REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY. $3 
finally brought to Panama on the United States steamer Narragansett, and de- 
livered to the Panama Railroad Company, by the kindness of Commander 8. E. 
Woodworth, United States navy. 
Several collections of birds and their eggs from the vicinity of Mazatlan 
have been presented by Colonel A. J. Grayson, an old correspondent of the 
Institution. These have provedof muchinterest, as showing an extension nortk- 
ward, along the coast, of the Central American fauna, of much greater extent 
than formerly supposed. Colonel Grayson is at present engaged in exploring 
the ornithology of the large islands, Three Marias, &c., off the coast of Mexico, 
and will doubtless make some interesting discoveries. 
Additional collections of birds and other animals, as well as of plants, have 
been received from Dr. Charles Sartorius, of Mirador, a gentleman to whom the 
Institution already owes so much material relative to the natural history of 
Mexico. Collections of birds, mammals and reptiles, in continuation of pre- 
vious ones, have also been presented by Dr. Sumichrast, of Orizaba. 
Dr. H. Berendt, long resident in Tabasco, visited the United States early in 
the year, bringing with him valuable collections of natural history for the In- 
stitution. These consisted principally of reptiles, among them a complete 
series of the Chelonia, found near ‘Tabasco. 
At the present time, an extensive exploration of the physical and natural 
history of Yucatan is in progress, of which the Institution expects some of the 
results. It is under the direction of Seftor Salazar y Llarregui, well known as 
former Mexican commissioner of the United States and Mexican boundary 
survey. Dr. Arthur Schott, of whom frequent mention has been made in pre- 
vious reports, as naturalist of the United States and Mexican boundary survey, 
Lieutenant Michler’s survey of the Atrato river, &c., has been attached, in a 
similar capacity, to the Yucatan survey. 
Central America—An extensive and most important series of birds of Gua- 
temala has been received from Mr. Osbert Salvin, of London, types of the 
report made on the Guatemalan collections by himself and Mr. F. Godman. 
A valuable collection of Costa Rican birds has keen received from Dr. A. von 
Frantzius, already referred to in previous reports; and many specimens, also, 
from Mr. J. Carmiol; the two series embracing an unusual proportion of new 
and rare species. 
From Captain J. M. Dow additional collections of birds of the coast region 
of Central America have been received ; and several collections made by Mr. 
Frederick Hicks have been submitted to my examination. 
South America —Specimens of birds from Bogota have been presented by 
Mr. J. Krider, Mr. J. Akhurst, and Mr. J. H. Roome. Additional cellections 
of birds of Ecuador, of much value, have been received from Hen. J. B. 
Buckalew and Prof. W. Jameson; and, also, quite 2 number from Mr. Akhurst. 
A collection of birds from the vicinity*of La Paz, Bolivia, made and presented 
by Hon. D. K. Cartter, has proved of the greatest interest, embracing, among 
other novelties, two new hummingbirds. A collection of woods from Surinans 
has been received from Mr. Henry Sawyer. 
West Indies —Additional collections from Mr. W.'T. March, of Jamaica, and 
from Mr. Charles Wright, Mr. N. H. Bishop, and Dr. F. Gundlach, of Cuba, 
have tended to make the Smithsonian series of birds from these islands still 
more complete than heretofore. A valuable collection of shells of Jamaica has 
also been received from Mr. March, and of Cuba from Mr. Wright. 
A series of birds of Nassau, New Providence, presented by Lieutenant Fitz- 
gerald, of the British army, included several species new to the collection. 
In addition to the collections of birds referred to above, as received from 
particular regions, Mr. Ed. Verreaux, of Paris, has presented, through the 
instrumentality of Mr. Jules P. Verreaux, the eminent ornithologist, a large 
number of species from Mexico, Central and South America, embracing many 
