30 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



by Mr. L. Stone ; from the vicinity of New Bedford, by Mr. John H. 

 Thomson ; from Florida, by Mr. G. B. Goode; from the Susquehanna 

 Biver, by Mr. T. H. Bean and Mr. Jas. Creveling ; from Montana, by Dr. 

 Hart ; from Lake Superior, by J. T. Coleman ; from Michigan, by D. H. 

 Fitzhugh, jr., and Fred. Mather; from Cooperstown, N. Y., &c, by 

 Captain Phinuey, 



Of fishes from regions outside of the United States, specimens have 

 been furnished from the fresh waters of Central Europe, by Dr. Middle- 

 ton Goldsmith ; from the Pacific Ocean, by the United States steamer 

 Portsmouth; from Kamtschatka, by Col. T. L. Lee; from Cuba, by Pro- 

 fessor Poey and Professor Shepard ; and from the Mauritius, by Capt. 

 Nicholas Pike. The last-named collection is in great variety of species 

 and admirable preservation, constituting one of the most important 

 contributions ever made in this department to the National Museum. 

 Professor Poey's collection is a continuation of a systematic series, which 

 he has undertaken to supply, and which already embraces over a hun- 

 dred species. 



The Zoological Museum of Copenhagen has supplied models of the 

 common form of weir used in Denmark for the capture of fishes. 



The general collections of marine invertebrates have been from Mr. 

 Wi?liam H. Dall, from Capt. Nicholas Pike, and from the United States 

 Fish Commission, among other series. In mollusks the collections of 

 Captain Pike and Mr. Dall are especially rich. 



A series of shells from the coast of Norway, by Mr. G. O. Sars, of 

 Christiania, will oe of much value for comparison with American forms. 

 Numerous shells of fossil mollusks have also been received from various 

 donors. 



From the fact that the collections of insects have been transferred to 

 the Agricultural Department, not much can be announced in the way 

 of receipts in this department, all the specimens that have come to hand 

 having been, as usual, delivered to that establishment. It may be 

 worthy of mention, however, that the first collections made by the United 

 States astronomical expedition for the observation of the transit of 

 Venus, received at the Institution, consist of a series of butterflies from 

 Brazil, furnished by Mr. Russell. 



Of plants various packages have been received from the different Gov- 

 ernment expeditious, among them some interesting fossil species from 

 Mr. Ambler and Dr. Stevens, of Virginia, and Mr. Sternberg, of Kansas. 

 As heretofore, all the recent specimens have been transmitted to the 

 Agricultural Department. 



Among the more important contributions to the museum have been 

 the specimens of soundings made by Commander Belknap, on the Tus- 

 carora, during his labors in the Pacific Ocean. These are of very great 



