EEPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 49 



Balize river, and thence to the region about Lake Peten, where he 

 remained until the summer of 1867, making collections in natural 

 history, and prosecuting researches in anthropology and geography. 

 He visited the United States towards the end of the year, but will 

 return shortly to Guatemala to complete his labors and to bring back 

 bis extensive collections. 



An important collection of antiquities has been presented by the 

 Hon. C. N. Riotte, late United States minister to Costa Rica. Mr. 

 Geo. N. Lawrence, of New York, a collaborator of the Institution, is 

 at present occupied in preparing a catalogue of the birds of Costa 

 Rica, based chiefly upon the Smithson collection, which will prob- 

 ably include 500 species. To Dr. Von Frantzius the acknowledgments 

 of the Institution are especially due for his valuable scientific cor- 

 respondence and intelligent aid and supervision in conducting the 

 explorations of the Institution in his adopted country. 



]!ilr. Hardiman, of San Salvador, has contributed the first collection 

 of birds received from that country. Mr. OsbertSalvin has presented 

 a series of the birds of Veragua, collected by his correspondent, 

 Mr. Arce. Dr. Kluge, of Aspinwall, and Captain J, M. Dow, of 

 Panama, have also continued their aid. The services of the latter in 

 attending to the interests of the Smithsonian Institution on the Isth- 

 mus of Panama and the west coast of Central America, in issuing 

 supplies, receiving and forwarding collections, &c., are of great value, 

 and deserve the special acknowledgments of the Board of Regents. 



South America. — The principal exploration in South America under 

 the auspices of the Institution has been that of Prof. James Orton, 

 of Rochester University, undertaken especially in the interest of the 

 Lyceum of Natural History of Williams College, Massachusetts. 

 The Institution lent the scientific instruments, supplied a considerable 

 portion of the outfit, and took charge of the transportation and recep- 

 tion of the collections. Two parties were organized. The one under 

 the immediate direction of Prof. Orton proceeded to Guayaquil via 

 Panama, the other under Mr. W. B. Gilbert went to Venezuela. The 

 party under Prof. Orton, after remaining some time at Guayaquil, 

 where most of them were taken sick with yellow fever, finally arrived 

 at Quito. Here they had the misfortune to lose one of their mem- 

 bers, Colonel Phineas Stanton, a gentleman of many accomplish- 

 ments, who volunteered to accompany the expedition as an amateur 

 artist. After exploring in Pechincha and other localities on the 

 plateau of Ecuador, they crossed to the head-waters of the Amazon, 

 descending by MaraSon to Para, and thence returned home. The 

 4SG7 



