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The expenses of original outfit for making collections in natural history during the telegraphic expedition were defrayed by the joint contributions of this Institution and the Chicago Academy of Science. Subsequently the telegraphic company itself made liberal provisions for facilitating the same object, and for furthering, as far as compatible with the primary intention of the enterprise, the advance of science. The costs of the expedition of Mr. Dall, after he left the service of the telegraph company, were borne by himself, and the results generously presented as a contribution to the cause to which he has shown himself so ardently attached. The transportation of all the collections from the western coast devolved upon the Institution, and but for the generous assistance of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, it would have called for a larger outlay than we could well have afforded. Since Mr. Dall's return he has occupied a room in the Smithsonian building, and has been engaged in arranging and labeling his specimens preparatory to the formation of a descriptive catalogue. While he has been occupied in this work the Boston Society of Natural History, as well as the Institution, has contributed to his support, with the understanding that the former is to have a portion of the duplicates set apart for distribution.

Other collections of interest have also been received from Alaska, viz: those made by Mr. Bischoff, at Kodiak; and by Dr. Minor, in various localities visited during the cruise of the Wayanda; others still, from Captain White, of the same steamer; also from Captain Howard and Mr. George Davidson, of the United States Coast Survey.

Western United States.-The Institution still continues to receive specimens from the Pacific coast, and frequent communications relative to the physical geography, meteorology, and ethnology of the country. During the past year among the more important collections from California was a series of nests and eggs from Dr. Canfield, of Monterey, and of birds and shells from Mr. R. E. C. Stearns. But the most important exploration undertaken since the date of the last report has been that under the direction of Mr. Clarence King, authorized by Congress for a geological survey of the 40th parallel of latitude, principally in Nevada and the western portion of Utah. The results of this exploration are especially important from the facts obtained relative to the physical geography and meteorology of the country. A base line in a north and south direction was measured by astronomical observations at the two extremities, and from this a net-work of triangles was extended over the region surveyed, by which the topography was determined and the materials furnished of an accurate map of a part of the country previously imperfectly known. The party consisted of four geologists, including Mr. King, four topographers, two botanists, one zoologist, and one meteorologist. All the specimens collected, filling 60 boxes, with the exception of those of botany, have been received at the Institution, and are now in process of being arranged for study and subsequent distribution. The botanical collections have been given in charge to Professor

Eaton, of Yale College, for the determination of the species and their relations to the flora of other portions of the United States, but will finally be sent to the Institution, to the care of which all specimens collected by government expeditions are assigned. In the same connection it may be mentioned that Dr. Hitz has continued his explorations on the upper Missouri, and contributed specimens of fossils, skins of birds, eggs, &c. At the last session of Congress an appropriation was made for explorations under the direction of the Land Office. This survey, the conduct of which was consigned to Dr. F. V. Hayden, extended over the Black hills, Laramie plains, the headwaters of the Little and Big Laramie rivers to Bridger's pass. It also included a survey along the Pacific railroad from Fort Saunders to Green river. The report of this survey. has been made to Joseph S. Wilson, esq., the Commissioner of the Land Office, with whom all the specimens collected have been deposited. Dr. Hayden, however, made an independent survey under the auspices of the Institution, along the eastern base of the Rocky mountains to Denver city, and southward to the Sangre de Christo pass, across the San Luis Potosi park and the valley of the Rio Grande, and thence into New Mexico, returning northward through the Poncho pass, across the Arkansas into the South park, and through this into the mining regions of Colorado. Besides the geological notes which were made during this expedition, a large number of specimens was collected; and as no appropriation of Congress was made for the transportation of the latter, the cost has been defrayed by the Institution. The specimens have been received and are now awaiting their examination and final disposition. Another exploration which will be mentioned under the head of ethnology, was conducted by Dr. E. Palmer, in the Indian territory, the collections from which were but little less important as illustrative of natural history than of Indian life and ethnology. Dr. Palmer is now in the Institution assorting the specimens and preparing his notes for publication.

