66 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 



panied by most important results in physical science. Comparatively 

 nothing has been received from the more known portions of the United 

 States; the transmission of fishes, reptiles, &c, having almost en- 

 tirely ceased. This is due to the fact that no effort has been made to 

 secure such specimens, on account of the comparative completeness of 

 the series, and the expense of enlarging them. There is already a 

 large accumulation of such material in the Institution, which, how- 

 ever, the systematic arrangement for distribution of labeled duplicates 

 now in progress will speedily and greatly deplete. 



The only departments of natural history to which additions have 

 been made from all parts of the United States, have been those of 

 conchology, entomology, and oology. Circulars were issued in 1859 

 and 1860 inviting contributions of material towards a series of works 

 on these subjects which the Institution had in contemplation, to be 

 written by the most competent authorities. The invitation has been 

 generally responded to by the transmission of many parcels, (many of 

 them containing types of rare species.) These have been placed in the 

 hands of the collaborators of the Institution as received, and have 

 proved of great importance. 



The following is a detailed statement of the most important collec- 

 tions received in 1860 : 



FROM EXPLORATIONS UNDER THE WAR DEPARTMENT. 



Construction of Wagon Road from Walla- Walla to Fort Benton, un- 

 der Lieutenant John Mullan, U. 8. A. — The work of this expedition 

 was carried out to Fort Benton during the past season, so as to render 

 the road passable throughout. Large collections, chiefly of fossils, 

 birds, and plants, were made by Mr. John Pearsall and Mr. Hildreth, 

 attaches of the party. 



Exploration of the Upper Missouri and Yellowstone, under Captain 

 W. F. Raynolds, U. 8. A. — After spending the winter at Deer Creek, 

 on the Platte, west of Fort Laramie, explorations were resumed by the 

 expedition in May. Dividing into two parties — one commanded by 

 Captain Eaynolds, and accompanied by Dr. Hayden ; the other by 

 Lieutenant Maynadier, with Mr. G-eorge H. Trook as collector — they 

 proceeded to explore the Wind River mountains, and other localities 

 between the Platte and the Upper Missouri, as far north as Fort Ben- 

 ton. Finishing their labors during the summer, both parties united 

 at Fort Randall, and returned to Washington in November. 



Many important collections were made by the expedition, of fossils, 

 plants, and zoological specimens. In the Wind River mountains espe- 

 cially, specimens were obtained of great interest, among them what 

 is believed to be a new species of Alpine hare. 



Movement of United States Troops to Oregon, via Fort Benton, under 

 Major G. H. Blake, U. 8. A. — This party was accompanied by Dr. J. 

 Gr. Cooper as one of its medical officers, who made some valuable col- 

 lections of specimens, serving to extend the information respecting 

 the species inhabiting Oregon and Washington, as recorded in the re- 



