8 



of cocoauuts. They are exclusively coral formations ; and all except 

 Christmas are well clothed with vegetation, and are frequently visited 

 by rains. 



In regard to the Lower Californian collection, it by no means repre- 

 sents either the fauna or flora of any place or section. The specimens 

 were collected all along the coasts — our stay at any one place being too 

 short to admit of more than a mere cursory examination of its life. 



I regret to say that a large collection of birds' eggs from Palmyra 

 and Christmas Islands was comi^letely destroyed by rats on board the 

 ship. 



To Dr. Elliott Coues, U. S. A., belongs the credit of the identification 

 of the birds, and he has very kindly furnished me with the notes ac- 

 companying that portion of the ornithological collection from the Cali- 

 fornian peninsula. I desire to express, in this connection, my obligations 

 to Prof. T. Gill for assistance in the classification of the lishes, and for 

 his advice in other matters relating to my ichthyological work. To both 

 these eminent gentlemen I tender my sincere thanks. 



T. n. s. 



Smithsonian Institution, 



Washington, D. C, April. 1877. 



