THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 39 



Kenmcott ; two young alligators from Professor Forshey, Texas ; 

 a snapping turtle, ( Chelonura serpentina) from Mississippi, and various 

 others. Another season will, however, find us better prepared for a 

 great variety of species already promised. Few collections of living 

 animals excite more interest in the spectator than those of reptiles, 

 while the habits of many species, at present unknown, can only be 

 ascertained by their study in captivity. None admit of such confined 

 accommodations, or require so little attendance and food. 



Invertebrata. — Marine invertebrata of Jersey, were collected by my- 

 self, and of Louisiana by Mr. Wurdemann. A highly interesting and 

 valuable collection made by Mr. Jarvis, inspector of timber in the 

 Portsmouth navy yard, and presented by Commodore Smith, chief of 

 the Bureau of Docks and Yards, illustrates well the growth of the 

 teredo and barnacle, with the real or pretended artificial methods of 

 preventing their ravages. From the experiments of Mr. Jarvis, how- 

 ever, it would seem to be proved conclusively that the white zinc 

 paint, made by the New Jersey Company, as long as the surface 

 covered by it remains unbroken, forms as effectual a protection to a 

 ship's bottom as copper sheathing itself. Nearly all the alcoholic col- 

 lections received included specimens of astaci and insects from differ- 

 ent parts of North America. 



Fossils. — Many valuable collections of fossil remains have been 

 received. An interesting series from the vicinity of Satow was for- 

 warded by the Rev. L. Vortisch ; Mr. G. Lambert, of Mons, presented 

 a series of carboniferous fossils of Belgium ; specimens from Texas 

 were sent in by Lieutenant J. G. Benton, United States army, and by 

 Dr. Julius Froebel ; from Panama by Dr. E. L. Berthoud ; from 

 Illinois by Dr. Stevens ; from North Carolina by Mr. Bridger. A com- 

 plete set of minerals and fossils of the remarkable brown-coal beds of 

 Brandon, Vermont, was received from David Buckland. Sharks 

 teeth and mastodon bones of Florida, from Captain Casey, United 

 States army ; fossil-wood of California, from Mr. Langton, and in- 

 fusorial earth of Monterey, from Major Barnard. 



Minerals. — A valuable collection of specimens illustrating the mate- 

 rials of which some of the principal public buildings in Europe are con- 

 structed, gathered by Mr. Evans, wasdepositedinhisnameby Lieutenant 

 Gillis, and minerals of New Mexico and Texas were received from 

 Lieutenant Colonel J. K. Mansfield, United States army, and Dr. 

 Froebel ; opal of Mexico from Mr. Rogers. A series illustrating the 

 auriferous deposites of Bridgewater, Vermont, was presented by Mr. 

 Cunningham. 



Plants. — Some very large collections of plants of the Rocky Mount- 

 ains and the regions west were brought in by the exploring expeditions. 

 Others were sent from Texas by Dr. Ervendburg, from Minnesota by 

 Mr. Riggs, from Madagascar by Messrs. Cotheal, &c. A very large 

 leaf of the Talipot tree was presented by Commodore Aulick. 



Antiquities. — Various specimens of Indian remains in North America 

 have been received during the year from various sources, as also an 

 ancient Peruvian vase from Talcahuana. 



