EEPOET OF THE ASSISTANT SECEETAEY. 55 



MUSEUM AND COLLECTIONS. 



As might have been expected, the receipts of specimens of natural history 

 during the year past have been materially curtailed. The entire number of 

 donations in 1862 amounted to 124. The number for 1861 was 157, while that 

 for 1860 was 404. Much of interest has, however, been received from different 

 quarters, and the aggregate would have been more considerable if all the col- 

 lections made in the Hudson Bay region by Mr. Kennicott, and other gentle- 

 men, had not been kept back in consequence of the Indian outbreaks in Minne- „ 

 sota during the year. 



Mr. Kennicott spent the spring and summer of 1861 at Fort Yukon, on the 

 Yukon river, making large collections of specimens. He wintered on the Rocky 

 mountains, at La Pierre's house, and made a visit to Fort Simpson early in the 

 spring. News received there from home determined him to return to the United 

 States, and he reached Fort Garry the beginning of September, arriving at 

 Chicago in October, after an absence of three years and a half. A detailed 

 report of his expedition will be prepared by himself, and submitted hereafter. 



The gentlemen of the Hudson's Bay Company, of whom mention has here- 

 tofore been made as aiding him in every way, have continued their kind offices. 

 To Governor Dallas, present governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, Gover- 

 nor Mactavish, Mr. Bernard R. Ross, Mr. Lawrence Clark, Mr. R. Mac Farlane, 

 Mr. W. L. Hardisty, Mr. James Lockhart, Mr. C. P. Gaudet, Mr. James Flctt, 

 and others, the thanks of the Institution are veiy especially due for such aid to 

 Mr. Kennicott as ensured the success of his expedition, and without which 

 he could have accomplished little or nothing. 



To most of the gentlemen above referred to acknowledgments have been 

 made in previous reports for valuable contributions of specimens. Collections 

 made by them in 1862, having been packed with those of Mr. Kennicott, have 

 not yet arrived, but are expected early in the year 1863, as, at the last advices, 

 they had reached St. Paul. 



Mr. John Xantus, so well known on account of his scientific researches in 

 California, in connexion with the Institution, has just entered into a new and 

 entirely unexplored field, promising the most important results. Having been 

 appointed United States consul at Manzanillo, he left New York on the 11th of 

 December, and is doubtless now at his post. With their usual liberality, exer- 

 cised so often before in the interest of science and the Smithsonian Institution, 

 the Panama Railroad Company and the Pacific Mail Steamship Company gave 

 free passage to him and his extensive outfit 



IDENTIFICATION OF SPECIMENS. 



Much progress has been made by the various gentlemen mentioned on page 

 62 of the last report in identifying and labelling the collections of the Institu- 

 tion. It will not be long before the greater portion will be thoroughly worked 

 p, and a general distribution of duplicates accomplished. No new collections 

 )i' any importance have been given out, although Mr. Cope expects to take up 

 the North American saurians belonging to the Institution with the view of pre- 

 paring a report on the subject. 



Dr. Allen having completed the examination of the American bats intrusted 

 to him, as far as his professional engagements would allow, has returned the 

 specimens, and deposited a report on the subject, nearly finished, and to bo 

 hereafter completed by him. Dr. Wood has also returned a portion of the col- 

 lection of Myriapoda. Dr. Slack has sent back the collection of monkeys, with a 

 catalogue of the collection. Mr. George N. Lawrence has labelled the entire 



