1877.] 



SENATE — No. 5. 



15 



REPORT ON THE MAMMALS AND BIRDS. 



By J. A. Allen. 



During the past year, two important collections have been 

 received from the Rev. M. M. Carleton, from near Umballa, 

 Northern India. These embrace in the aggregate eighty-six 

 specimens of mammals, representing twenty-three species, 

 and two hundred and ninety specimens of birds, representing 

 seventy species. The collections of birds consist mainly of 

 large species, and embrace pretty full suites of the raptorial 

 and rasorial birds of Northern India. From the Smithsonian 

 Institution we have received the first duplicate series of the 

 types of Dr. Elliott Coues's "Monograph of the North Ameri- 

 can Muridre," embracing twenty-five species and varieties, 

 represented by about fifty specimens. Also, from the same 

 source, twenty-two skulls of North American hares, and 

 several skulls of beavers and porcupines. From Mr. Charles 

 Coxen we have received twenty-five species of birds, repre- 

 sented by twenty-eight specimens, from Queensland, Aus- 

 tralia, to whom has also been sent a collection of North Ameri- 

 can birds, numbering eighty-five specimens and representing 

 sixty-one species. 



♦ Among other noteworthy additions are some thirty speci- 

 mens of birds and birds' eggs, contributed by Capt. Charles 

 Bendire, U. S. A., from Camp Harney, Oregon, which 

 includes a fine specimen of Ross's goose (Anser JRossii) , and 

 large series of skins of Leucosticle tephrocotis (vars. tephroco- 

 tis and littoralis). Capt. Bendire has also sent us a small lot 

 of skins of squirrels and marmots. From Prof. J. D. Whitney 

 has been received a valuable lot of fossil mammalian remains 

 collected by him some years since from the lead crevices of 

 the Wisconsin Lead Region. Dr. S. L. Yates of Centreville, 

 Alameda County, California, has presented a horn of Bison 

 antiquus, and bones of the extinct elephant from Alaska. 



