12 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



Among the subjects to which the Institution has always devoted 

 special attention has been that of developing a knowledge of the eth- 

 nology and physical and natural history of the less known portions of 

 the globe; confining, however, its attention more particularly to Amer- 

 ica. There are yet so many regions to be investigated, that whatever 

 fands are available for its purposes can always be advantageously em- 

 ployed; and the limitations in this resppct have always been keenly 

 felt. 



It is, of course, the policy of the Smithsonian Institution, in this and 

 in all other subjects, to occupy no ground that is covered by other suf- 

 ficient agencies ; and where the United States Government or any other 

 body is at work in exploration the Institution does not interfere, except 

 in so far as it can act concurrently to advantage. For the third of a 

 century the Institution has worked harmoniously with the various 

 branches of the Government in this connection; and by calling atten- 

 tion to the importance of special inquiries, not originally contemplated 

 in the official research, by securing the appointment of competent ex- 

 perts, by taking charge of the notes and collections made, and assisting 

 in their elaboration and preparation for publication, and in various 

 other ways, it has been able to guide effort, and to secure the accom- 

 plishment of its object on a very large scale. 



The number of exhibitions that the Institution has been more or less 

 connected with during the period mentioned is very great, and it is 

 difficult to calculate the influence that it has thus exerted in the devel- 

 opment of knowledge in ethnology and natural history in general, and 

 particularly in that of northern and middle America. 



Of later years the strongest ally and associate of the Smithsonian 

 Institution and its work, has been the United States Signal Service; 

 fij'st, under General Meyer, and next under General Hazen. Both these 

 officers have always exhibited the utmost readiness to render all the aid 

 in their power toward the furtherance of the objects of the Institution, 

 and especially by permitting it to nominate persons to the charge of, or 

 to act as assistants in, the principal observation stations who, while 

 comijetent meteorological observers, were at the same time naturalists 

 and able to utilize their opportunities to the utmost. The Institution 

 in these cases has usually met all the expenses in addition to what was 

 required for the purely meteorological service ; supplying outfit, arsenic, 

 ammunition, &c., and taking charge of the collections and having them 

 properly elaborated for publication. 



The previous reports of the Institution contain many references to 

 this most satisfactory co-operation ; and this has been even more marked 

 and efficient during 1882 than formerly ; as will be readily realized by 

 the following account, in which I propose to take up the several regions, 

 and show the more important work that has been done either by the 

 Institution alone, or in conjunction with the Signal Service and other 

 parties. 



