KKl'OKT OF THK SKCKKTARV. 2i 



(>irg of the oioaiitic hinl of Madag-asciir, the Acpyoniis, the ('o<r inciis- 

 iiriui^' iihoiit a foot lon^-. 



The Childrcir.s Room in the Institution is icpixxhicfd in full si/e, 

 together with its eases, a(|uaria. hinl eao-es, decorations, and as many 

 of the objects as eould be duplicated. 'J'lieie is thus shown a lillipu- 

 tian museum which has proved very attractive to the older as well as 

 younger visitors to the Kxposition. 



A gigantic bird cage, in which many species of birds have almost as 

 much freedom of movement as if they were without restraint by l»ai-s 

 and nets, illustrates the National Zoological Park. 



Tlie collections are mentioned with somewhat more d(^tiiil in (he 

 Appendix, and in the report by Doctor True, to be published later in 

 another volume, full d(>tails will l)e given of tliese exhil)its as well as 

 descriptions of some great models of Ma3'an temples of Yucatan, 

 shown l)y the Bureau of American Ethnology. 



Lewis and Clark Exposition. — Congress during the past year made 

 provision for a Government exhibit at an exposition to be opened at 

 Portland, Oreg., in May, 1905, to commemorate the centennial of the 

 Lewis and Clark Expedition to the Northw^est, and Dr. F. W. True 

 has been designated as representative of the Institution to prepare a 

 suitable Smithsonian exhibit. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



University of Wisconsin. — Dr. dames B. Angell, president of the 

 University of Michigan and Regent of the Smithsonian Institution, 

 represented the Institution at the celebration of the liftieth anniver- 

 sary of the first commencement of the University of Wisconsin, held 

 at Madison during the week beginning June 5, 1904, and presented 

 the congratulations, signed by the Secretary, in the following form: 



The Smithsonian Institution extends to the president, the regents, and the faculty 

 of the University of Wisconsin its congratulations on the occasion of the fiftieth anni- 

 versary of the first commencement of the university. It felicitates the university on 

 the important work accomplished by it for learning and education in the State of 

 Wisconsin, and, recognizing its influence also in sister institutions of learning, sends 

 ii earliest wishes for its continued i)rosperity and usefulness. 



NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



The most notable event of the year was that on June IT), li)04, 

 ground was broken for the new Museum building which was author- 

 ized by act of Congress approved March 3, 1903, the first sod ludng 

 turned by me in the presence of the architects, the superintendent od" 

 construction, and the ofhcers and em])Joyees of the Institution and 

 its dependencies. The new structure will be ei'cctcd on the north- 

 ern side of the Smithsonian Park and will be al)out 551 feet long 



