REPOET OF THE SECRETARY. 47 



Bogota, and to his sou, George H. Hurlbut, the Institution owes the 

 first complete skeleton of this animal ever obtained ; and during the 

 year 1873 it received a mounted skin, presented by President Moreno, 

 of Ecuador. 



The Museum of Comparative Zoology at Cambridge has famished, in 

 exchange, casts of several crania of mastodons. 



Among the most important contributions in the way of mammals are 

 the specimens received from Mr. P. T. Barnum, consisting of animals 

 which have died in his extensive menageries in different parts of the 

 country, and transmitted to the National Museum from time to time by 

 his agents, in compliance with his instructions. Among these may be 

 mentioned a Malayan tapir, a Bactrian camel, a dromedary, an African 

 panther, the Florida manatee, the Indian rhinoceros, the mandrill and 

 other species, all of them of extreme interest, furnishing both skeletons, 

 and skins fit for mounting. 



Of birds the most important collections are those from the Aleutian 

 Islands, received from Messrs. Dall & Elliott, and from the region west 

 of the Missouri, from the different Government expeditions already 

 enumerated. Dr. Haast has also supplied many rarities from New 

 Zealand. A special acquisition is that of the ocellated turkey from 

 Honduras, presented by Mr. Sarg. This is extremely rare iu public 

 museums, with a market- value, for a good skin, of about $200. 



Other notable contributions are the skin of two species of tern or 

 mackerel gulls, one the Sterna longqnnnis, from Portland, Me., by Mr. 

 Franklin Benner, and the other Sterna leucoptera^ from Wisconsin, pre- 

 sented by Dr. T. M. Brewer, both of them the first specimens of their 

 respective species hitherto detected in North America. 



A collection of eggs of birds from Arizona, by Captain Bendire, 

 has also been referred to, and is of special value. 



Comparatively few reptiles have been received during the year; these 

 consisting mainly of specimens brought in by the Government expedi- 

 tions. We may, however, mention several valuable species from the 

 Isthmus of Tehuantepec, sent on by Professor Sumichrast, and from 

 Costa Eica by Professor Gabb. 



The list of fishes is very extensive, composed mainly of those brought 

 in by the United States Fish Commission. These embrace a very great 

 variety, including specimens of sharks, rays, and many notable fish se- 

 cured on the coasts of Maine, Massachusetts, Ehode Island, »&c., as well 

 as of sea salmon, lake salmon, white-fish, smelts, capelin, and other va- 

 rieties from the waters of California, the Great Lakes, the Eastern 

 States, and the provinces. Many fishes were brought iu also by the 

 Government expeditions, and some have been received from Costa Eica 

 through Professor Gabb, and several interesting species from Europe, 

 through Messrs. IMiddleton & Carman, of New York. 



Of special interest in connection with the study of the fishes of the 

 United States, is a series from Cuba, contributed by Professor Poey, of 



