RErORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 109 



of the cactus, and also s}»ecimeiis of dyed wool from tlie Navajo sheep, 

 and dyestuffs used by the iSTavajo women of New Mexico and Arizona. 



Dr. Edgar A. Mearns, Fort Suelling, Minn., presented a specimen of 

 Western P^vening Grosbeck {Coccothcranstes respertrniis montanuH)^ of 

 first phimage and new to the collection. 



Dr. J. C. Merrill, Fort Reno, Ind. T., presented a nest of Yirco hel- 

 Hi. Dr. Merrill also presented a snmll collection of Grasshopper-mice, 

 Meadow-mice, a Cotton-rat, and three bats. 



Dr. R. W. Shufeldt, Takoma Park, D. C., presented a spe(;imen of 

 De.sniof/n<(thiis fusco from Takoma Park; a Drag'on-fly {Tramea caroUnn) 

 from Maryland; 2 photographs of a Navajo woman weaving' a belt; <S 

 alcoholic specimens of reptiles and batrachians, and 'J alcoholic speci- 

 mens of tarantulas from Fort Wingate, N. Mex., and an Evening Gros- 

 beck, a skin of mink {Putorius vison) from Sligo Creek, 3 alcoholic speci- 

 mens of LagomiiH princeps collected in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, 

 au Evening" Grosbeck in the flesh from Fort Wingate, N. Mex., and 2 

 snakes and a tree-frog from Takoma Park. 



Rev. J. T. Potter, chaplain, Fort Clark, Tex., presented a skin of 

 Massena Quail, Gyrtonyx montezumte. 



Mr. Charles Ruby, acting hospital steward, Fort Randall, S. Dak., pre- 

 sented fossil bones of reptiles and fish from Fort Randall, aiul also 4 

 specimens representing 3 species of birds' skins, comprising Porzana 

 Carolina, Coccyzus erythropthalniuSj and Scfophaga ruticilla. 



Mr. (t. J. Westerdahl, hospital steward, San Carlos, Ariz., i)resented 

 a living Gila monster. 



From Mr. E. R. Hodge, Army Medical Museum, was received a set 

 of United States stamped envelopes, 2 cent issue of 1883. 



Through the Quartermaster's Department, a bidarka and outfit from 

 Akoutan Island was received from the Alaska Commercial Company, of 

 San Francisco, Cal. 



Six specimens of onyx from a quarry 28 miles from Prescott, Ariz., 

 collected by Mr. William O. O'Neill, were transferred to the Museum 

 through the courtesy of the Quartermaster's Department. 



The important services rendered by Capt. Charles E. Bendire as hon- 

 orary curator of birds' eggs in the National Museum, are very much 

 appreciated. Most of the important additions of the year are the direct 

 result of his active energy in developing the collection. Capt. Bendire 

 has now completed his manuscript on the Life Histories of North 

 American Birds, which will be published as a special bulletin of the 

 Museum. 



NAVY DEPARTMENT AND THE NAVY. 



From Commander William L. Folger, chief of the Bureau of Ord- 

 nance, was received a specimen of nickeliferous pyrrhotite from Sud- 

 bury, Ontario, Canada. 



Lieut. Commander F. Hanford collected a brass '^fig-leaf,'' which was 

 presented to the Museum by Dr. Hugh M, Smith, of the U. S. Fish 

 Commission. 



