16 



A box intended for the Museum, shipped from India in 1873 

 by Rev. M. M. Carleton, was discovered in the Custom-House a 

 short time ago. The greater portion of its contents belong to this 

 department. About half of them are in tolerable condition. 



The collections of the Rev. B. G. Snow, from the Marshall 

 Islands, were received this season; they contain a few specimens 

 of Saurians. F. Lagois, Esq., Dr. Aug. Stahl, James Gall, Esq., 

 George S. Johnson, David Morgan, and Amede Gasquet, Esq., 

 have contributed generously to the collections from the West 

 Indies. A number of Batrachians were sent to Dr. W. K. 

 Parker. With one exception, all the collections received during 

 the past year have been identified. In the exhibition rooms a 

 number of changes and additions have been made, and a large 

 part of the collection in store has been overhauled and put in 

 fresh alcohol. 



SELACHIANS AND FISHES. 



In importance and size, the deep-sea collection of the " Blake " 

 expedition stands first among the acquisitions of the year. Soon 

 after their arrival these were catalogued and a series sent to Dr. 

 Steindachner to work up with those of last year's dredgings. 



Among the in-shore and fresh-water fishes taken while collecting 

 the Reptiles of the West Indian Islands there are some valuable 

 specimens of new species. Professor Baird sends, from the United 

 States National Museum, a large number of types taken by the 

 members of the Fish Commission in their operations in the 

 deeper water off the eastern coast of the United States and 

 British Provinces. 



Various North American fresh-water fishes have been received 

 from Professor C. J. Norwood, Dr. William A. Hudson, and Dr. 

 Palmer. R. M. Kemp, Esq. forwarded several rare forms, thrown 

 on the beaches of the Keys during the ''epidemic" of October, 

 1878. 



In a collection of twenty-seven specimens, Mrs. C. N. Willard 

 sent species belonging to twenty-five genera, several of these rep- 

 resenting species rare along our southeastern coast. Several de- 

 sirable specimens were received from Samuel Powel, Esq., whose 

 experience in collecting and knowledge of the species themselves 

 enable him to select the most valuable. 