Middle and South America.-Colonel Grayson has been engaged in prosecuting his exploration in northwestern Mexico, and has furnished large collections of its ornithology. To him more than to any other may justly be ascribed, says Professor Baird, a knowledge of the species of birds of that region. Under the joint auspices of the Smithsonian Institution and the Kentucky University, at Lexington, Professor Sumichrast, a wellknown naturalist long resident in Mexico, has gone to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec to make observations and collections in natural history, which will doubtless throw light upon the geographical distribution of species. Two boxes of specimens have just been received as the first fruits of this expedition, Dr. Sartorius has also continued his important contributions from Mirador. Explorations have been further prosecuted in Costa Rica, a region which has been the subject of much attention on the part of the Institution, and a valuable collection of specimens has been received from Mr. M. Calleja, made by himself and Mr. J. Zeledon, as

well as contributions from Dr. Von Frantzius, from Captain J. M. Dow, Mr. Henry Hague, Mr. George Latimer, Dr. Destruges, and other correspondents mentioned in the list of donors. A series of birds of the Galapagos islands has been presented by the Swedish Academy of Sciences through Professor Sundevall, furnishing us with the first illustrations of the fauna of that group, so remarkable for its land and marine animals. Mr. W. H. Hudson has continued to make collections of birds in the Argentine provinces, and Mr. Albuquerque and Dr. Smith have rendered the same service in regard to those of Brazil. Specimens from Peru have been received from Dr. Sclater, while Mr. Salvin has sent types of several new species from Veragua, on the isthmus of Panama.

Explorations and collections in ethnology.-During the past year greater effort has been made than ever before to collect specimens to illustrate the ethnology and archæology of the North American continent. This subject, it is true, has from the first been an object of interest to the Institution, as being a common ground on which the cultivators of science and of literature might harmoniously co-operate. It embraces not only the natural history and peculiarities of the different races of men as they now exist upon the globe, but also their affiliations, their changes in mental and moral development, and also the question of the geological epoch of the appearance of man upon the earth. So much interest has been awakened in the general subject, that Mr. George Peabody, with an enlightened liberality, has presented $150,000 to Harvard University, at Cambridge, for the foundation and maintenance of a museum and professorship of American ethnology and archæology, Although the funds of that establishment are not yet fully available. measures have been taken, under the direction of Professor Jeffries Wyman, to secure European specimens for comparison, and also to commence the collection of original records of the races of our continent. The Smithsonian Institution having inaugurated a number of special explorations, embracing ethnology as well as natural history, has invited the Peabody museum to co-operate in the enterprises, by contributing funds, with a view to sharing the results of the expeditions. This proposition has been favorably entertained, and an appropriation been made to assist an important exploration of ancient mounds in Kentucky, under the direction of Mr. Sidney S. Lyon. We cherish the hope that, as the funds of the Peabody museum become more and more available, our union of effort to extensively examine the monuments and collect all the relics, to illustrate as fully as possible the archæology and ethnology of the American continent, will be crowned with success. The interest in the archæological remains of America is by no means confined to this country. They are considered of much importance in Europe in the way of comparison with those of the old world, and specimens have been diligently sought for by collectors from abroad. Mr. William Blackmore, of Liverpool, in particular, a gentleman of wealth

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and intelligence who has founded an ethnological museum at Salisbury, has made several visits to this country for the purpose of obtaining additions to his collections. He has purchased of Dr. E. H. Davis, for a large sum of money, the archæological specimens described and figured in volume I of the Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge. Though it may, perhaps, be a matter of regret that Congress did not make an appropriation for the purchase of these interesting specimens, it is still gratifying to the lovers of science, irrespective of nationality, that they will be perpetually preserved and rendered available for the advancement of ethnology. While we ourselves were not able to retain in this country the originals, we have procured a complete set of fac similes in plaster, which, for general investigation, are nearly as valuable as those from which they were taken.

