NO. 6 SMITHSOXIAX EXPLORATIONS, I92O 43 



'■ I have decided to work the Xorthern Territory and then go overland to 

 Queensland via the old wagon road. I will travel in a buckboard and will go 

 south from here, to the Catherine River, then east along the Roper, and then 

 to the McArthur. On reaching the latter river I will go south along the river, 

 then to Anthony's Lagoon and east across the tableland to some point in 

 Queensland — most likely Gloncurry. The trip will take about four months 

 and will have many advantages. The road is an easy one, being an old estab- 

 lished route with plenty- of good water along the way, and the trip ought to be 

 productive of very good results." 



During the year two shipments were received from I\Ir. Hoy, the 

 last one arriving here in September. A total of 440 mammals, well 

 prepared, several of which were hitherto imrepresented in our collec- 

 tion, together with series of skeletal and embryological material ; 

 570 bird skins, with 24 additional examples in alcohol, and smaller 

 collections of reptiles, amphibians, insects, marine specimens, etc., 

 were received. 



Up to the time of ^Ir. Hoy's visit to Australia the Museum had 

 received not over 900 specimens of birds from that country ; the 

 majority of these were old. mounted, and without precise data, some 

 of them dating back to the time of the Wilkes Exploring Expedition. 

 About 350 moimted birds, displayed at the Centennial Exposition in 

 Philadelphia in 1876, by the several Australian colonies, and pre- 

 sented to the National Museum at the close of the exposition, formed 

 the largest single contribution to our collection ; the remainder of 

 the material consists of many smaller lots, obtained by gift or ex- 

 change at long intervals. About 140 species, including several of the 

 distinct forms of Kangaroo Island, are represented in the material 

 received from Mr. Hoy, all well prepared and with adequate data. 

 Some of them are quite new to the Museum collection, and others, 

 such as the lyre bird, have not previously been available in our study 

 series. 



BIOLOGICAL EXPLOR.\TION IX HAITI 



Dr. W. L. Abbott, of Philadelphia, accompanied by Mr. ]■",. C. 

 Leonard, of the National Museum, as botanical collector, made a 

 visit of exploration to southern Haiti from February to July, H)20. 

 Dr. Abbott undertook this visit chiefly that he might study the bird 

 life of Gonave Island, hoping to complete certain series he had col- 

 lected on a former visit. The island is about 30 miles long and 10 

 miles broad, and consists of a low mountain range bordered by a 

 belt of foothills that merge gradually on the north coast to a level 

 beach fringed by mangroves, but on the south slope descend rather 

 abrui>tly into the sea. Dense thorn thickets cover the arid mountain 

 sides and foothills, while the uplands, called La Fable, ojien into 



