24 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1899. 



Rico, and the Smithsonian Institution has found it advisable to repub- 

 lish Professor Mason's papers on the Latimer and Guesde collections 

 of West Indian antiquities. 



Dr. Walter Hough, assistant curator, completed his monograph on 

 Eskimo lamps, and continued his investigation of the utilization of fire 

 and the manufacture of bark textiles. 



Mr. J. D. McGuire has been engaged in making an exhaustive study 

 of primitive technology. 



Dr. Thomas Wilson has carried on various researches relating in the 

 main to prehistoric archaeology. 



In connection with a paper treating of Museum buildings he has 

 conducted studies regarding the amount of light admitted through 

 glass of various kinds, and an extended article on the use of poisoned 

 arrows by primitive peoples has been prepared. Doctor Wilson has 

 also elaborated a paper on the subject of prehistoric trephining, and 

 has continued his investigation relating to arrow points, spear heads, 

 and knives of prehistoric times. 



The head curator has been so fully occupied with administrative duties 

 in the Museum that little time has been at his disposal for research work. 

 The trip to California in the interest of the Museum collections gave 

 him the opportunity of visiting the auriferous gravel region, from 

 which a considerable body of testimony has been ol)tained relating to 

 the antiquity of man. This evidence he has carefully examined, and a 

 paper reviewing the general subject will appear in the American 

 AnthropologUt for the year 1899. • 



