68 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 



The entire Peninsula thus proves to he as specially related to North 

 America in its land fauna as is Florida, although the number of peculiar 

 species is much greater. 



The marine fauna of Cape St. Lucas proves to be quite Panamic 

 in its general features — much more so than the opposite coast of 

 Mexico. 



It is out of my power, at present, to present a statement of the num- 

 ber of species collected by Mr. Xantus during his residence (when last 

 heard from) of about eighteen months. There are, however, known 

 to be about twenty new birds, as many reptiles, large numbers of 

 fishes, crustaceans, and other groups in proportion. The collection of 

 shells is much larger than any ever made on the west coast, with the 

 exception of that by Mr. Beigen, forming the basis of the report on 

 Mazatlan shells, by Mr. Carpenter, and is superior to any other in 

 the extent of the species preserved entire in alcohol. The general 

 results form a fitting continuation of the labors of Mr. Xantus at Fort 

 Tejon, referred to in preceding reports; and the whole will form an 

 extraordinary monument of the ability of a single intelligent and 

 accomplished collector to nearly exhaust the natural history of an ex- 

 tensive region, under difficulties sometimes apparently almost insuper- 

 able. 



To the Superintendent of the Coast Survey, natural science must 

 ever acknowledge a great indebtedness for placing Mr. Xantus in a 

 position to make his explorations, by authorizing and establishing a 

 self-registering tide-gauge station at the Cape, and placing Mr. Xantus 

 in charge. All his collections were made in the intervals of his duty 

 as observer upon the tides, meteorology, &c, for the Coast Survey. 



Explorations in the Gulf of California, by Gapt. Stone. — Capt. Stone, 

 in charge of the survey of Sonora, caused numerous collections to be 

 made in the northern part of the Gulf, chiefly opposite Guayamas. Of 

 these a portion, consisting principally of shells, have been received 

 during the year, and prove to be of much interest, not only in them- 

 selves, but as completing the history of Cape St. Lucas and Mazatlan 

 species. 



Exploration of the vicinity of Fort Crook, by Mr. JohnFeilner. — Mr. 

 Feilner, sergeant of company F. , first dragoons, stationed at Fort Crook, 

 under command of Captain John Adams, United States Army, has 

 considerably extended the collections referred to in the last report. In 

 May last, by permission of Captain Adams, he visited the lake region 

 to the north of Fort Crook, with one companion, with the view of 

 pursuing his researches among the breeding places of the water birds 

 of California. After meeting with much success, he was attacked by 

 hostile Indians, but succeeded in fighting his way through, killing 

 several of his assailants, and, unfortunately, with the loss of a consider- 

 able proportion of his collections. His gallantry, and that of his com- 

 panion, Private Guise, have been made the subject of especial com- 

 mendation in a general order from the War Department. 



Dr. Vollum, United States Army, surgeon of Fort Crook, has also 

 made various collections for the Institution ; and Hospital Steward Par- 



