32 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



lu accortlauce with tbe same policy a few years ago the alcoholic in- 

 vertebrates were intrusted to Dr. Stimpsou of the Chicago Academy 

 of Sciences for study and distribution into sets of duplicates. Unfor- 

 tunately, however, this collection, although deposited in a building 

 sui)posed to be fire-proof, was destroyed in the disastrous fire of 1871. 

 The misfortune was not alone coufined to the loss of the specimens, 

 but included also the results of years of labor of Dr. Stimpsou, the 

 great object of his scientific life, the publication of which was looked 

 forward to with interest by all engaged in the study of natural history. 



The etJmolo f/ical specimens collected by the Institution to illustrate 

 the arts, manners, and customs of the present Indians and the more 

 ancient inhabitants of the American continent, are unsurpassed in 

 number and variety, and are constantly increased by special efforts 

 in the way of correspondence and small appropriations for explorations. 

 The greatest additions to the collections received during the past year 

 have been in this department, an account of some.of the more important 

 of which will be of interest. 



From Captain C. F. Hall, the intrepid explorer, now, we trust, success- 

 fully prosecuting his researches in northern Greenland, we have received 

 the entire series of relics of Sir John Franklin, obtained by Captain 

 Hall during his last visit to the north, as also the relics of the Fro- 

 bisher expedition, which wintered on Frobisher Bay several hundred 

 years ago. To these were added a number of specimens illustrative of 

 the habits and manners of the Esquimau^, and showing their relation- 

 ship to, as well as their differences from, a corresponding series belong- 

 ing to the Esquimaux of the Mackenzie's Elver region, furnished to the 

 Institution by Mr. R. McFarlane and some of his colleagues of the Hud- 

 son's Bay service. 



From the northwest coast of North America specimens have been 

 furnished by Mr. George Gibbs, illustrating many points in the ethnol- 

 ogy of the savage tribes ; and specimens of dresses from Mr. Jos. T. 

 Dyer. 



Lieutenant Ring has sent specimens obtained from graves in Alaska 

 and in British Columbia. Dr. Yates, of California, has added to his 

 previous donations large Indian mortars and the crania obtained from 

 sundry mounds. 



Dr. Palmer collected for the Institution a very interesting series of 

 stone implements from ancient ruins in Arizona, and Major Powell has 

 furnished a full series of the implements, utensils, dresses, &:c., of the 

 Indians of the valley of the Colorado. Dr. Irwin, of the Army, has 

 also added to this series. 



From Colorado Territory we have specimens from Dr. Berthoud, indi- 

 cating, in his opinion, an antiquitj' of the human race in that region 

 ■far beyond that usually ascribed to it. 



Additions from New ^lexico are represented by specimens of blankets 

 and other manufactures of tbe Navajo Indians; as also by a loom contain- 



