United State* Survey of the West. 



43 



From the fixed bases of the barometric stations the 

 theodolite and spirit level give local relative altitudes 

 with great exactness; the course of streams, the dip of 

 strata, and even the character of vegetation contribute 

 hypsometric facts in more or less certain figures. And 

 all these sources of information are utilized, but alti- 

 tudes so determined are onlv relative and must bo tixed 

 by the primory determination by the barometer, which 

 offers a coii.mou reference for the survey. In reducing 

 and computing the numerous observations, they are 

 treated in accordance withtlie latest authoritative views 

 upon barometric hypsometry, and the altitudes so de- 

 termined will give the relief of the country very satis- 

 factorily. 



Tue R-.'cord furnishes statistics of temperature, humid- 

 ity, rain, snow, and nil facts relating to tlie climate of the 

 country which could be collected. This information will 

 be published m the condensed form of tables, with such 

 an analysis of the barometric readings as will beso ex- 

 hibit the action of the forces at work. It is hoped that 

 by a careful arrangement of the data, material may be 

 presented for further meteorological investigation and 

 assistance rendered in determining the laws of atmo- 

 spheric movement and tbeir influence upon the ba- 

 rometer. 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



In 1871, tho celebrated Collector F. Bischon, assisted 

 by Drs. Hoffman and Cochraue, made abundant and 

 valuable collections in tho line of entomology, botany, 

 ornithology, &c.. many new species of Coleoptera being 

 found. In ornithology the contribution was valuable in 

 numbers as well as in embracing many forms rare and 

 new. Similar results were obtained as to serpents and 

 reptiles. An extensive herbarium of the region visited 

 was obtained. Unfortunately, however, these collections 

 were rendered partially valueless by the Chicago tire, in 

 which the note-books were lost and Mr. Bischoff himself 

 perished. 



In 1872 the services' of Dr. H. C. Yarrow, U. 8. A., of 

 eminent ability Doth as a surgeon and a naturalist, were 

 secured, with Mr. H. W. Henshaw as an assistant, and 

 Mr. M. 8. Severance as an ethnologist. The party under 

 Dr. Yarrow took the field early in the season, their 

 labors resulting m a collection of 830 birds, between 300 

 and 400 reptiles aud a large number of fish, insects, 

 plants, &c. which, on examination by competent natu- 

 ralists, proved fruitful in the way of elucidating many 

 points with reference to geographical distribu- 

 tion. A large botanical collection was also made. 

 Particular attention was paid to ethnology and phi- 

 lolugy, aud numerous rare crania were, added to the ex- 

 tensive collection of the Army Medical Museum, while 

 to tho Smithsonian Institution were contributed IIUPI- 

 hers of specimens illustrative of the manners and cus- 

 toms of the rapidly decreasing tribes wnicli inhabit the 

 section visited, together with several vocabularies of 

 Indian languages. The crania in question have already 

 served a goodpurposw, not only in the way of materially 

 increasing the number of interesting specimens to be 

 found in the national collections, but also as a means for 

 the comparative study of the subject of cr.iniology. 

 The vocabularies will form part of an extensive work on 

 Indian languages now in course of preparation by the 

 Institution. 



NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS IN 1873. 

 The expedition of 1873 took the field June 1, and though 

 the period of its operations was greatly curtailed by rea- 

 son of the early close of the season, the result, was a col- 

 lection never, perhaps, exceeded either in the number or 

 value of the specimens, by any made in the same 



length of t-lino and under similar difficulties. It em- 

 braced 1,200 birds, among which many were entirely 

 new, and was fruitful in tho way of nests, 

 Oirgs, fish, n-ptlle.s, <fce. In botany tho fleld 

 was especially large, and included many rare and valua- 

 ble specimens. Perhaps no larger collection of tho kind 

 was ever secured in a single season in tho Western 

 region. It required the services of four of the most dis- 

 tinguished botanists to work up tho specimen.-*. A pre- 

 eminently superior collection in ethnology was another 

 of the valuable contributions of this year. The party 

 during this season consisted of Dr. New- 

 berry, Dr. Rothrock, Mr. Ilenshaw, Prof. Wolfe, 

 aud Dr. Loew. Tlie collections were safely 

 transmitted to the Smithsonian Institution, 

 for competent examination by tho collaborators of that 

 establishment. As to tho birds collected during this 

 period, the gratifying! assurance has already been re- 

 ceived from tho eminent oroituoloiist, Prof. B aird, that 

 many of them were in such splendid condition as to 

 justify their being sent to Europe to bo mounted 

 lor exhibition in the national museums. Reports 

 on these collections will be embodied in a quarto 

 volume, with illustrations of the rarer forms. Ta'i ser- 

 vices of Dr. H. C. Yarrow have been secured by Lieut. 

 Wheeler for the work of 1874. Mr. Hinshaw is re- 

 tained as his assistant, being an eminently successful 

 collector in ornithology. Dr. Rothrock, skillful in bo- 

 tanical collection, will have charge of that department 

 of research. Many other specialists have been invited 

 to join the expedition. 



PHILOLOGY AND ETHNOLOGY. 



Most valuable data tor future elaboration have been 

 secured for the students of philology and ethnology. 

 Many vocabularies have been recorded by the efforts of 

 members of tho Expedition, according to the Smithso- 

 nian blanks, forms, &c., from the Utes, Pah-Utes, Jase- 

 Utes. Apaches, Navajos, Pueblos, Mojaves, and others, 

 all of whom should probably be classified as one great 

 family, their customs, language, and habits being m 

 some respects very similar. Many ancient mounds have 

 been thoroughly explored, and their interesting con- 

 tents will without doubt afford us valuable aud instruct- 

 ive facts. in regard to races long passed away from this 

 earih. In some, skeletons, arms, mills, and war- 

 like implements have been found ; in others 

 the sole contents were pottery and debris. 

 Many very interesting photographs have been taken 

 representing the various industrial arts of the present 

 Indians, the cliff dwellings of the aneient Pueblos and 

 Mojaves ; and the villages of the present day in which 

 houses aud even villages are built one on top of 

 another, and are reached by long ladders, affording 

 ample means of defense from the more predatory tribes, 

 lu addition to these pictures, others, and probably tho 

 most valuable of all, have been tak;a showing the an- 

 cient shiproglyphic rock-writing of the Indians. These 

 have been placed in the bauds of Prof. H. Allen of 

 Philadelphia, who will undertake to decipher them and 

 furnish a report. M.my interesting facts have been 

 collated in regard to the customs, religious cere- 

 monies, traditions, and modes of living of the 

 different tribes, and will lie duly published. 

 A valuable collection has been made of clothing aud im- 

 plements. 



PHOTOGRAPHS AND PUBLICATIONS. 

 Mr. T. H. O'Sullivan, well known in connection with his 

 work on the Fortieth Parallel Survey and Darien Expe 

 dition, was the photographer of the survey for the sea- 

 sous of 1871 aud '73; Mr. Win. Bell of Philadelphia in 



