REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 53 



of the specimens being sent for examination. From Mount Vernon were 

 received several specimens of the Sand adder (Heterodus) and a "-nest" 

 of a hornet ( Vespa maculata), containing a large number of insects, given 

 by Mr. J. H. Kuehling. A few insects, among the number the larvae 

 of atheroma regalis, were received. S. B. Hoopman sent a model of a 

 "stone chair" found in a mountain near Hillsborough. Several small 

 collections of Indian beads, pottery, and a rude chipping tool were 

 received. J. McNainara sent a camphene chandelier, illustrating a 

 method of house illumination prior to the use of gas. Several speci- 

 mens of fishes and an Albino deer were also received. 



Washington Territory. — Dr. W. E. Everett sent a Wood rat and birds' 

 nests. A. collection of ethnological objects was received from Charles 

 Willoughby, U. S. Indian agent at Quinaielt. 



West Virginia. — G. F. Kunz, of New York, sent eleven fragments of 

 meteoric iron from Jenny's Creek. A " water bug" (Belostoma americana) 

 was sent for examination. Dr. J. R. Mathers sent a Rattlesnake. A 

 collection of 14 species, 13 genera, of Carboniferous fossils came from 

 August D. Selby. 



Wisconsin. — Capt. B. F. Goss sent a nest and eight eggs of a Wren 

 (Regulus satrapa). C. H. Slay ton sent a species of tape-worm taken 

 from the white of an egg, and Andrew Oleson sent specimens of quartz 

 and mica, both for examination. 



Wyoming. — Col. James Stevenson, of the Bureau of Ethnology, sent 

 eight garnet pebbles and garnet in quartz. 



WEST INDIES. 



The principal collection from these Islands was received from the 

 Wesleyan University, of Middletown, Connecticut, and consisted of 

 484 specimens of sponges and 246 specimens of coral gathered in the 

 Bermudas by Dr. G. Brown Goode, in 1876-1879, for the university, 

 and now transferred to the National Museum in exchange. Prof. Alex- 

 ander Agassiz, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, sent a collection of about 

 500 specimens of mollusksaudbrachiopods (representing 205 species), 

 obtained by the Coast Survey steamer Blake in the West Indies and Gulf 

 of Mexico, in the years 1876, 1877, and 1878. Mr. John Gundlach, of Ter- 

 mina,Cuba, sent 3 species of birds, one of which, a hawk (Accipiter frin- 

 gilloides), was new to the collection. General D. E. Coombs, of Baracoa, 

 Cuba, sent 2 specimens of Chromium ore. Eight specimens of Audu- 

 bon's Shearwater (Puffinus auduboni) were received from C. J. May- 

 nard & Co., and Mr. Charles B. Cory sent a collection of bird-skins. 



ASIA. 



Dr. D. Bethune McCartee made several additions to his already targe 

 Japanese and Chinese collections now in the Museum. Among the 

 specimens received were mussel-shells with images of Buddha painted 

 on the inside, a geomantic compass, a spoon made from the pearly 



