56 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1919. 



charge of the valuable relics of religious art which have a separate 

 installation. The accessions for the year are noteworthy for artistic 

 as well as for archeological value. A few of the more noteworthy 

 examples may be mentioned. 



A Russian ecclesiastical cloth of silk, measuring 19 by 18 inches, 

 richly embroidered in gold and silk threads of various colors with 

 the figures of the Trinity, cherubim and seraphim and an inscription 

 in old-Slavonic letters, containing the words of the institution of 

 the Lord's Supper, Matthew xxvi, 27 and 28, which would indi- 

 cate that it was used as a cover for the chalice during the celebration 

 of the mass in a Russian church ; exchange with Mr. E. W. Keyser. 

 A finely executed bronze statuette of Dionysus (Bacchus), with 

 marble base about 12 inches high which, though found in Egypt, is 

 evidently of Roman origin. It represents the god of wine adorned 

 with a wreath of vine and wearing a panther skin, in a graceful 

 pose ; and two Phenician iridescent ointment bottles of peculiar shape 

 with concentric circles and undulating lines in relief; lent by Hon. 

 Hoffman Philip, Department of State. A bronze representing a 

 lamp, probably from a temple in India. From the semicircular res- 

 erv^oir project two graceful nozzles for wicks. From the base of 

 the reservoir rises a handle terminating in a palmette. The reservoir, 

 adorned with floral designs in relief, rests uj)on a tripod, the feet 

 of which terminate in claws and are joined by palmettes in openwork. 

 Lent by Miss Isobel H. Lenman. Another specimen, a Phenician 

 double glass bottle with a triple handle on the sides and an overarch- 

 ing handle on top, is lent by Miss Lenman. 



The exhibition collection of historic religions was transferred from 

 the Arts and Industries Building toward the close of the year to the 

 Natural History Building, space being assigned the subject on the 

 first floor of the north wing. 



Physical anthropology. — This division, which is under the di- 

 rection of Dr. Ales Hrdlicka, curator, is steadily advancing in prac- 

 tical usefulness and scientific importance. It is perhaps not too 

 much to say that it is fast becoming the recognized center of soma- 

 tological research and instruction in America. The collections of the 

 division, already very rich, are being steadily augmented by valu- 

 able additions, among which are : A large collection of skeletal ma- 

 terial from the ruined village of Hawikuli, Zuni, New Mexico, the 

 result of two seasons of excavating by Mr. F. W. Hodge for the 

 Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation, presented to the 

 National Museum with the imderstanding that it be described for 

 publication later. It comprises the remains of upward of 200 hu- 

 man skeletons and will be added to as further excavations are 

 undertaken. The scientific value of a collection so carefully made 

 and involving so many practically complete skeletons is very great. 



