50 MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. [Feb. 



study of the Embryology of the class of Birds. To aid in the latter 

 purpose, he passed the summer on the island of Grand Menan. Dr. 

 Wheatland has studied the Siluridse with especial reference to their 

 anatomy, and also for the purpose of preparing a monograph upon 

 that family of Fishes. 



Special Fauna?. 



Under this head I propose to give a short statement of the larger 

 and special collections received during the past year, from different 

 parts of the world. 



EAST INDIES. 



Captain W. H. A. Putnam, of the ship Andes of Boston, has made for 

 the Museum special collections of great importance at Singapore, Pe- 

 nang, and the island of Ceylon. At Colombo, he procured about 275 

 specimens of fishes, 25 of reptiles, 3 of birds, 2 of insects, 18 of Crus- 

 tacea, 8 of mollusks. At Singapore, 200 specimens of fishes, 2 of rep- 

 tiles, 2 of birds, 12 of mollusks, and 250 of Crustacea. At Penang, 

 100 specimens of fishes, 27 of reptiles, 100 of Crustacea, and 2 living 

 pigeons. In the Straits of Malacca, 650 specimens of coral, and 100 of 

 gorgonia. This collection is of the greatest value, especially for this 

 country, where so few specimens from the East Indies have thus far 

 been obtained. Too much praise cannot be given to Captain Putnam 

 for the manner in which he made this large collection during the short 

 time he remained near the shore. I take pleasure in adding that 

 Captain Putnam is now upon another voyage to the East Indies, 

 prepared with three times the number of cans he had upon his last 

 voyage, which he is confident of filling. 



FATAL. 



Miss O. Dabney, of Fayal, has presented to the Museum a large 

 number of specimens from all classes of the animal kingdom, which 

 she has collected on the islands of Fayal and Pico. These are of 

 great value, as showing that the Fauna of Fayal nearly approaches 

 that of Europe and the Mediterranean. To Captain Edward Burke, 

 of the bark Azor, we are indebted for his kindness in taking care 

 of this collection free of charge. 



