REPORT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 65 



In speaking of the exhibition and study series Professor Mason says: 



So far as the limited spacefill allow, tbe study series is in jjood coiulitiou. A 

 portion of it is arranged ethnically and the remainder technically. Especially are 

 those objects which have been gathered in the Orient placed ethnically, Itecause 

 there is in no case a suflicient amount of material to permit of a satisfactory com- 

 parative study. For the American series, the material being much more compre- 

 liciisivc, it has been possible to lay out certain large ethnic or culture areas, and to 

 regard tlie whole western world as one enclave. In these areas comparative studies 

 of considerable range can be made, and therefore objects belonging to each culture 

 class are placed together. 



The exhibition series is not in its best condition at the close of the fiscal year, 

 because several months of the curator's time have been devoted to the preparation 

 of an exhibit for the Nashville Exposition, and it has not been possible to give 

 proper attention to this part of the collection. The construction of new galleries 

 has also interfered with this portion of the work. It is hoped that in some way 

 additional exhibition space may be provided for the ethnological exhibit. The 

 specimens have been carefully guarded from destruction by moths or otherwise, and 

 those belonging to the study series have been made as accessible as possible. 



The curator states that all of the material assigned to him during the 

 year has been catalogued, cleaned and, when necessary, poisoned. Cat- 

 alogue cards have also been made out for a large number of the specimens. 

 The constant transfer of specimens from the study to the exhibition 

 series makes it difficult to keep all of the material exhibited, properly 

 labeled. Additional assistance is necessary for the purpose of contin- 

 uing the work of checking off on the catalogues such sijecimens as have 

 been sent out in exchange during past years. 



Since the beginning of the fiscal year the curator completed the 

 proofreading of his paper on "Primitive Travel and Transportation," 

 which was published in the Eeport of the National Museum for 1894. 

 He has also published several other paper.s, the titles of which will be 

 found in the Bibliography (Appendix IV), together with the titles of 

 papers published by Dr. Fewkes, Dr. Hough, and Mr. J. D. McGuire. 



Professor Mason has devoted as much time as possible to bringing 

 together and studying material for an exhaustive monograph of the 

 arts connected with the animal world. A large number of specimens 

 and many drawings have been gotten together, and it is hoped that the 

 work will be ready for the press during the coming year. Mr. Stewart 

 Culin, of the University of Pennsylvania, is still studying the Museum 

 collection of games. 



The Poyal Scottish Museum recently sent to the U. S. National 

 Museum a number of photographs of objects known to have been col- 

 lected by the celebrated geographer Capt. James Cook. These had 

 been incorrectly labeled, and it was desired to have them comjmred 

 with the large collection here. This matter has now been attended to. 



The following statement regarding scientific work accomplished, and 

 services rendered by persons not connected with the Museum, is of 

 interest: 



Investigations of great importance have been prosecuted in the department of 

 ethnology during the ])ast year. Mr. .J. D. McGuire continued hie studies of the 

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