82 REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 
From Labrador small but interesting and instructive collections of birds, with 
some eges, were received from Mr. Henry Connolly and Mr. B. Smith; and 
from Moose Factory, from Mr. John MacKenzie, all of the Hudson’s Bay service. 
Pacific coast of the United Staies—My. J. G. Swan, of Puget sound, has 
continued his important transmissions illustrating the zodlogy and ethnology of 
that region. Professor Whitney, of the geological-survey of California, has 
also sent tothe Institution many specimens collected by Dr. J. G. Cooper, 
zodlogist of the survey, to be identified by comparison with the Smithsonian 
types. 
Interior region of the United States—Assistant Surgeon Elliot Coues and 
Acting Assistant Surgeon J. A. Beers, having been ordered to report to the 
military commander of New Mexico for duty, left early in the spring for Santa 
¥é. During their journey they made valuable collections of birds, which were 
received in good condition. On reaching Santa Fé, Dr. Coues was ordered to 
Fort Whipple, near Prescott, the newly established capital of Arizona, which 
he reached in August, and where he has been diligently engaged, in the inter- 
vals of his official duties, in exploring the natural history of that interesting 
and little-known region. The results of his labors up to the beginning of No- 
vember, filling three boxes, have reached San Francisco, and have been ship- 
ped to the Institution, where they may be expected shortly to arrive. Dr. Beers 
has been stationed at Fort: Goodwin, on the Gila, and is also making collections 
there, none of which, however. have yet been received. 
In April last, Acting Assistant Surgeon R. Hitz left Washington for Fort 
Laramie, to serve as surgeon to a projected western expedition from that post, 
under Colonel Collins. During his term of service. Dr. Hitz made large col- 
lections of specimens, principally on Laramie Peak, which have not yet arrived, 
owing to the freezing up, in the Missouri river, of the steamboat upon which 
they had been shipped. 
In May last, Captain John Feilner, 1st United States cavalry, was detailed 
to accompany the expedition of General Sully, fitted out to control the Sioux 
Indians of the Upper Missouri, and during his stay at Sioux City, in the month 
of May, collected and forwarded a valuable collection of birds. He then pro- 
ceeded to Fort Rice, a new post at the mouth of Cannon-ball river, and after- 
wards started with the command on the westward expedition. On the 30th of 
June, when about 100 miles from Fort Rice, Captain Feilner was ambushed 
by hostile Indians and mortally wounded, surviving only afew hours. In this 
untimely death of Captain Feilner the Institution loses one of its most valued 
correspondents. Many previous Reports bear testimony to the services he has 
rendered to science by his numerous collections of specimens in natural history, 
prepared with unusual skill, and made in the—till then—unknown regions 
about Fort Crook, California. 
Eastern United States —Extensive collections of eggs have been received 
from Dr. William Wood, of Connecticut, Mr. J. W. Tolman, of Illinois, and 
Dr. Hoy, of Wisconsin. Dr. I’. V. Hayden and Dr. Craven have furnished 
series illustrating the invertebrate fauna of the coast of South Carolina. Cap- 
tain William Holden, of the quartermaster’s department, supplied a large num- 
ber of serpents and other reptiles from the vicinity of Newbern, North Carolina. 
Meaico—The most important collections received from Mexico, during the 
year, have been those of Mr. Xantus. Mention was made in a previous report 
of his operations about Colima and Manzanillo and vicinity, and of specimens 
received from him. ‘The remainder of the collections of 1863 were received in 
1864, and filled 28 boxes, (two others still deficient,) consisting of a general 
assortment of the land and aquatic animals, numerous minerals, and a few 
plants of the region investigated, and embracing much that is new to science. 
These collections were due early in the year, but were detained several 
months in Manzanillo by the blockade of the port by the French; and were 
