56 EEPOET OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1884. 



the ship-building industry in the United States, and especially the evo- 

 lution of the American schooner, the American pilot-boat, and the 

 American cotton-ship. A number of full-rigged models were also sent 

 in this connection, being exhibited on the way at Louisville and Cin- 

 cinnati. The model of a Avhale-boat, fully equipped with all appliances 

 for the capture of whales, w.as also sent. This model attracted much 

 attention at the London and Berlin Fisheries Exhibitions. 



The animal products collection, which was so prominent a feature in 

 the exhibition of this Institution at Philadelphia, has been reorganized 

 and greatly extended, so that it now represents very thoroughly the 

 applications of animals to the uses of mankind in all parts of the world. 

 This collection alone, if arranged in table-cases, would occupy a floor- 

 space equivalent to that in one of the large halls of the new Museum 

 building. The Museum has received many important gifts for this col- 

 lection on condition that they be exhibited in New Orleans before being 

 linally placed in the Museum. 



A selection of about 250 of the celebrated autotypes published by 

 Adolph Braun & Co., of Dornach, have been acquired for use at the ex- 

 hibitions. This collection illustrates the history of ])ainting from the 

 time of Cimabue and Giotto, including copies of from one to six of the 

 best representative works of each celebrated master so far as it was 

 practicable to obtain them. This collection can be packed in a very 

 small space, and is particularly well suited for sending away to exhibi- 

 tions. It may in future be somewhat extended to good advantage. 



{b) Department of Uthnology. 



Prof. Otis T. Mason, for many years connected with the Columbian 

 University, of this city, was appointed curator of this department upon 

 the 1st of July. The Museum may well be congratulated upon the ad- 

 dition of this skillful ethnologist to its staff. Professor Mason, as is 

 well known, was one of the first in America to embrace in his studies 

 the entire subject of the natural history of man, or what is known now 

 as the science of anthropology. His publications upon this subject, 

 beginning with his paper upon the Leipsic Museum, published in the 

 Smithsonian Annual Eeport for 1873 ; his articles upon ethnology in 

 Harper's Eecord of Science and Industry from 1873 to 1877 ; the Smith- 

 sonian Eecord of Progress from 1878 to 1884 ; the directions for col- 

 lectors for the Centennial Exposition, issued by the Indian Bureau in 

 1875 ; his lectures in the Saturday course, delivered in the Museum ; 

 also his papers presented to the American Association, and his contri- 

 butions to the American Naturalist, extending over a period of twenty 

 years, are all devoted to the comprehensive study of man. 



He was the associate of the late Mr. Louis II. Morgan in organizing 

 the anthropological section of the American Association in 187G, and 

 was one of the founders of the Anthropological Society of Washington 

 in 1879, writing its constitution. 



