40 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



he had reached Fort Yukon, on the Yukon river, a post in Russian 

 America, and in a region almost entirely unknown, not only in regard 

 to its natural history but also as to its geography. Prom this point 

 he intended to continue his explorations to the mouth of Anderson 

 river, on the coast of the Arctic ocean, and to return home about the 

 end of the year 1863. It is proper to remark that in defraying the 

 expense of this exploration the Institution has been assisted by the 

 University of Michigan, the Chicago Audubon Club, the Chicago 

 Academy of Natural Sciences, and by several gentlemen interested in 

 natural history, and that without the facilities afforded by the Hud- 

 son's Bay Company and its officers the enterprise, as at present ex- 

 tended, could not have been accomplished. Not only has Mr. Kenni- 

 cott been received as a guest at the different posts, but free transport- 

 ation has been afforded for himself and his collections. It is gratify- 

 ing to the friends of this zealous and accomplished young naturalist 

 to learn that he has everywhere succeeded in exciting the sympathy 

 and awakening the interest of the officers and employes of the foreign 

 governments through whose territories his explorations have extended. 

 And, thus, while actively engaged himself in extending our knowl- 

 edge of these remote regions, he has diffused a taste for natural his- 

 tory, and enlisted the services of a number of active collaborators. 



The officers of the Hudson's Bay Company have instituted local 

 explorations at the principal stations, which, taken in connexion with 

 what Mr. Kennicott is doing, bid fair to make the natural history of 

 "Western Arctic America as well known as that of any part of the 

 continent. Among the most active of those who have become volun- 

 tary collaborators of the Institution is Mr. Bernard R. Ross, chief 

 factor of the Mackenzie river district. From that gentleman we are 

 receiving, from time to time, valuable collections of specimens to 

 illustrate the natural history and ethnology of the region in which he 

 resides. 



Another gentleman, Mr. Lawrence Clark, jr., of Fort Rae, has 

 contributed largely to our collection of specimens from the vicinity 

 of Slave lake. Besides these, I must refer to the report of Professor 

 Baird for the names of a number of other gentlemen who have made 

 similar contributions from different parts of the Hudson' s Bay terri- 

 tory, and other districts of North America. 



Collections of Natural History, &c. — In the last report of the Insti- 

 tution, a distinction was made between the collections of natural his- 



