THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 203 



For a detailed account of the specimens forming the Smithsonian 

 collection, I refer to Professor Baird's report, herewith submitted. 



American Antiquities. 



During the j^ast year, we have received information of the locahty 

 of a number of mounds, and other remains of ancient art, in different 

 parts of the United States. A gentleman is now engaged in the exam- 

 ination of the mounds of Western Virginia, with the intention of pre- 

 senting the results of his labors ibr publication in the Smithsonian Con- 

 tributions. 



The survey of the mineral land in the vicinity of Lake Superior has 

 disclosed the site of an ancient copper mine, whence, in all proba- 

 bility, the copper of the ornaments, instruments, &c., found in the 

 mounds, was derived. The remains of the implements, and of the ore, 

 as left by the ancient miners, are exhibited in place, and afford an in- 

 teresting illustration of the state of arts among the mound-builders. 

 The geological surveyors have promised to make accurate measure- 

 ments and drawings of everything of interest connected with these 

 works, and to present them, with suitable descriptions, to the Institu- 

 tion, lor publication. 



Mr. E. G. Squier, during his sojourn in Central America, as Charge 

 d'affaires of the United States, made some interesting explorations re- 

 lative to the antiquities of that country, and has sent to this Institution 

 five large stone idols and several smaller objects, as the beginning of 

 an ethnological museum. For the cost of shipment and transportation 

 of the three larger idols by w^ay of Cape Horn, the Institution is indebted 

 to the liberality of B. Blanco, esq., of New York. 



For some remarks relative to the importance of forming an ethnolo- 

 gical museum, I beg to refer to a paper by Mr. Squier, given in the 

 Appendix to this Report. 



Apjiaratics and instruments of research. 



It is a part of the plan of the Institution to appropriate a small portion 

 of the funds to the purchase of sets of instruments for physical 

 research, to be used by the officers of the Institution, and, under certain 

 restrictions, by other persons. In accordance with this purpose, I was 

 requested, by the Board of Regents, to procure an astronomical clock, 

 with the electro-magnetic registering apparatus, to be lent to Lieutenant 

 Gillis during the continuance of his astronomical labors in Chili. The 

 clock has been imported from Germany, and is now in the hands of the 

 instrument maker, to receive the registering attachments. The whole 

 will be sent to Chili, as soon as the apparatus is completed. I regret 

 that the difficulty of procuring the services of suitable workmen has 

 delayed so long the completion of these instruments. 



A communication from Lieutenant GilKs, informs us that the Chilian 

 government has resolved to establish a permanent national observatory 

 at Santiago, and that it will purchase the instruments above mentioned. 

 The Institution will therefore again, as in the case, mentioned in a former 

 Report, of the purchase of a telescope for the same expedition, be the 

 means of promoting science without an expenditure of its income. 