The Institution is indebted to Mr. Blackmore for a series of photographs of American Indians; a model of Stonehenge; a number of electrotype copies of ancient medals; and a copy of a work written by Thomas Inman, M. D., for private distribution, on "Ancient Faith embodied in Ancient Names." Mr. Blackmore is enthusiastically interested in ethnology, and devotes his spare time, as well as a large portion of his ample means, to the prosecution of the subject. The museum which he has founded and munificently endowed consists of specimens intended to illustrate the anthropology of every part of the world, and is freely opened to the public, either for casual visits or for critical study. An account of it will be given in the appendix of this report, under the head of ethnology. We have found in Mr. Blackmore an efficient and liberal collaborator, who evinces a disposition amply to repay, in returns of specimens and information, the contributions we may be able to make to the stores he has already accumulated. In his late visit to this country he thinks he has found specimens of the early drift period, or of the first indications of the works of man on the earth, not previously known to exist on this continent. The locality of these remains is about 50 miles from Fort Bridger, in Utah Territory, and will not be forgotten as a point of special interest in our explorations.

It is now generally known that, in times long anterior to the dawn of authentic history, the practice extensively prevailed of constructing human habitations upon wooden piles driven into the shallow water of lakes, remains of which have been found especially in Switzerland, but also in other countries. Upon these piles platforms were placed and habitations erected, not for temporary occupation, merely, but for prolonged residence. Of these archæological remains accounts have been given in previous reports, and during the past year arrangements have been made, through the exchanges of the Institution, to obtain specimens from the more important localities in which they are found.

The following is an account of the more important explorations and additions to the collections of the Institution which have been made

during the past year in the line of ethnology. The first in value is that already referred to as having been undertaken under the joint auspices of the Institution and the Peabody Museum, by Mr. S. S. Lyon, of Indiana. In this exploration a number of mounds in Kentucky were opened, and more than fifty perfect crania, with many imperfect ones, and a considerable number of skeletons, were procured. There were disinterred also about thirty vases more or less perfect, a large number of stone axes, hammers, ornaments, beads, bone awls, &c., the whole filling seven barrels and four boxes with extremely valuable material. The crania and bones were referred to Dr. Wyman for special investigation, who reports that they had been received, that he had nearly finished cleaning the skulls, which would require many repairs, but that he hoped to do justice to a collection which affords an opportunity never before equaled of examining the skulls of American aborigines. Mr. Lyon's exploration has also furnished a series of ancient implements as well as casts of footprints sculptured in the rocks. Imitations of this kind, which have been frequently found, were for a long time supposed to have been formed by the actual impressions of human feet when the rock was in a soft condition, but subsequent investigations have shown them to be undoubtedly sculptured imitations of footprints. They have occasionally been found in rocks containing pebbles, but in these cases the pebbles, instead of bearing evidence of having been pressed down into a plastic material by a human foot, show clearly that they have been cut by the tool of a workman.

Professor J. W. P. Jenks, of Middleboro', Massachusetts, who has for many years been collecting objects of ethnology, has, in a spirit of praiseworthy liberality, allowed the Institution to select any specimens it might desire from his extensive cabinet. From the same place, some choice objects have also been received from Mr. Sylvester, as well as an interesting stone mortar and a stone axe, respectively the gift of Mr. E. Shaw and Mr. U. Sampson. Mr. Gregory, of Marblehead, has furnished some desirable specimens from eastern Massachusetts, as have also Mr. Levi Cole, of Beverly, Dr. Palmer, of Ipswich, Mr. Blake, of Boston, Mr. Burr, Mrs. Bryant, Mr. Jas. T. Ames, &c. To Amherst College, through Professor Hitchcock, the Institution is indebted for a large number of stone implements from western Massachusetts and Connecticut. Explorations of ancient Indian graves were also made, with satisfactory results, near Hingham, Massachusetts, by Professor Baird, in conjunction with Dr. Brewer, Messrs. John Brewer, T. J. Bouve, F. Burr, Gerrish, and Wells.

To Dr. W. Wood, of East Windsor Hill, Connecticut, the Institution is under obligations for his diligent efforts to increase its archæological collections; a number of boxes have been received from him filled with articles illustrative of the primitive stone implements of Connecticut. Valued contributions from an adjacent locality have also been received from Mr. Andrus. Special contributions of implements previously col

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