4Q REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



Texas, and has furnished a series of specimens, of which the collec- 

 tion of birds is especially valuable as throwing light on the distribu- 

 tion of species. 



West Indies. — In connection with explorations in the. West Indies, 

 the Smithsonian Institution has to deplore the loss of Dr. Henry 

 Bryant, of Boston, one of its most highly prized coadjutors in the 

 work of American explorations. Not alone did he freely contribute 

 of his abundant means, but he gave his personal services indefat- 

 io-ably to the extension of knowledge in the field of natural history. 

 In both these respects the Institution had enjoyed his uniform 

 co-operation as it shared the fruits of his successful labors. These 

 labors had been principally conducted in Labrador, and on the Gulf 

 of St. Lawrence, in Florida, in the Bahamas, in Cuba, and in Jamaica; 

 and it was while pursuing his researches in Porto Rico that he met 

 with an untimely death, occasioned probably by excessive exertion 

 in an insalubrious climate. He died 2d January, 18G7, at the lit- 

 tle village of Arecibo, in the last-named island. Dr. Bryant contem- 

 plated a memoir on the birds of the West Indies, and was, at the 

 time of his death, engaged in the prosecution of this object. His 

 entire collection of the birds of the West Indies has been intrusted 

 to Prof. Baird for determination, and after this has been eifected it is 

 the design of Mrs. Bryant to present a series of each species to the 

 principal museums at home and abroad, in conformity with the in- 

 tention of her lamented husband. 



From Jamaica collections have been sent by Mr. W. T. March, in 

 continuation of many previous contributions, and from Cuba by Mr. 

 Bishop. Mr. A. E. Younglove spent several months in Hayti, and 

 obtained a valuable series of birds and reptiles, embracing several 

 new species. Mr. E. M. Allen, United States consul at Bermuda, 

 has also given attention to the birds and marine animals of the islands, 

 and has sent specimens. 



Towards the close of the year an appropriation was made for a 

 special exploration relative to the geology of the island of Petite 

 Anse, in the Gulf of Mexico, near Vermillion bay, and the adjoining 

 region, by Professor E. W. Hilgard, of the University of Mississippi. 

 The immediate inducement for this exploration was the discovery of 

 a stratum of rock salt on this island, together with the remains of 

 extinct animals associated w^ith specimens of human industry. The 

 exploration was commenced too late in the season to be fully prosecuted. 

 The weather, however, proved unusually favorable, the sugar-cane 

 having bloomed on the Louisiana coast for the first time in 27 years. 

 The exploration suggested many new questionSj which can only be 



