REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 51 



those illustrating the character and mode of life of the various portions 

 of the human race, more especially of those whose existence on the 

 globe dates back to a greater or less period in the remote past ; and 

 it is in this direction that the National Museum may claim a special 

 importance so far as North America is concerned. With the exception of 

 fishes, the larger number of objects received relate to archreology and 

 ethnology. A prominent collection of this character is that transmitted 

 by Mr. E. W. Nelson from Saint Michaels. This embraces illustrations 

 of the handiwork of the Esquimaux of a large portion of Northwestern 

 Alaska, gathered in the journeys made by Mr. Nelson under great risks 

 and privations. They include objects of special interest in the way of 

 modern carvings of bone and stone, as well as many purely prehistoric 

 articles obtained from old Esquimaux settlements, long since aban- 

 doned. Mr. Nelson's return is expected in a year or two, and he will 

 then devote himself especially to the preparation of a series of elaborate 

 reports on these and other researches. 



Scarcely inferior in interest and value are the ethnological collections 

 made by Dr. T. H. Bean and Mr. William H. Dall, on the voyage of the 

 United States schooner YuTcon, to which reference has been made in 

 previous images. These were gathered at points of the cruise of the 

 vessel on her journey from Sitka and various lauding places of the 

 North Pacific and the Arctic Oceans. 



Captain Beardslee, of the Navy, has also furnished some valuable 

 additions to the Alaskan series. 



The collections made, under the direction of Maj. J. W. Powell, by 

 Mr. James Stevenson, with the assistance, first, of Mr. Frank H. Gush- 

 ing, and, second, by Mr. Galbraith, constitute enormous additions of 

 material to the National Museum, illustrating the character of the pueblo 

 tribes of New Mexico. They embrace many thousands of specimens of 

 pottery, dresses, ornaments, weapons, &c. 



For further information in regard to the smaller collections in anthro- 

 pology, reference may be made to the alphabetical index of donors. Of 

 special note, however, among these, are some objects of stone collected 

 by Judge Henderson from the Naples mound in Illinois. 



From Don Ignacio Galendo, of Monterey, was received an ancient 

 mummy from a cave in Coahuila. A stone image from Mr. Latimer, of 

 Porto Eico, constitutes an important addition to the collection of Porto 

 Eican antiquities bequeathed to the Smithsonian some years ago by Mr. 

 George Latimer, his uncle. 



Mr. Figyelmesy, of Demarara, has sent some interesting objects, con- 

 sisting of an Indian boat, some Indian i)ottery, «&c. 



Of mammals, the most important contribution is that of a large series 

 of fossil bones (including some reptiles) from Capt. E. Crawford, U. S. 

 A. These, at his request, have been placed at the command of Pro- 

 fessor Marsh for investigation. 



A fine skull of the fossil beaver [Castoroides) was obtained by ex- 

 change from Professor Kost, of Adrian College. 



