EEPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 25 



the nature and character of art among the Esquimaux on both sides of 

 the continent, and with what has been heretofore obtained from the 

 same region, as also the coast of Arctic America, through the agency 

 of Mr. E. E. McFarlane, render this series the most complete of its kind 

 in existence. 



Special acknowledgment is due to the American Express Company, ■ 

 through Jas. C. Fargo, esq., general superintendent, for giving instruc- 

 tions to all the agents of this company to co-operate with the Institution 

 in the collection of archseological material for the Museum. 



IHETEOROLOGY. 



Among the first objects of consideration by Professor ITenrj", after 

 the commencement of active operations on the part of the Smithsonian 

 Institution, was that of meteorology, and for more than twenty-five 

 years it has received a large proportion of his own attention and considera- 

 tion, as well as the aid of the Institution as far as its means would 

 permit. Prior to the period named more or less attention had been i)aid 

 to the subject, and efforts had been made to secure an extensive and 

 continuous series of observations. These, for the most part, however, 

 were limited to single places, and more rarely extended to counties or 

 States ; and it is to Professor Henry that we owe the establishment of 

 a uniform sj'stem over an entire continent. Little by little the work was 

 extended until, at the time of its fullest activity, it had its agents in 

 nearh- every county of most of the States of the Union ; indeed, tlirough.- 

 out the whole of British jSTorth America, and even in the remotest post 

 of the Hudson's Bay Company, in Mexico and Central America, the 

 services of observers were utilized. Some of these were provided with 

 full sets of meteorological ai)paratus, so that observations could be made 

 with the utmost precision ; others had only a thermometer and barom- 

 eter, while still others had nothing but a thermometer. 



Several difl'erent series of blanks were distributed by the Institution 

 corresponding to the diflerent classes. The blanks were returneil 

 monthly and duly filed. In the earlier part of the work some instru- 

 ments were furnished, such, as barometers and thermometers. Subse- 

 quently, however, it was found that the exijense was too great, and only 

 occasionally were thermometers and rain-gauges supplied. There was, 

 however, no lack of persons who were ready to take part in this sj'stem, 

 and not only to give their time, but also to purchase their own instru- 

 ments. 



The interest of the observers was maintained by a constant corre- 

 spondence with the Institution. Copies of the Smithsonian Eeports 

 and other publications were duly transmitted to them, and any incpiiries 

 or conunuuications from them on scientific subjects were i)romptly re- 

 sponded to. 



In this way a body of collaborators was secured to the Institution, 

 whose services cannot be overestimated, since they not only furnished 



