62 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



The directors of the science and art branch of the South Kensington 

 Museum have very kindly supi)lied a volume containing engraved plans 

 and elevations of the glass cases of that establishment. 



To Prof. A. B. Meyer, of Dresden, the Institution is also indebted 

 for drawings of certain new iron cases lately erected in the Zoological 

 Museum of that city. He added to the obligation also by having pre- 

 l)ared aud sent to us the elementary parts of the cases, of natural size, 

 so as to furnish a better idea of the mode of construction and fitting. 



THE ETHNOLOGICAL BUREAU. 



As in previous years, an appropriation was made by Congress for the 

 prosecution of researches into American ethnology in 1880, under the di- 

 rection of the Smithsonian Institution. The superintendence of tbis work 

 was continued in charge of Prof. J. W. Powell, the appropriation being 

 expended i^artly in keeping uj) the oifice organization of the Bureau and 

 partly in continuing the series of special researches into the ethnology 

 and linguistics of the Indian tribes. A portion of the appropriation was 

 also expended in continuing the explorations under the direction of Mr. 

 James Stevenson into the ethnology of the pueblos of New Mexico. In 

 1877 a number of villages were visited and complete collections of every- 

 thing illustrating their domestic habits, their weapons of war and the chase, 

 their religious ceremonies, &g., were obtained. During the present year 

 other villages were visited by the same parties, and large collections 

 were made and shipped to Washington. These have not yet been re- 

 ceived, but when they arrive will constitute a very important addition to 

 the National Museum. 



In addition to the general work prosecuted by Major Powell, he has 

 been requested by General Walker to superintend the work of taking 

 the census of the Indians for the census of 1880 ; and for this purpose 

 he has appointed a number of agents to visit various portions of the 

 United States for carrying out this business. Major Powell himself has 

 spent a number of months in the field in connection with the same work. 



EELATIONS OF THE INSTITUTION TO OTHER DEPART- 

 MENTS AND ESTABLISHMENTS. 



As shown by the past history of this Institution, its relations to the 

 different departments of government and to numerous establishments 

 in this and other cities have been varied and important. 



The Government. — With the Library of Congress, the Institution is 

 brought into constant intercourse, from the many contributions of valu- 

 able scientific works and journals continually made from donations, ex- 

 changes, purchases, and other sources. With the Army Medical Museum 

 there is the exchange of anatomical objects for ethnological and zoological 

 specimens. With the Signal OfiSce of the War Department there have 

 been interchanges of meteorological observations and records. With 



