REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. G7 



Among them are good specimens of such rare birds as Picus loilliam- 

 soni, albolarvatus, thyroideus, &c. 



14. Exploration in the Rocky mountain region. — In addition to the 

 government collections of Captain Simpson and Captain Macomb, Dr. 

 Anderson, U. S. A., has continued to send a number of rare birds from 

 Cantonment Burgwin. Dr. Irwin, U. S. A., at Fort Buchanan, has also 

 made large collections for the Institution, none of which, however, 

 have yet been received except one box of birds. Dr. George Suckley, 

 U. S. A., while accompanying a detachment of troops from Leaven- 

 worth to Camp Floyd, made some interesting collections, including the 

 eggs of the Rocky mountain plover. Several rare animals have also 

 been received from Colonel Vaughan, Indian agent for the* Blackfeet, 

 near Fort Benton 



Dr. Brewer, U. S. A., presented to the collection, through Captain J. 

 H. Simpson, some rare reptiles and shells from southern Utah. 



15. -Explorations in and near Florida. — Dr. H. Bryant and Mr. Wil- 

 liam Cooper spent the winter in the Bahamas chiefly in and about 

 Nassau, and made rich collections of animals, series of which were pre- 

 sented by them to the Institution. 



Dr. J. G. Cooper visited Key West in March, and thence proceeded 1 

 to Cape Florida, where he spent two months, and another month or* 

 Indian River and the St. John's. In addition to extensive zoological 

 collections, Dr. Cooper paid particular attention to the trees of Florida, 

 and succeeded in obtaining several West Indian and tropical species 

 not previously known to occur in the United States. 



A large number of marine animals in alcohol, and of birds and their 

 eggs, were collected at the Tortugas for the Institution by Captain. 

 Woodbury, U. S. A., and by Dr. Whitehurst. 



Dr. Bean, of Micanopy, Florida, has also furnished a collection of 

 the eggs, reptiles, and fishes of the State. Among the first are the 

 only eggs of the glossy ibis,- Ibis ordii, yet detected within our limits. 



In connexion with Florida explorations, with which he was so closely 

 associated, it is my painful duty to mention the death, during the past 

 year, of Mr. Gustavus Wurdemann, a tidal observer of the United 

 States Coast Survey, and for many years an active correspondent of 

 the Smithsonian Institution. Occupied with the important scientific 

 duties incident to his place in the Coast Survey, Mr. Wurdemann yet 

 found time for attention to natural history; and at his different stations, 

 of St, Joseph's islands, Texas; Calcasieu,* Louisiana; Fort Morgan, 

 Alabama; and Key West, Tortugas, Indian Key, Key Biscayne, Char- 

 lotte Harbor, &c, Florida, made collections which have proved of the 

 greatest service in supplying information concerning the zoology of 

 the Gulf region. Independently of the many new and little known 

 Crustacea, shells, and other marine animals collected by Mr. Wurde- 

 mann, he succeeded in adding several species of birds to the fauna 

 of the United States; among others, Larus cucullatus, Certhiola fla- 

 veola, Quisoalus baritus, Gorvus Amerieanus car. /loridanus, Ardea 

 Wurdemanni, &c. 



16. Miscellaneous localities. — A collection of eggs and birds of Il- 

 linois was received from Mr. Tolman; of insects and reptiles of 



