64 EEPOKT OF THE SECRETARY. 



Institution was that of a meteorological observer. His long-coutinned 

 observations of tiie weather are aiaoug the most reliable of those within 

 its archives. His contributions of objects of natural history were still 

 more important, embracing, as they did, nearlj* every branch in the 

 various classes of the animal and vegetable kingdoms, and luimerous 

 collections in archceology and ethnology. Few reports of the Institu- 

 tion since 1850 are without some reference to his ser\ices. 



In 18GG he made a special exploration, in behalf of the Institution, of 

 the region west of Lake Winnipeg, spending considerable time in the 

 vicinity of Shoal Lake and Lake Manitoba, in the course of which he 

 collected large numbers of skins and eggs of birds ; among the latter, 

 several previously entirely unknown in museums. Within a year cor- 

 respondence was in progress with him in regard to the renewal of this 

 exploration. 



The death of Mr. Gunn took place in the month of December, at the 

 age of 81. It is understood that he has left behind him a minutely de- 

 tailed journal of his experiences, and his relations to the colony in 

 which he lived for over fifty years, which will doubtless be published 

 on account of its great historical value. 



Hon. William jMcKinley, a valued correspondent of the Institution, 

 who died on the 2d of May, 1878, was born in Abbeville District, South 

 Carolina, in the year 1809 ; became a resident of Georgia in early life ; 

 was educated at Franklin College, now the University of Georgia, where 

 he was graduated ; entered the profession of law, served as a member of 

 the Georgia legislature ; removed to Milledgeville, Ga., where he spent 

 the remainder of his long and useful life in the active and extensive 

 practice of his profession. He sought relaxation in other pursuits at 

 times, none of which were more pleasing to him than the ethnological 

 researches connected with that region, so rich in antiquarian remains, in 

 which his life was sftent. He made, within the last few years, repeated 

 contributions of aboriginal remains to the Smithsonian Institution, re- 

 markable for their beauty and value. Mr. McKinley also contributed a 

 valuable paper entitled "Mounds in Georgia" descriptive of aboriginal 

 earthworks on the sea-coast, and of the celebrated Pyramid of Kolee 

 Mokee in Early County, to the Smithsonian Eeport for 1872. Further 

 additions of antiquities by Mr. McKinley are mentioned on page 82 of 

 the Smithsonian Report of 1875; and at the time of his death, a still later 

 collection was hi his possession, destined for the Smithsonian Institution. 



Eespectfully submitted. 



SPENCER F. BAIRD, 



Secretary Smithsonian Institution. 

 Washington, Januartj, 1879. 



