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[[underline]] 5. [[/underline]]

Dr. Birt collected in Graytown, Nicaragua, a number of interesting species, including the Spiny Rat, [[underline]] Echinomys semispinosus [[/underline]], a form not hitherto obtained in Central America. It is a representative of the [[underline]] Octodontidae [[/underline]], a family usually considered strictly South American.

Of aquatic mammals, the most important accession during the year was a fresh male specimen of Sowerby's whale, [[underline]] Mesoplodon bidens [[/underline]], which was captured by the crew of the U.S. Life-Saving Station at Atlantic City, N.J. (Capt. J.L. Gaskell, Keeper). This is the second specimen ever taken in American waters and the first fresh specimen ever seen by American Naturalists. 

Among the collections made by the naturalists of the U.S. Fish Commission Str. [[underline]] Albatross [[/underline]], during the cruise around Cape Horn, were a few South American Mammals. The most important specimens received were the skeleton of a Porpoise, [[underline]] Prodelphinus longirostris [[/underline]], obtained between Panama and the Galapagos Ids.,