REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 47 



precise method of manipulation is unknown, but is supposed to consist 

 in the careful extraction of the bones, flesh, and brains of the head, and 

 the subsequent contracting of the skin by some astringent. The result 

 is a well formed and fpiite symmetrical head, about four inches in diame- 

 ter; all i)arts contracted in equal proportion, and with long flowing 

 black hair; a braid of strings is passed through the lips, and there are 

 several other artificial a|)pendages. 



Prof. William M. Gabb has kindly presented to the National Museum 

 some extremely rare and remarkable stoue implements and pottery from 

 San Domingo, while Professor Poey, the eminent and veteran naturalist of 

 Havana, has supplied a seiies of lishes from Cuba as types of his sj)ecies. 

 Fishes of Bermuda were also received from Mr. J. Brown Goode. 

 The collections from other parts of the world, as might naturally have 

 been expected, have not been so great, either in number or value, as 

 those already referred to, although some of them are very important, 

 as tending to complete the series already in the museum. The most 

 interesting of these objects are certain pre-historic stone implements, 

 es})ecially of the drift-period, presented by Mr. William Blackmoi-e, 

 of England, and a similar collection furnished by Mr. Baker. 



Professor Hoist, of Christiania, has supplied a series of minerals from 

 Konigsberg, a mining-region near that city, while Dr. Sars and Dr. 

 Boeck have furnished specimens of the Crustacea, Mr. Robert Collett 

 of the fishes, and Dr. William Boeck a skeleton of Htjperoodon. Dr. 

 Mcibius, of Kiel, has also sent us a series of the food-fishes and crusta- 

 ceans from the vicinity of Kiel. 



No collections are recorded from Africa, with the exception of a 

 8U[)erb skull of the Koodoo antelope, from Captain Holmes. Prom 

 Japan, however, have been received some remarkable stone and bronze 

 implements of prehistoric times, presented by the Japanese minister, 

 Mr. Mori. 



The Sandwich Islands are represented by collections of skulls and 

 ethnology, from Mr. Valdemar Knudsen. 



Systematic summary. The preceding enumeration expresses the geo- 

 graphical relations of the collections received during the year; and it 

 may be well, in addition, to make a brief systematic reference to the 

 principal objects received, so far as this has not already been done, 

 especially as some general collections, covering a wide range of country, 

 have not yet been referred to. 



The department of ethnology has been especially enriched, not only 

 by the collections of Professor Powell, Mr. Dall, Professor Hay den, and 

 others, but very largely by a contribution from Mr. Vincent Colyer. This 

 gentleman, while connected with the Board of Indian Commissioners, 

 took occasion during his official visits in various parts of the Indian 

 country to collect, at his own expense, large numbers of objects, all of 

 which are now in possession of the Institution. 



