THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 45' 



from Fort Yuma were presented by Major G. S. Thomas, Lieut. Pat- 

 terson, and Dr. E. P. Abbott, of tbe XL S. army. 



Geological Survey of Oregon. — A large number of boxes of minerals 

 and fossils have been received from Dr. J. Evans, now occupied in 

 the geological survey of Oregon. To these were added a number of 

 specimens of the mammals and birds of Oregon, as well as some still 

 more valuable from the region of the Upper Missouri. 



Explorations on the Missouri. — The explorations on the Upper Mis- 

 souri and Yellowstone, by Dr. F. V. Hayden, in connexion with 

 Col. Vaughan, Indian agent, Mr. Alex. Culbertson, and Mr. Chou- 

 teau, continue to yield results of much importance. Large collections 

 of fossils, minerals, mammals, birds, insects, and plants, have been 

 made and sent in. 



Dr. Hayden has revisited the Mauvaises Terres of White river 

 during the year, and procured some forms of fossil mammals not pre- 

 viously discovered. The Mauvaises Terres of the Blackfeet country 

 have also furnished him a rich harvest. His geological collections 

 now amount to nearly six tons in weight. 



The expedition of United States troops under Gen. Harney against 

 the Sioux has abo resulted in the collecting of many specimens of 

 fossil mammals and reptiles in the Mauvaises Terres. Most of these 

 will probably go to enrich the cabinet of the U. S. Military Academy 

 at "West Point. 



A valuable series of specimens, made at Fort Benton, on the Upper 

 Missouri, by Mr. Harvey, was received during the summer, and serves 

 to complete the collections in the same vicinity by Dr. Geo. Suckley. 



Exploration of Mr. Samuels. — The exploration of California by Mr. 

 E. Samuels, under the patronage of the Smithsonian Institution, the 

 Boston Society of Natural History, and the United States mail line 

 to California — consisting of the United States Mail Steamship Com- 

 pany, (M. 0. Eoberts, esq., president,) the Panama Eailroad Company, 

 (David Headly, president,) and the Pacific Steamship Company, (Mr. 

 Aspinwall, president) — promises to do much towards the development 

 of the natural history of that State. Mr. Samuels left New York on 

 the 5th of November, and by last advices had arrived in San Fran- 

 cisco. He expects to remain in California about a year, and will secure 

 numerous specimens in all departments of natural history, devoting 

 particular attention to completing such collections as are imperfectly 

 represented in the results of the various Pacific railroad surveys. The 

 above-mentioned companies have, in the most liberal spirit, granted 

 free passage to Mr. Samuels and his collections, besides adding other 

 facilities, thereby reducing materially the expenses of the work. 



The California Express Company of Messrs. Wells, Fargo, & Co., 

 and J. M. Freeman & Co., at the suggestion of officers of the Panama 

 line, have instructed their agents in California to render Mr. Samuels 

 all the aid in their power. 



In addition to his other collections, Mr. Samuels is specially charged 

 by the Commissioner of Patents with securing seeds of the trees and 

 shrubs of California for distribution throughout the country. 



