REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 17 



A similar arriiiigeincnfc to that made with Ur. Nicliolls lias been en- 

 tered into with Mr. IMnsgrave, of Jamaica, his object being to extend 

 and complete the work npou the natural history of Jau)aica commenced 

 many years ago bj" Mr. Gosse. A large collection of fishes already sent 

 in has been under investigation by Mr. Goode and Dr. Bean. Valuable 

 contributions have also been received from Hon. Edward Newton, of tlie 

 colonial government of Jamaica. 



Mr. L. Guesde, of Guadaloux)e, has undertaken to furnish to tlie Insti- 

 tution, for publication, a series of drawings illustrating the archaeology 

 of that island. He has accordingly transmitted a large number of de- 

 scriptions and figures of many curious objects, of which Professor Mason 

 has charge in editing them for the report. He has also furnished a num- 

 ber of specimens o f reptiles and fishes illustrating the natural history 

 of the island. 



Mr. "Wells, of Antigua, has aided the Smithsonian Institution by send- 

 ing birds, fishes, and ethnological objects. Hi» labors, and those of 

 other valued correspondents in the West Indies were secured to the 

 Institution by Mr. Frederick A. Ober in the course of tours of service in 

 the West Indies. This co-operation of resident naturalists in the West 

 Indies has been especially interesting to the Smithsonian Institution, 

 as there still remain many important problems in relation to that region. 



The work of Mr. P. Pigyelmes}', at Demerara, for several years has con- 

 tributed much to the ethnology and natural history of the colony. Similar 

 ■work has been done by Dr. C. Heriug, at Surinam. No special research 

 has been carried on in other parts of the Old World, with the exception 

 of that connected with the " Palos," Captain Green, commander, referred 

 to further on. 



In the report for 1879, at p. 45, mention was made of the co-operation 

 of the Smithsonian Institution with the Navy Department and Mr. James 

 Gordon Bennett in the preparation for natural history work, on board 

 the '' Jeannette." At the request of Mr. Bennett the Institution secured 

 the services of Mr. Eaymond L. Newcomb, an experienced naturalist and 

 taxidermist, of Salem, Mass., and prepared for him a complete outfit, 

 principally at the expense of Mr. Bennett. When the vessel touched at 

 St. Michaels, in 1879, some interesting specimens had already been 

 gathered by Mr. Newcomb, and the expectation of interesting results 

 in the future was, of course, very reasonabl^^ entertained. AVe now have 

 the information that the steamer was crushed in the ice, and that the offi- 

 cers and crew betook themselves in three boats to the mainland. Infor- 

 mation has been received from two of these boats ; one with Engineer ]\Iel- 

 ville in charge, and including Mr. Newcomb in the party. Of the third 

 nothing has yet been heard. It is probable that any collections made 

 by the steamer have been lost in the w reck ; but there is no doubt tlrat 

 Mr. Newcomb, on his return, will be able to furnish interesting informa- 

 tion, either from notes preserved, or from personal recollection. 



During the early part of 1881 , in response to an urgent public senti- 

 S. Mis. 109 2 



