Mr. 

 Stanley has also presente^d skins of the ja2;aar, Fclis jmrdaJh, and th'.'. 

 peccary, Dicoti/les torfpiatus, from Texas. ]Mr. Charles Wright, so well 

 known for his botanical researches, has given a sldn of the hynx tcx- 

 ensis, or Texas wild-cat. From Lieut. M. F. Maury has been received 

 a skin of a young manatee, brought from the Amazon river by Lieut. 

 Herndon. 



Among skeletons of American mammals, the principal donation is 

 that of the gray wolf of the Yellowstone river, presented by Mr. Ed- 

 ward T. Denig, to whom the Institution has been betore indebted for 

 similar favors. Dr. Edwards presented skulls of buffalo, bighorn, &c., 

 with those of Indians of several tribes. 



Birds. — Several interestins: collections of birds have been received 

 from various sources. Mr. James Fairle has presented some rare 

 species from Louisiana ; Mr. Chas. Wright, a series from the vicinity 

 of Frontera, including several species recently described from the 

 valley of the Rio Grande ; and Dr. P. R. Hoy, some from the vicinity 

 of Racine, Wisconsin, one of the most interesting ornithological districts 

 in North America. Mr. Wanin2;ton has sent an interestins: collection 

 of the eggs of birds inhabiting the Tortugas. 



Ilcptilcs. — As usual, the most marked additions to the collections of 

 the Institution are to be found in the department of reptiles and fishes. 

 These have been received from all portions of the United States, inclu- 

 ding California, New Mexico, and Texas. Mr. J. S. Bowman, during a 

 recent journey to California across the plains, collected specimens of 

 Phynosoina jilatyrhinos, and forwarded them living, with some others 

 of much interest. Dr. Boyle has deposited a valuable collection from 

 Eldorado county, Cahfbrnia. A small number of specimens procured 

 by Dr. Gambel, in the same country, has also come into posses- 

 sion of the Institution. INIr. Lindheimer sends numerous specimens 

 from W^estern Texas; Captains Marcy and McClellan, from Red river ; 

 Mr. James Fairie, in Western Louisiana ; Colonel B. L. C. W^ailes and 

 Dr. Shumard, in Mississippi ; Dr. P. R. Hoy, of Racine, Wisconsin ; 

 and Rev. Charles Fox, of W.ayne county, Michigan, have also greatly 

 enriched the collection with western species. Species from Western 

 Pennsylvania have been received from Professor Williams ; and from 

 South Carolina, from Dr. Barker, of Charleston, and Dr. Barratt, of 

 Abbeville. 



Fishes. — The collections in this dc^partmcnt grow with great rapidity. 

 Mr. Girard brought many specimens from Maine last autumn. A few 

 v^eeks spent in Massachusetts and New Hampshire gave to mj'selfthe 

 opportunit}'' of completing tlie collections of fi^esh-water fishes of these 

 States. Very full collections of the fishes of Lalce Erie have been re- 

 ceived from Rev. Charles Fox ; of Lake Michigan, from Dr. Hoy ; of 

 the Wabash river, from Dr. Norwood ; of the coast of Carolina, from 

 Dr. Barker; of the Torlugas, from Lieut. Wright; of Ca3'Uga kdve, 

 from Mr. Hopkins ; as well as interesting series from Col. Wailes, of 

 Mississippi; Prof. Porter, of Mercersburg, Pennsylvania; Mr. White, 



