THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 455 



hampered by the overcrowded state of the building, but it is 

 assisted by the invariable courtesy of those in charge of the sec- 

 tions, and by books of educational value placed in the several 

 departments. It rests with Congress to make an appropriation 

 for erecting another building twice the size of the existing one, 

 and only then will it be possible to display the treasures now 

 stored in dark corners or still resting in unpacked cases. 



The publications of the National Museum comprise two series : 

 Proceedings of the National Museum, consisting of short essays 

 giving accounts of recent accessions or newly ascertained facts in 

 natural history, and promptly issued to secure the earliest diffu- 

 sion of the information. These proceedings were begun in 1878, 

 and are now comprised in seventeen volumes, octavo. 



Bulletins of the National Museum, consisting of more elabo- 

 rate memoirs relative to the collections, such as biological mono- 

 graphs, taxonomic lists, etc., varying in size from a few pages to 

 many hundred pages. The bulletins were begun in 1875 and com- 

 prise fifty numbers to date. 



The Bureau of American Ethnology was established in 

 1879, to conduct ethnological researches among North American 

 Indians, and is supported by annual appropriations of Congress. 

 The work is under the immediate direction of Major J. W. Powell, 

 who was also a long time at the head of the United States Geo- 

 logical Survey, assisted by eminent specialists. The bureau con- 

 ducts mound explorations, studies in ethnology, archaeology, pic- 

 tography, and linguistics of North America. Through its medium 

 a wealth of information concerning the aborigines of North 

 America is being treasured and made available to present schol- 

 ars and to posterity. 



The Bureau publishes four series of works : 



1. Annual Reports, begun in 1870, now comprise twelve vol- 

 umes, royal quarto. This series is handsomely printed and illus- 

 trated, and is both creditable to the Government and well adapted 

 to attract public attention. 



2. Contributions to North American Ethnology, begun in 

 1877 ; nine volumes, quarto. 



3. Introductions to the study of various topics ; begun in 

 1877; four volumes, quarto. 



4. Bulletins ; begun in 1877 ; twenty-six volumes, quarto. 



The National Zoological Park. From a desire to pre- 

 serve certain American wild animals rapidly becoming extinct, 

 living animals were exhibited in temporary quarters near the 

 National Museum for several years. In 1880 the preliminary steps 

 for the establishment of a Zoological Park were taken by the ap- 

 propriation by Congress of two hundred thousand dollars for the 

 purchase of land, and the park was actually founded by an act 



