1870.] 317 [Annual Report. 



It has been the desire of the two institutions to secure, 

 through his means, a careful investigation of the fauna of the 

 Sierra Madre of north-western Mexico ; and as June was con- 

 sidered the most eligible time for this labor, Col. Grayson 

 made a short visit, prior to that period, to the Island of Isa- 

 bella, off the coast, for the purpose of studying the habits 

 of the sea-fowl during their breeding season. On this island 

 he laid the foundation of a malarious disease that impaired his 

 constitution, and after an illness at his home, in Mazatlan, he 

 died on the 17th of August last. 



The fund contributed by 'the Society for the exploration 

 already referred to, was unexpended at the time of his death, 

 and was returned to the Institution by his widow, and the 

 amount was transferred, in accordance with a vote of the 

 Council, to the expedition of Prof. Sumichrast. Prof. Baird 

 has in preparation a list of the birds collected by Col. 

 Grayson during his explorations in north-western Mexico, 

 which he expects to complete and present to the Society 

 for publication, as soon as his other duties will permit. The 

 specimens obtained embrace quite a number of new species, 

 which will be described in the work mentioned. 



In accordance with an arrangement made by the Custo- 

 dian with the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, a 

 considerable quantity of miscellaneous unassorted material 

 has been received from the Institution and returned in an 

 orderly condition, the Society being repaid for the labor ex- 

 pended by the first choice of the duplicates. 



Having concluded to give up the Ethnological department, 

 the Boston Marine Society have allowed us to transfer the 

 collections long ago presented by them, and consisting mainly 

 of Polynesian implements, to the Peabody Museum of 

 Archaeology ; the space thus vacated will be given to 

 mounted specimens of mammals. 



The Council have lent a number of typical birds to the 

 Institute of Technology to be used in their regular courses 

 of instruction; temporary loans from other departments 



