18 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



.mineralogy, and geology, have been deposited in the Institution. They 

 are now in process of examination, and an account of them will be given 

 in the valuable report of Mr. King, which Congress has ordered to be 

 printed. At the last session of Congress an appropriation of $10,000 

 was made for the continuance of the geological surveys of Dr. F. V. 

 Hayden. He was instructed by the Department of the Interior, under 

 whose direction the money was to be expended, to examine especially 

 the geology, mineralogy, and agricultural resources of the Territories of 

 Colorado and New Mexico. The exploration began at Cheyenne, Wy- 

 oming Territory, and was continued through Denver, the silver and 

 gold mining regions of Georgetown and Central City, the Middle Park, 

 Colorado City, and Fort Union to Santa Fe, returning to Denver by way 

 of the San Luis Yalley and South Park. In the language of the Secre- 

 tary of the Interior, "this exploration, though brief and rapid, was emi- 

 nently successful, and the collections in geology, mineralogy, botany, and 

 zoology were extensive.' 7 These collections have been deposited in the 

 Institution, from which they will be sent for examination to persons who 

 have made special study of the branches of natural history and zoology 

 to which the specimens pertain. 



Mexico and Central America. — The explorations of Colonel Grayson, 

 in Northwestern Mexico, spoken of in previous reports, were continued 

 in the early part of the year, and an additional series of specimens 

 transmitted to the Institution. It is, however, with deep regret we have 

 to announce that the labors of this enthusiastic and enterprising nat- 

 uralist were suddenly terminated by death, from fever contracted in an 

 attempt to explore the Island of Isabella. By his decease the Institu- 

 tion has lost a highly-valued correspondent, and the cause of science a 

 successful cultivator. He devoted many years of his life to the devel- 

 opment of the natural history and physical geography of Northwestern 

 Mexico and the adjacent islands; and it is much to be regretted that he 

 had not lived to complete the work in which he was so much interested. 

 The explorations of Professor Sumichrast, on the Isthmus of Tehuan- 

 tepec, have been nearly completed, and the large number of well-pre- 

 served specimens in all branches of zoology, received at the Institution 

 from this region, attest his continued enthusiasm and persevering indus- 

 try. From our veteran correspondent, Dr. C. Sartorius, of Mirador, 

 important collections have been received during the past year. 



South America. — Mr. Hudson, of Buenos Ayres, and Mr. Eeeve, of 

 Ecuador, have furnished a continuation of the results of their orni- 

 thological explorations in these localities, while an interesting series of 

 the birds of Demerara has been contributed by Colonel Figyelmesy. 



Most of the collaborators just mentioned have furnished information 

 in regard to the physical geography and the inhabitants of the country 

 from which the specimens were derived, and in this way the Institution 

 has accumulated a large amount of manuscript material relative to the 

 natural history, geology, and ethnology of the different parts of North 

 America, not generally known. 



