12 



In some of the classes a considerably larger exhibit of species obtained 

 for the collection could have been made, had it not been deemed advisa 

 ble by Doctor Cooper not to collect the more common and easily procured 

 species until a suitable place had been provided for the museum of the 

 survey. The mounting of specimens of birds and mammals is so much 

 more satisfactorily done from freshly prepared skins, that the collecting 

 of such species as can be readily obtained in this vicinity may properly 

 be deferred until they can be set up at once in the place they are destined 

 to occupy. The number of specimens illustrating the zoology of the 

 Pacific coast, now in the collection of the survey, may be estimated at 

 between seven thousand and eight thousand. 



Of three of the four volumes of the zoological reports the illustrations 

 have been in hand for several months, and it is hoped that they will be 

 so far advanced towards completion that at least two of them may go to 

 press during the year eighteen hundred and sixty-six. 



Two volumes of the zoological series will be devoted to the birds and 

 mammals, and Doctor Cooper's manuscript will be carefully revised by 

 Professor Baird, of the Smithsonian institution, who also has charge, 

 under my general direction, of the execution of the illustrations. We 

 propose to give a figure of one species in each genus of the birds; those 

 which have never before been described or figured being illustrated by 

 large colored figures on steel or stone, and the others by wood cuts. 

 The different species of each genus will be distinguished from each other 

 by diagrams of the head, claws, wings, and other characteristic parts. 

 The mammals will also be fully illustrated, the object being to furnish, 

 in the zoological series, manuals or text books which shall not only 

 have a permanent scientific value, as containing in a condensed and sys 

 tematic form all that is known of the fauna of the State of California 

 and its borders, but which shall also be practically useful to those per 

 sons who may desire to ascertain the names and habits of the animals 

 they may meet with on land or in the waters of the Pacific coast. 



The description of the fishes will form a separate volume, and this 

 will be prepared by Mr. Theodore Gill, who will be able to use, not only 

 the materials and notes furnished by Doctor Cooper, but also the exten 

 sive collection of the Smithsonian Institution, accumulated during many 

 years of labor by the various naturalists who have devoted themselves 

 to gathering specimens on the Pacific coast in this department. Each 

 species will be illustrated by a carefully drawn and engraved figure, the 

 work being done under Mr. Gills' immediate supervision. 



The shells will also afford the material for another volume, Doctor 

 Cooper's collections being very extensive, and comprising nearly two 

 hundred new species. As the eminent conchologist, Mr. P. P. Car 

 penter, has been for a long time specially devoted to the study of the 

 shells of the Pacific coast, Doctor Cooper's collections have been placed 

 in his hands for study, and it is expected that he will prepare one of the 

 volumes of our zoological series, in which each species will be illus 

 trated by an accurate figure. 



The maps and sections, with perhaps some of the more important 

 illustrations of the scenery of the State, should be placed together in 

 one volume or atlas, and this will form the proper conclusion of our 

 series of publications. 



According to our plans for publication, as developed in the preceding 

 pages, it will be seen that we contemplate issuing from eleven to thirteen 

 volumes, which are distributed among the different departments of the 

 survey as follows : 



