1873.] 



SENATE— No. 252. 



15 



Garman, W. S. One embryo, in alcohol, from Great Salt Lake 

 Valley, Utah. 



Mann, B. P. 46 skulls, 20 species, chiefly from the collection of 

 the late H. Mann, Jr., and several embryos. 



Pike, Nicolas, U. S. Consul at Mauritius. 10 skins, 8 species, 

 and a large lot of eggs ; chiefly' from the Mauritius. 



Webber, Mrs. M. One skin of Colaptes auratus^ from St. 

 Simons Island, Ga., and a box of eggs from Florida. 



By Exchange. 



From Brown University, Providence, R. I. 1,550 skins, chiefly 

 from the collection of the late Mr. John Cassin. 



From L. H. Jeitteles. Embr^'o of Fdlco tinnunculus. 



From Prof. Philippi, Santiago, Chili. 201 skins, 116 species ; 

 from Chili. 



From W. D. Scott. 45 skins, 15 species; chiefly from West 

 Virginia. 



Report on the Fishes^ by Richard Bliss, Jr. 



Early in the year it became evident that our large collec- 

 tion of fishes stored in barrels and kegs in the cellar, would 

 suflfer great damage were there not found some fitter means 

 of preserving them. The dampness of the cellar rapidly 

 corroding the hoops of the kegs allows the staves to spread, 

 and the alcohol to escape, thus quickly spoiling the speci- 

 mens. To obviate this, in consultation with the superin- 

 tendent, Mr. Gary, it was decided to substitute copper cans 

 with screw tops, in which the specimens could be preserved 

 without the possibility of the loss of alcohol by leakage or 

 evaporation. As fast as the cans were furnished the speci- 

 mens in the barrels were transferred to them and supplied 

 with fresh alcohol. At present nearly all the specimens in 

 barrels have been changed to cans, and in two or three weeks 

 it is expected that the work will be completed and the col- 

 lection in a state of perfect safety. 



The whole collection in the cellar has been arranged ac- 

 cording to families, the cans numbered and the contents of 

 each duly registered in the record book, so that ready access 

 can be had to any specimen. 



The specimens identified and labelled by Dr. Steindachner 



