REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 9 



The history of the system of cataloguing in the various departments 

 is given in the following detailed statement: 



CATALOGUES OF THE DEPARTMENTS IN THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



ETHNOLOGICAL SERIES. 



This series contains thirty-one volumes, with 150,400 entry spaces. 

 The earlier volumes were devoted to the entry of all objects accruing 

 to the Museum other than objects of natural history. 



From time to time separate volumes or portions of volumes have 

 been set apart for the entry of material of a specified character. 



Vol. I, Nos. 1 to 3500. — The first material entered bears date of 

 March 9, 1850, and is a collection of Japanese ethnological objects, pre- 

 sented by the Emperor of Japan, through Commodore Perry. 



The last entry is dated February 4, 1867.* 



Vol. II, Nos. 3501 to 8300. — This volume covers the period between 

 February, 18G7, and February, 1869. Many of its pages are devoted 

 to the entry of material gathered by the Wilkes Exploring Expedition. 

 The entries have not been carried beyond 8277, from 8278 to 8300, 

 both inclusive, having been left for some reason blank.* 



Vol. Ill, Nos. 8301 to 14100.— This volume covers the period be- 

 tween February, 1869, and June, 1874.* 



Vol. IV, Nos. 14101 to 19825. — This volume covers the period be- 

 tween June, 1874, and March, 1875.* 



Vol. V,Nos. 19826 to 24750. — This volume covers the period between 

 March, 1875, and September, 1876.* 



Vol. VI, Nos. 24751 to 29700.— The first entry in the volume is dated 

 October, 1875— a year prior to the last entry in Vol. V, and the vol- 

 ume was completed a year subsequent to the opening of Vol. VII, the 

 next of this series. This volume was probably set apart for the use of 

 some collector in the field.* 



Vol. VII, Nos. 29701 to 34600.— This volume covers the period be- 

 tween September, 1876, and January, 1879.* 



Vol. VIII, Nos. 34601 to 39500. — This volume covers the period be- 

 tween January, 1879, and January, 1880.* 



Vol. IX, Nos. 39501 to 44350. — This volume covers the period between 

 January, 1880, and December, 1880.* 



Vol. N, Nos. 4 1351 to 49225. — This volume covers the period between 

 December, 1880, and January, 1881.* 



In A'ol. x is the following note : 



The two succeeding volumes <>f record are devoted (1) to collections under the 1 T . 

 S. Fish Commission and (2) to chemical and other artificial products. 



Vol. XL — This volume, the first of the series set apart for the entry 

 of material of a specified character, was assigned to Dr. Flint for the 



* The original catalogue is in the Department <>t Prehistoric Anthropology, and a 

 copy lias hen made for the Department <>f Ethnology. 



