REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 55 



Collections of a similar character were also received from Col. J. T. 

 Abert, of the Engineer Corps, Washington, D. C, and from B. W. Ever- 

 maun, of Indiana University. 



Geological specimens were contributed by O. A. Blackman, N. W. 

 Wood, and O. Whitcomb, of Leavenworth, and a collection of coal plants 

 by Fletcher M. Noe, of Indianapolis. Some interesting fishes were sent 

 by Prof. David S. Jordan, president of Indiana University. 



Iowa. — J. W. Preston, of Baxter, and R. J. Haight, of Davenport, 

 sent zoological specimens. 



From the Charles City Marble Company was received a beautiful 

 specimen of the so-called madrepore marble, a form of ornamental stone 

 not hitherto known in the arts. 



Kansas. — Reptiles from southern Kansas have been received from 

 Charles Ruby, U. S. Army, stationed at Fort D. A. Russell, Wyo. 

 Yarious zoological specimens have also been received from A. M. Fuller, 

 of Lawrence; E. Bumgardner, of Holton, and Warren Kenaus, of Selina. 

 Dr. W. S. Newlon, of Oswego, has sent mollusks from the Neosho River 

 and neighboring streams for identification. From A. B. Baker, of 

 Banner, Trego County, were purchased skeletons of the black-footed 

 ferret, Putornis nigripes, one of the rarest of American mammals. 



Dr. A. C. Peale, of the U. S. Geological Survey, sends an interest- 

 ing contribution to the department of physical geology, and Dr. A. R. 

 Chase, of Millwood, contributes bones and teeth of mastodon obtained 

 at a depth of 30 feet below the surface. Fossil shells were sent by 

 Robert Hay, of Junction City. 



Kentucky. — Zoological specimens were presented by Mrs. Richard 

 Carter, of Cloverport, and T. II. Morgan, of Lexington. 



Prof. J. R. Procter, director of the Geological Survey of Kentucky, 

 presents a large collection illustrating the coal formation of the State, 

 including eight carefully prepared groups of specimens showing sec- 

 tions of different veins. Geological specimens were also received from 

 M. E. Morgan, of Gratz. Kentucky Q. Smith (Gerard Fowke) sent 

 two collections of archaeological objects. 



Louisiana. — C. J. Barrows, commissioner for Louisiana at the New 

 Orleans Exposition, presented an exceedingly interesting collection of 

 the clothing and weapons of the Shetiinasha Indians, including several 

 of their curious blow-pipes, used for the propulsion of arrows — the 

 only weapons of the kind found among natives of North America; also 

 samples of basketry from the Choctaw Indians; corn-husk basketry 

 made by the negroes, and specimens of nankeen cotton and decorticated 

 moss fabrics. 



Minerals were received from S. H. Houston, of New Orleans. John 

 M. Avery, of New Iberia, who has made many valuable contributions 

 to the Museum from the salt works on the island of Petit Ause, pre- 

 sents beautiful specimens of salt illustrating cleavage. 



Maine. — Samples of basketry from the Passamaquoddy Indians were 

 received from Mrs. Fannie Pattaugal, of Washington, D. C. 



