94 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, L892. 



scenery and other objects connected with Venezuelan life and the sur- 

 rounding country, lias been received from him. 



In the chapter on explorations, contained in the Report of the National 

 Museum for 1890, mention was made of an exploring expedition which 

 had been sent into the unexplored lands of Africa by the British South 

 African Exploring Society. Tins expedition was joined by Mr. William 

 Harvey Brown, who was sent out under the auspices of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution in connection with the Naval Eclipse Expedition, 

 and who had made during the previous year large ami valuable addi- 

 tions to the collections of the National Museum. In a letter recently 

 received from him he states that he has secured for the Museum natural 

 history specimens, including several head of large game from the Urn- 

 swezi River. These specimens have not yet been received. The only 

 material received from him during the present year are six birds' skins, 

 representing lour species from Angola. 



Mr. J. H. Camp, Leopoldville, Congo district, Africa, in a letter dated 

 December 1".). 1891, offered to collect natural history specimens for the 

 National Museum. A collection of African butterflies, photographs 

 of natives, and botanical specimens has been received from him. 



Mr. William Astor Chanler, of New York City, visited the Smithson- 

 ian Institution in September, 1891, and kindly offered during his pro- 

 posed travels in Africa to make collections for the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution. His offer was gladly accepted, and the result of his exploration 

 in connection with the Institution will be given in a later report. 



The U. S. Fish Commission has transferred several large and inter- 

 esting collections to the National Museum during the year. Among 

 them are valuable collections of plants from the Galapagos Islands and 

 Alaska, collected by the Albatross, under the direction of Prof. Alex- 

 ander Agassiz; a collection of birds, rocks, insects, batrachians, birds' 

 skeletons and nests, also collected by the steamer Albatross; specimens 

 of crustaceans collected by the Albatross in the North Pacific Ocean, 

 and birds from the Galapagos Islands obtained by the same steamer, 

 under the direction of Mr. Charles H. Townsend. 



The U. S. Geological Survey, has, through its director, Maj. J. W. 

 Powell, added largely to the mineral collections of the National Museum, 

 as well as by the contributions made by individuals connected with the 

 Survey while engaged in field-work in different parts of the country. 



On September 15, 1891, letters of introduction to lames P. Turnbull, 

 United States consular agent, San Luis Potosi; Hon. Thomas Ryan, 

 Minister to Mexico; Rev. George B. Win ton, and Dr. Pagenstecher 

 were given to Mr. P. L. Jouy, of the National Museum, who visited 

 Mexico for the purpose of making collections of natural history speci- 

 mens for the National Museum. The results of his expedition will be 

 recorded in the next Report. 



Dr. Edgar A. Mearns, U. S. Army, while engaged in his work with 

 the International Boundary Commission, kindly offered to collect natural 



