50 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



to Washington. It is now a little more than two and a half years' 

 old, and has already attained a large size, weighing probably five or 

 six hundred pounds. 



Dr. Evans has also forwarded, through D. D. Owen, two living 

 wild cats, {Lynx riifus,) from the Upper Missouri. One of these died 

 last S])ring ; the other still survives. 



A fine specimen of the American antelope (Antelope americana) 

 was presented by Dr. W. W. Anderson, of South Carolina, and was, as 

 far as I can learn, the first living one brought to the Atlantic States, 

 although the species is very common on the Western plains. It was 

 taken in the vicinity of Fort McKavit, when quite young, by Dr. W, 

 W. Anderson, U. S. A., together with a Virginia deer, (Cerims vir~ 

 ginianus,) likewise presented to the Institution. The antelope, unfor- 

 tunately, died from some unknown cause; some months ago; the deer 

 is still in good health. 



Among the small quadrupeds, received alive, of most interest is a 

 epecimen of the grey gopher, {SpermopMlus franMinii,) presented by 

 Robert Kennicott, esq. This species is an inhabitant of the prairies 

 of Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin, and probably of Minnesota, and the 

 plains north of it. In some of its habits, it is not dissimilar to the 

 prairie dog, (Cyiiomys ludovicianus .) Several squirrels, {Tamias 

 americana, Sciurus migratorius, d:c.,) together with some wild mice 

 and moles, have also been received from various sources. A living 

 racoon has also been received from California. 



A pair of young roseate spoonbills, {Platalea Ajaja,) caught in 

 Plorida, was presented by Mr. Wiirdemann. 



Very large numbers of living serpents, embracing many rare species, 

 have been received from different regions ; much the greater number, 

 however, from Illinois, where they were collected by Mr. Kennicott, 

 Others were presented by Mr. Sergeant^ Mr. Kirkpatrick, &c. A 

 portion of the specimens from Illinois were sent to the Jardin des 

 Plantes, in charge of Mr. J. H. Richard, but were wantonly thrown 

 over-board during the passage by a young American, to the profound 

 regret of this Institution, and of the administrators of fhe Paris 

 Museum d'Histoire Naturelle. A second collection, duplicate of the 

 first, sent by Mr. Kennicott, was destroyed by the Express Company, 

 to whose charge it was commited in Chicago. A long time will pro- 

 bably elapse before some of the species can be replaced. 



Some interesting species of living frogs, salamanders, &c., have 

 also been received, together with a considerable number of turtles. 



In view of the very great number and extent of donations to the 

 museum in 1855, as well as of the limited space allotted to me, it is 

 clearly impossible to mention here in detail any but the most import- 

 ant, and even some of these must be omitted. As an index, how- 

 ever, to the alphabetical list of donations herewith presented, I have 

 prepared the following tables — the first, showing the principal addi- 

 tions by States ; in the second, the arrangement is by systematic clas- 

 sification : 



I. — Geographical Index to Specimens received. 



Washington and Oregon. — Andrews, Cooper, Evans, Tolmie, Suckley, 



