62 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
stances is self-evident. I therefore selected only a few of the best pre- 
served bones, namely, the first and seventh ribs of the right side, and 
the os occipitis, in order to show the state of preservation. They form 
No. 1601 of my catalogue. 
We did not return, however, without having our boat trimmed with 
bones of kytina, mostly ribs, from the same skeleton, and two skulls, one 
being very fragmentary. 
Of plants I collected only those not met within the northern por- 
tion, which are only a few species. The topographical part of my work 
was more successful than the zoological. 
I had the opportunity of mapping this part of the island and can give 
a tolerably correct representation of this, the most western link of the 
Aleutian chain. It differs considerably from the old charts, which show 
deep gulfs where the coast line is actually straight, and land where we 
gaily sailed our boat. 
I also visited the place of Bering’s death, and the winter quarters of 
the ill-fated party, and spent two days in digging and surveying. The 
ruins of the house were measured and described, but my intention of 
making a sketch-map and some landscape sketches of the surroundings, 
was completely frustrated by the never-ceasing rain. The remains found 
were very scanty; some small glass beads and plates of mica, prob- 
ably for trading purposes; a few iron grape-shot, fragments of a brass 
plate with Russian armorial ensigns, bolts, and sheaves from the vessel, 
&e. Ihave kept these relies, as perhaps the National Museum will be 
interested in receiving the only remains of this expedition. 
IT omit further details here, for this letter is intended to contain zoolog- 
ical data only. Besides, I have no copy of Steller’s journal; and, finally, 
because I propose to revisit the place in order to complete my observa- 
tions and to take the sketches above mentioned. 
Tam unable to send you at present a full description of the islands, 
as my sojourn here has scarcely exceeded three months. The following 
pages will contain merely some disconnected sketches of those things I 
consider to be new or of special interest. You will see, besides, that they 
are, with a few exceptions, limited to the land fauna, as this, of course, 
has been the main object of my studies and observations. The collec- 
tions of marine animals are as yet insignificant. 
My stay here has as yet been too short, of course, to allow ofexhanne 
ive generalizations with regard to the Tule ie relations of the islands, 
the more as I have been able to identify with certainty only a small por- 
tion of the animals which | have collected. But I do not hesitate to 
state that the character of the land fauna is palarctic, as it has been 
supposed to be. Such being the case, you will not find it surprising 
that the faunal character of the island agrees more or less with that of 
Kamtschatka. 
Although I am not prepared at present to give the reasons for my 
hypothesis, I still should like to remark that several facts show that 
