52 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 



collections, gathered in southern California, were received, furnishing 

 not only several species not previously in our collections, but also 

 supplying most important materials for determining the distribution 

 of the animals of the western slope generally. 



Mr. A. S. Taylor, of Monterey, has furnished a variety of' species, 

 while A. J. Grayson, esq., has supplied a number of birds of much 

 interest. 



Other California collections, of greater or less extent, were received 

 from Capt. Stone and Dr. Antisell, and A. Campbell, esq. 



Explorations in the vicinity of Petaluma, (Gal.) by E. Samuels, esq. — 

 Brief mention was made in my last report of the fitting out of Mr. 

 Samuels by the Boston Society of Natural History and the Smithsonian 

 Institution, aided by the liberality of the United States mail line to 

 California, via Panama. Mr. Samuels returned in July last, having 

 thoroughly explored the field of his labors, and gathered a rich 

 collection of specimens, embracing many rare and new species. The 

 liberal promises of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, the Panama 

 jRailroad Company, and the United States Mail Steamship Company, 

 ibsisre been more than realized in the free passage home given to Mr. 

 Samuels and all his large collections — an act of generosity which may 

 well excite the attention and recognition of the lovers of science. 

 Nor should less meed of praise be awarded to Messrs.' Wells, Fargo 

 •& Co. for their free transmission to San Francisco of Mr. Samuels' 

 boxes, thus facilitating their semi-monthly despatch to Washington. 



It may, perhaps, not be out of place here to state that the above 

 mentioned mail line still continues its kind offices by transporting, 

 free of charge, all packages of the Smithsonian Institution containing 

 books of specimens of natural history. The United States mail line, 

 also., has furnished free freight of a similar character from Cuba and 

 New Orleans to New York. 



The results of Mr. Samuels' explorations will shortly be published 

 in connected form in the journal of the Boston Society of Natural 

 History, illustrated with the necessary plates and figures. 



Collections in Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, and Utah. — In addition to 

 "the great collection made by Capt. Pope, Lieut. Bryan, Lieut. War- 

 ren and Dr. Hayden in these territories, several others have been 

 -received, of more or less importance, which will be referred to under 

 ifc&fei* appropriate head. A collection of plants from the vicinity of 

 Fort Belknap, made by Dr. Vollum, United States army, and of 

 plants and animals from Fort Chadbourne, by Dr. E. Swift, United 

 States army, have added to our knowledge of the natural history of 

 Texas. A collection of reptiles and birds from Fort Riley, Kansas, 

 was also received from Dr. W. F. Hammond. 



C. — REGIONS EAST OF THE MISSOURI. 



It will be impossible, with the limits assignedme, to go into detail 

 respecting the collections from this portion of the United States, 

 although much of great value has been received. The principal con- 



