150 RKPOliT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1893. 



also liad on liaiul the ])reparation of its part of the exhibit for the 

 World's ('olumbiaii Exposition in Chicago, so that the curator and his 

 assistant have had their time fnlly occui)ie(l withont much cliance of 

 effecting a better arrangement of the old collections. 



The curator has been specially engaged in the care of the collection 

 of reptiles obtained in Death Valley by the expedition sent out from 

 the U. S. Department of Agriculture, in charge of Dr. C. Hart Mer- 

 riam, and has furnished a special report which, accompanied by four 

 plates, was published in North American Fauna, Xo. 7, May, ISO.'?. 

 In this are described 11 new species and subspecies, while a number 

 of forms described by previous authors are more fully reported ujion. 



Among the most interesting additions to the collection is a new 

 species of Xantusio, described by Dr. Stejneger as X. Heitshinci* This 

 lizard belongs to a genus peculiar to California, two species only being 

 previously known. The new species is remarkably distinct and forms 

 altogether one of the most interesting herpetological novelties obtained 

 in this country during recent years. I may add that the present species 

 is only part of a very valuable collection sent home by Mr. Ilenshaw 

 from southern Califonna. 



There has also been received another collection which throws con- 

 siderable light on the geographical distribution of species in the south- 

 western portion of the United States and contains many rare species. 

 This was presented by Dr. Timothy E. Wilcox, U. S. Army, who col- 

 lected at Fort Uuachuca, Ariz. 



Of extralimital collections obtained during the present year may be 

 mentioned those made by Mr. P. L. Jouy in varicms i)arts of Mexico; 

 by Mr. Charles W. liichmoud in Nicaragua, and by Mr. Harry W. 

 Perry in Honduras. 



Especially important have l)een the collections received from Atrica. 

 The Museum has l)een particularly deticient in material from that part 

 of tiie world, but tlianks to the zeal and generosity of two American 

 gentlemen, this deticiency is now gradually being remedied. i\Ir. 

 William Astor Chanler has sent collections from the east coast of the 

 mainland between the mouth of the Tana River and Hameye, about 300 

 miles iidand, and Dr. W. L. Abbott, others from the Seychelles and 

 various otlier groups of islands off the east coast of Africa. The study 

 of the former collection by Dr. Stejneger reveals many rare and 

 undes(Tibed species, while the latter furnishes the material for a full 

 list of the herpetological fauna of the islands in ([uestion, which also 

 shows a number of new species. 



Among other ])rominent contributors are Profs. ,1. T. Scovell and A. 

 J. Woolraan; Julius Hurter, St. Louis, Mo.; F. Stephens, Santa 

 Ysabel, (Jal.; Herbert Brown, Tucson, Ariz.; Dr. E. A. Mearns, of the 

 TInited States and Mexican Boundary Commission; George E. Harris, 



* Discovered in simfhern California by Mr. H. W. Heiishaw. 



