number of accessions, especially from the exchanges with other 

 institutions. Among the latter I must specify an important 

 addition to our Geographical Library, consisting of a number of 

 Government Surveys and Reports of Geographical Institutions, 

 with extensive series of their maps and publications. These have 

 been generously sent to us in exchange for our Geological publica- 

 tions, and with the full knowledge of how small a return we were 

 able to make for their magnificent publications. 



Last fall I was invited by Colonel Marshall McDonald, the U. S. 

 Fish Commissioner, to take charge of a deep-sea dredging ex- 

 pedition off the coasts of Central America and of Mexico. With 

 the consent of the President of the United States, the " Albatross " 

 Lieut Commander Z. L. Tanner, Commanding, was ordered to 

 Panama, where I joined her in February. Our cruise extended 

 from Panama to Cocos Island, thence south toward Malpelo, and 

 back to Panama. Our second cruise ran from Panama to Galera 

 Point, thence to the Galapagos, and from there to Acapulco ; and 

 in May I left the expedition at Guaymas, after a short exploration 

 of the Gulf of California. The letters written on the voyage to 

 Colonel McDonald give a preliminary account of this trip ; they have 

 been published in the Museum Bulletin (Vol. XXI. No. 4), and a 

 more extended account of the expedition is in preparation. The 

 collections made have arrived safely at Washington, and, with the 

 consent of Colonel McDonald, arrangements have been made for 

 the publication of the results in the Memoirs and Bulletins of the 

 Museum. The following gentlemen have kindly agreed to work up 

 the collections : Dr. P. H. Carpenter, the Comatulse ; Professor 

 S. F. Clarke and Mr. Peabody, the Hydroids ; Dr. W. H. Dall, the 

 Mollusks ; Mr. C. B. Davenport, the Bryozoa ; Professor Faxon, 

 the Crustacea ; Professor W. E. Hoyle, the Cephalopods ; Mr. S. 

 Garman, the Fishes ; Dr. Goes, the Foraminifera ; Dr. V. Lenden- 

 feld, the Phosphorescent Organs of Fishes; Professor Ludwig, 

 the Holothurians ; Professor Liitken, the Ophiurans ; Dr. John 

 Murray, the specimens of the bottom ; Professor Mark, the 

 Actinians ; Professor Studer, the Gorgonians ; Dr. W. M. Wood- 

 worth, the Planarians ; and Dr. H. V. Wilson, the Sponges. I 

 shall myself undertake the general account of the Pelagic Fauna, 

 the Acalephs, and the Sea Urchins. The groups forming the re- 

 mainder of the collection will probably be distributed during the 

 coming winter. 



