582 KEroRT — 1SC3. 



the Cycladidso by Mr. Prime. Thus it appears that the malacologists have 

 been unusually zealous in advancing their before somewhat slumbering study ; 

 and that the Smiths. Inst, has displayed unexpected liberality in preparing 

 and issuing from the press works of a comprehensive character, for the " in- 

 crease and diffusion of" what will hereafter be regarded as an important 

 branch of "knowledge among men." 



94. North Pacific Exploring Expedition. — In the year 1853, Dr. "W. 

 Stimpson, well known in very early life for his dredging-researches and ob- 

 servations on the marine animals of the Atlantic coast, accompanied Captain 

 Kingold as naturalist to the U. S. " North Pacific Exploring Expedition." Its 

 principal object was to obtain more correct information witb regard to the 

 Japan seas and the extreme north of tbe Pacific, and it was only incidentally 

 that it visited the CaUfomian province. However, Dr. Stimpson's extensive 

 dredgings in the fiords of Japan deyeloped the interesting fact, that whUe the 

 southern shores presented a fauna essentially Indo-Paoific in its character, 

 and abounding in the usual Cones, Cowries, Olives, &c., the northern slopes 

 of the same islands presented an assemblage of forms far more analogous to 

 the fauna of the Sitka and Vancouver region, and containing many species 

 common to tbe American coast. During the course of the voyage dredging- 

 colleotions t were made by Dr. Stimpson at Madeira, Cape of Good Hope, Sydney 

 Harbour, Coral Seas, Port Jackson, Hong Kong (also by Mr. Wrigbt; New Ire- 

 land, Lieut. Va^Wycke; Gasper Straits, Squires ; vicinity of Canton, presented 

 by Mr. Bowring ; interior of Hong Kong, Wright) ; China Sea ; "WTiampoa ; 

 Bonin Island; Loo Choc Island; Ousima; Katonasima Straits; Kikaia; 

 Kikaisima ; Kagosima [alas !] ; Hakodadi ; Taniogesima (also Wright, Kent, 

 Kern, Boggs, Carter); Simoda; Nipbon (also Brook); Arvatska Bay, Kamt- 

 Bcbatka; Aminchecbe Island, Avikamcheohe Island, Behring Straits; Senia- 

 vine Straits, Arctic Ocean (also Captain Eogers) ; San Francisco; (Puget Sound 

 and Shoalwater Bay, Dr. Cooper, Cat. no. 1849--1856); Tahiti (also Captain 

 Stephens, Kern), Hawaii (also Garrett ; Sea of Oohotsk, Captain Stevens). AU 

 these were duly catalogued, wdtb stations, depths, and other particulars, and 

 living animals preserved in spirits after being drawn. The expedition appears 

 to have returned in 1856. Altbough Dr. Stimpson devoted bis chief attention 

 to articulate animals, and moUusos occupied but a subordinate sbare of hia 

 attention, it is safe to say that in this short period he collected more trust- 

 worthy species of shells, with locaUties, than were received at the Smiths. 

 Inst, from the united labours of the naturalists of Captain Wilkes's celebrated 

 expedition. Through some unaccountable cause, certain of the most valuable 

 boxes were " lost " between New York and Washington ; the remainder were 

 placed in the hands of Dr. Gonid for description, with the MS. catalogue, a 

 copy of which forms the " MoUusca, Yol. I.," nos. 1-2003, of the Smiths. 

 Mus. Fortunately, Dr. Gould embraced the opportunity to bring the un- 

 certain shells to London, and compare them with the Cumingian Collection. 



t A fuller account of this expedition is here given than is justified from its contribiilious 

 to the W. American fauna, because no other information respecting it is as yet availablu 

 to the malacologieal student. 



