THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 47 



animals. Thanks to the disinterested zeal of Mr. D. N. Couch, for- 

 merly of the^ United Slates army, we already possess, in the rich col- 

 lections made by himself and Dr. Berlandier, very full series from many 

 provinces of northern Mexico, as Tamaulipas, Coahuila, New Leon, 

 Durango, &c. The fruits of the travels of Dr. Thos. Webb, in the 

 more western portions of northern Mexico, are also of very great value. 

 The vicinity of the city of Mexico is probably the point where the 

 Mexican specimens of most interest are to be derived. 



e — SOUTH AMERICA AND THE REST OF THE WORLD. 



Survey of North Pacific and China seas, under Commander John 

 Rodgers, United States Navy. — The collections made by this naval ex- 

 ploring expedition, while first in charge of Captain Ringgold, and 

 subsequently of Captain Rodgers during 1854 and part of 1855, have 

 been received in good order, and consist of many boxes and kegs of 

 specimens in zoology and botany, collected chiefly by Messrs. Win. 

 Stimpson and Charles Wright, naturalists to the survey. These 

 specimens are principally from the South Pacific and the China seas. 

 Collections of very great interest were made during the past spring 

 and summer about Japan, Kamschatka, and in and along Behring's 

 straits, and subsequently on the coast of California. 



The Japan Expedition, under Commodore Perry, was also the means 

 of adding some fine collections of birds, reptiles, and shells to the 

 zoological treasures of the country. 



From Dr. James Morrow, agriculturist to the expedition, has been 

 received a number of jars filled with reptiles and fishes of Japan, em- 

 bracing several novelties in science. 



Exploration of the Parana, under Captain T. J. Page, United States 

 Navy. — This expedition has continued its important agency in devel- 

 oping the natural history resources of Paraguay, by sending home 

 many specimens of the mammals, birds, reptiles, fishes, invertebrates, 

 plants, minerals, &c. These, with previous collections from the same 

 source, constitute the most important series of South American ani- 

 mals, especially of the reptiles and fishes, ever brought to the United 

 States. 



Arctic Expedition of Dr. PLane, United States Navy. — During the re- 

 cent voyage of Dr. Kane along the west coast of Greenland, many col- 

 lections in natural history were obtained. It became unfortunately 

 necessary to abandon them, however, after the vessel became frozen 

 up, and the party was obliged to return in sledges. 



/ — GENERAL STATEMENTS OF ADDITIONS. 



I shall now proceed to discuss briefly the more important contribu- 

 tions to the museum during the past year, referring for particulars to 

 the general list of donations. 



Mammals. — The most marked increase during the year has been in 



