THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 51 



Rio Grande, from Major Emory. Dr. O. W. Gibbs presented a musk 

 deer from Java, and Mr. Steenburg has contributed many oi the spe- 

 cies from Greenland and Scandinavia. The collections of Captain Van 

 Vliet and Lieutenant Couch include many species from Mexico and 

 Texas. Some valuable specimens from Minnesota were received from 

 Mr. Cavileer and Dr. Head. 



Birds. — The additions to this department have been very great, 

 amounting to over 400 species and more than 1,000 specimens. Of 

 these, 250 species are from the Rio Grande country, North Mexico, the 

 Rocky mountains, and west of the Rocky mountains. Here, as well 

 as among mammals, there have occurred some new species. Of re- 

 markable perfection of preparation was a collection of fifty species of 

 California birds, presented by Dr. Hermann ; and the North Mexican 

 series of Lieutenant Couch have been of extraordinary magnitude and 

 importance. Captain Van Vliet, Mr. J. H. Clark, and Mr. Arthur 

 Schott, under Major Emory, and Dr. Crawford, have gathered many 

 valuable specimens in Texas. Species from Michigan have been re- 

 ceived from the Rev. Charles Fox ; of Wisconsin, from Dr. Hoy and 

 Mr. Barry; of Ohio, from Dr. Kirtland and Charles Pease ; of Louis- 

 iana, from Mr. James Fairie. 



Reptiles and Fishes. — As heretofore, owing to the particular attention 

 invited to this department, the additions to the alcoholic collections 

 have been most marked, especially of reptiles and fishes. Every por- 

 tion of the country has been laid under contribution, and the additions 

 to our knowledge of the distribution of species, as well as of their zoo- 

 logical character, have been of the greatest value. There is scarcely 

 a State or Territory in the Union which has not sent a representation. 

 The most marked results have been the addition to the fauna of the 

 United States of the dipsadians among serpents, and the characini, 

 ants, the fresh-water labroids among fishes. Nearly two thousand glass 

 jars have been filled with the specimens received, after being assorted, 

 of which two hundred were of serpents alone. The principal contribu- 

 tors have been Major Emory, Governor Stevens, Lieutenant Whipple, 

 Dr. Hammond, Dr. Jeffrey, Professor Winchell, Drs. G. C. and B F. 

 Shumard, Dr. Hoy, Rev. A. C. Barry, Dr. Barratt, Mrs. Daniel, Major 

 Rich, Captain Van Vliet, James Fairie, S. F. Baird, Major Hagner, 

 Major Sibley, Rev. Charles Fox, Dr. Head, J. D. Sergeant, Mr. Ken- 

 nicott, Mr. Dean, Captain Atwood, Leo Lesquereaux, J. H. Richard, 

 Professor Agassiz, Captain Farragut, D. B. Boden, &c. 



Invertebrata. — Many valuable collections of invertebrata have been 

 added during the year, the most important being a series from Grand 

 Manan, from Mr. William Stimpson, and illustrating his paper published 

 in the Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge. Others from the coast 

 of Massachusetts were sent by Captain Atwood, and from Florida and 

 the Gulf of Mexico, by Dr. Hammond, Dr. Jeffrey, and Major Emory. 

 Some interesting contributions have consisted of specimens of Gordius 

 from the bodies of crickets and grasshoppers, contributed hy Mr. San- 

 ford and Mr. Eveleth. 



Plants. — An extensive collection of plants of Alabama was received 

 from Prof. A. Winchell, to whom the Institution is indebted for valu- 

 able specimens in all departments of natural history. Dr. Ravenel has 



