ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS—LOSS OF SPECIMENS. 
17 
195. Numenius longirostris...San Francisco, California. 
196. Rallus elegans... do. do. 
(a.) Ibis ordii...... do. do. 
197. Ovis montana.(skull of male)......San Francisco mountains, New Mexico. 
198. Canis latrans..(skull).Williams’ river, New Mexico. 
A single glance at the foregoing statement is sufficient to convince us that the collection was 
a very extensive one, and possessed of rare interest. The country traversed by the expedition 
was almost entirely unexplored, and afforded an opportunity for scientific research but seldom 
offered; and we strenuously endeavored to make as complete a zoological collection as we could, 
by procuring and preserving everything within our reach; and after reaching Los Angeles, 
in looking over the specimens, and finding among them so many things new to science, felt 
ourselves fully and richly rewarded for any trouble or labor that we may have undergone in 
obtaining them. At that place nearly the entire alcoholic collection, for convenience of trans¬ 
portation, was repacked and placed in a large keg. And it becomes my painful duty to report, 
that this keg, containing, as it did, many of our most valuable specimens, was lost at Panama, 
through the negligence of Hinckley’s Express Company, to the agent of which it was turned 
over for transportation to Aspinwall; and, notwithstanding our efforts to recover it have been 
unceasing up to the present time, we have been entirely unsuccessful; nor have we even been 
able to elicit any information concerning it. It contained the specimens corresponding to the 
following numbers, viz : 5, 6, ( a ,) 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 28, 102, 105, 106, (a,) (5,) 107, («,) 
108, 110, 111, 112, (a,) 113, (a,) 114, (a,) 115, (a,) ( b ,) 124, (a,) ( b ,) (c,) (d,) (e,) 125, (a,) 
126, (a,) (6,) (c,) 127, 128, (a,) (6,) (c,) 129, (a,) ( b ,) 130, (a,) ( b ,) 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 
136, 137,138, (a,) 139, (a,) 140, 141, 142, (a,) (&,) 143, 144, 145, 146,147, 148, 149, 151, 152, 
(a,) 153, (a,) 154, 155, 156, (a,) ( b ,) 157, (a,) (&,) 158. It will be perceived from the foregoing 
that, through this negligence, not only the expedition has suffered very seriously, but that 
science itself has met with an almost irreparable loss; which, we are sure, no one will regret 
more earnestly than yourself, knowing, as we do, the lively interest that you have always 
manifested in this department, and your untiring efforts to promote its success. 
In conclusion, allow me to state that, in making collections in natural history, I was very 
kindly and continually assisted by Mr. Mollhausen, to whose zeal and industry equal credit 
with myself is due for the number and variety of specimens. 
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
O. B. R. KENNERLY, M. D., 
Physician and Naturalist to the Expedition. 
A. W. WHIPPLE, 
First Lieut. Topographical Engineers , U. S. A., 
In charge of exploration for railroad route near 35 th parallel. 
3 K 
