2 SMITHSONIAX MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 92 



the islands. Both lack of time and the circumstances of each expedi- 

 tion made exhaustive researches impossible. However, the results 

 attained and the problems defined seem worthy of publication. From 

 the archeological standpoint not only the Bay Islands but also the major 

 portion of the Spanish Honduras mainland form an important and 

 little-known field. 



The Bay Island survey of the Smithsonian Institution was an ex- 

 tension of a plan conceived and organized by A. W. Payne, research 

 associate of Johns Hopkins University, to conduct an archeological 

 investigation of the Patuca River region of northeastern Honduras. 

 The work of the expedition was financed throughout by Norman A. 

 Haskell, a student in geology at Harvard University. Mr. Payne, 

 Mr. Haskell, and the writer comprised the expedition, which was in 

 the field from February to July, 1933. I am especially indebted to 

 Mr, Haskell for sketch maps of Bay Island sites used in this paper. 

 Dr. L. S. Rowe and other officials of the Pan American Union 

 furnished maps, advice, and other valuable assistance. To Junius Bird 

 I am indebted for the use of his excellent notes, photographs, and 

 collections now in the American Museum of Natural History. At the 

 latter institution Dr. Clark Wissler, N. C. Nelson, Dr. George Vaillant, 

 and Miss Bella Weitzner were all extremely helpful in my work. For 

 much comparative data, manuscript material, and advice I am especially 

 grateful to both Dr. Vaillant and Dr. Samuel K. Lothrop. At the 

 Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation, Charles Turbyfill 

 aided me greatly. 



In Honduras the officials of the Government at Tegucigalpa and the 

 Governor of the Bay Islands, Sefior Charles Osgood, made our work 

 possible and extended us many courtesies. Similarly the officials of the 

 United Fruit Company, and of the Truxillo Railroad Company at 

 Puerto Castilla, assisted us throughout the entire expedition in every 

 conceivable manner. For this, and for very many personal courtesies 

 we are extremely grateful. Thanks are also due to Captain Boynton, 

 of Oak Ridge, Gerald Borden, Joe Saba, and the other members of the 

 crew of the Amiga, who were willing workers and good companions. 



At the National Museum E. P. Henderson made numerous mineral 

 identifications, H. A. Rehder identified various molluscan remains, 

 Gerrit S. Miller, Jr., identified mammal remains, and Dr. George S. 

 Myers identified fish and reptile bones. For this assistance I am 

 extremely grateful. Dr. Dale Stewart has examined our small and 

 fragmentary collection of human skeletal remains, but this, as well as 

 Mr. Bird's more extensive collection of crania, will be reported on by 



