L'EPOET OF THE SECRETARY. 13 



Ibe Annual IIeports. Tlie lirst consists of memoirs contaiuing positive 

 additions to science resting on original researcb, and wliich are generally 

 the result of investigations to which the Institution has, in some way, 

 rendered assistance. The Miscellaneous Collections are composed of 

 works intended to facilitate the study of various br inches of natural his- 

 tory, meteorology, &C., and are principally designed to induce individuals 

 to engage in these studies as specialties. The Annual Reports, besides 

 an account of the operations, expenditures, and condition of the Insti- 

 tution, contain translations from works not generally accessible to Amer- 

 ican students, reports of lectures, extracts from correspondence, &;c. 



The following are the rules which have been adopted for the distribu- 

 tion of tbe several publications of the institution: 



1st. Tbey are presented to learned societies of the first class which in 

 return give complete series of their publications to the Institution. 



2d. To libraries of the first class which give in exchange their cata- 

 logues and other i)ublications, or an equivalent from their duplicate 

 volumes. 



3'i. To c illeges of the first class which furnish catalogues of their 

 libraries and of their students, and all other publications relative to 

 their organization and history. 



4th. To States and Territories, provided they give in return copies of 

 all documents published under their authority. 



.jth. To public libraries in this country, containing 15,000 volumes, 

 especially if no other copies are given in the same place; and to smaller 

 libraries where a large district would be otherwise unsupplied. 



Gth. To institutions devoted exclusively to the promotion of particu- 

 lar branches of knowledge are given such Smithsonian publications as 

 relate to their respective objects. 



7th. The Annual Reports are presented to the meteorological observ- 

 ers, to contributors of valuable material to the library or collections, 

 and to persons engaged in special scientific research. 



The most important memoir accepted during the year for publication 

 in the Smithsonian Contributions is entitled "Archiielogical and Ethno- 

 logical Researches in Central and South America, with a Detailed Ac- 

 count of the Sculptures at Santa Lucia Cosumalwhuapa," by Dr. Habel, 

 of Xew York. This gentleman, having an ardent desire to make an ex- 

 ploration of the physical geography and anthrojwlogy of Central Amer- 

 ica, relinquished his medical practice in 18G2, and commenced a tour of 

 exploration in that region. In the course of seven years which he de- 

 voted to these explorations he made collections in natural history and 

 observations in meteorology, topography, geology, and archaeology. On 

 arriving at Guatemala he made that city his headquarters, from which 

 four excursions were undertaken. 



The first was directed to an unexplored region lying north of Guate- 

 mala, reported to be inhabited by the Lacandoues, a tribe said never to 

 have been subdued by Europeans. On the route, Dr. Habel heard of 



