54 APPENDIX TO THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



Company and the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, with that liberality they 

 have so steadily exhibited in their transactions with the Institution, having 

 given free passage over their respective routes to himself and his outfit. Mr. 

 Xantus arrived at Manzanillo early in January, 18G3, and making this and 

 Colima his principal points of departure, extended his explorations in various 

 directions, especially among the mountain regions. He is still occupied in his 

 labors, the field being very extensive and of varied interest. Many of his col- 

 lections have already been i-eceived, and found to contain numerous species 

 of birds, reptiles, fishes, shells, &c, new to science, while others throw much 

 light on the geographical distribution of the plants and animals of Mexico and 

 Central America. 



Explorations in Costa Rica. — For some time past much attention has been 

 directed by naturalists toward the natural history of Costa Rica, a region which, 

 from its peculiar physical conformation, indicated a fauna quite different from 

 that of the adjacent states. The birds were particularly sought after owing to 

 the many remarkable forms, brought to light by travellers. It was, therefore, 

 with no little gratification that a collection of birds, made by Dr. A. Von Frant- 

 zius, an eminent naturalist and physician, resident in Costa Rica, aided by the 

 Hon. C. N. Riotte, United States minister, and Mr. J. Carniol, was received a 

 few months ago at the Institution. A careful examination of these specimens 

 proved that the peculiar interest of the fauna had not been overestimated, a 

 large proportion of the species being either new, or but recently described. 

 Additional collections, shortly expected from Dr. Von Frantzius, will, it is 

 hoped, increase still more our knowledge of the species. 



Miscellaneous explorations in Mexico. — For several years past a highly valued 

 meteorological correspondent of the Institution, Dr. Charles Sartorius, of Mira- 

 dor, has made contributions of specimens of the natural history of his vicinity. 

 During the year several collections were received from him of much interest and 

 importance, especially certain species of Mexican deer, recently described, and 

 but little known. As Dr. Sartorius, aided by his son, Mr. Florentin Sartorius, 

 is now engaged in preparing an account of the animals of eastern Mexico, with 

 special reference to .their habits, &c, it is a source of gratification to us to have it 

 in our power to aid him by identifying the species from his specimens, which his 

 remoteness from large collections and libraries prevents him from doing for him- 

 self. Prof. F. Sumichrast, of Orizaba, has also made valuable contributions of 

 birds and mammals of Mexico, and proposes to renew these whenever the con- 

 dition of the internal affairs of Mexico will allow of the transmission of his 

 collections. Dr. G. Berendt, of Tabasco, is also occupied in a similar manner 

 in the interest of science and of the Institution. 



Explorations in Guatemala and, the west coast of Central America. — Mr. 

 Osbert Salvin, an eminent English ornithologist, who has spent many years in 

 the exploration of Guatemala, has transmitted to the Institution a second col- 

 lection of the birds of that region. As these contain specimens of most of his 

 new species, and all have been carefully compared, as far as practicable, with 

 the types, his scries of birds is of especial value, as furnishing standards for the 

 identification of other collections. 



Additional collections of much interest continue to be sent to the Institution 

 by Captain J. M. Dow, of the Panama Railroad Company, so frequently men- 

 tioned in my previous reports. Certain rare birds and fishes collected by him 

 are especially noteworthy. 



Trinidad. — A collection of nearly fifty species of birds of Trinidad Avas pre- 

 sented by Mr. Galody, United States consul at Antigua, embracing many species 

 not formerly in possession of the Institution. 



Jamaica. — Mr. W. T. March, from whom the Institution has already received 

 extensive collections in Jamaican zoology, has again made an important contri- 



