164 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



The collection of Sponges received from the Commissioners of 

 Fisheries, was forwarded to us with the view of ascertaining more 

 particularly what proportion, if any, was likely to be of commercial 

 value. These sponges were at once placed in Mr. Whitelegge's 

 hands, and I look forward with much interest to his elaboration 

 of the material. 



By donation, one hundred and seventy-five specimens were re- 

 ceived; by exchange, one only; by purchase, three hundred and 

 ninety-five; and by collection, one hundred and ninety-three. 



Ethnology. 

 (Mr. A. J. North, Assistant-iii-Charge). 



"My time," reports Mr. North, in this section, "was solely 

 devoted to the registration of specimens, in which you afforded 

 me substantial help. The further administration and care of the 

 specimens entirely devolved on yourself, or was carried out under 

 your personal supervision." 



In the previous year's Report, I referred to the ail-but com- 

 pleted examination of the Ethnological stores. This I sytematically 

 continued in the early part of 1900, as before with the assistance 

 of Mr. R. Grant, and completed it. All that now remains is to 

 select from these stores as complete a series as possible for the 

 new Ethnological Grallery. 



Our collection of Pottery was enriched by the addition of another 

 cooking pot from Santo, New Hebrides, presented by the Rev. 

 A. H. Robertson, It is a fine specimen of its kind (Plate xxi.), 

 eight inches high, ten inches diameter (across the mouth), weight 

 five pounds eleven ounces, has a capacity of one and a half gallons, 

 and is highly ornate. Under the somewhat flat circumferential 

 margin, is a series of oblique nicks, with below a wide panel, 

 bounded by a raised border, top and bottom. This panel carries 

 vertical rows of prominent nodules, and below the lower raised 

 border is again a circle of oblique nicks. 



The series of Pigments that I have for some time been endea- 

 vouring to form was enriched by a number of specimens of red 

 earths derived from the decomposition of both Limonite and 

 Hematite, Ochres, and Kaolin from Northern Queensland, pre- 

 sented by Dr, W. E. Roth, Northern Protector of Aborigines, 

 Queensland. These are in use by the following tribes — Wapa- 

 Bara of Keppel Island, Koko-Ngodi of Princess Charlotte Bay, 

 Koko-Minni of the Middle Palmer River, Koko-Yimidir of the 

 Mclvor River, Ng-Gerikudi of the Batavia River, and the Workai 

 of the Georgina River, in South-east Queensland, 



We acquired another example of the Coconut-fibre "Armour," 

 or Corselet, and accompanying sleeves, used by the Gilbert or 

 Kingsmill Islanders, by presentation from Mr. P. G. Black. The 

 knitting (for want of a better term) of the corselet is close and 



