36 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1889. 



iuvited to assist the Curator in the preparation of a special exhibit for 

 the Cincinnati Exposition. The catalogue of this sectiou now contains 

 2,894 entries, of which 294 represent objects which were purchased for 

 the collection, chiefly old prints, and such other material as could not 

 be obtained by gift. On March 31, 1888, there had beeu made 936 

 entries in the catalogue. At this time the first arrangement of the 

 collection in the Museum had just been completed. 



The thanks of the National Museum are due esecially to Mr. Peter 

 Moran, Messrs. L. Prang & Co., the Photo-Engraving Company, W. H. 

 Whitcomb & Co., Mr. John Durand, and Mrs. Ednah D. Cheney for 

 their generous co-operation and contributions. 



Mr. Koehler has prepared a catalogue of the collection prepared for 

 exhibition at the Cincinnati Exposition. A full list of the names of all 

 who have contributed to the collection since this section was organized 

 may be found in the report of the Curator.* 



Department of Prehistoric Anthropology. — The number of specimens 

 added to the collection during the year has been 6,972, making a total 

 number of 116,472 specimens in the collection. Mr. Thomas Wilson, 

 Curator, states in his report that a great deal of his time has been con- 

 sumed in examining and reporting upon objects sent for determination. 

 The work of classifying and placing upon exhibition the specimens 

 which were assigned to the exhibition series, has been rapidly pushed 

 forward. A re-arrangement of the anthropological collection, which is 

 still exhibited in the large hall on the second floor of the Smithsonian 

 building, has been commenced, and Mr. Wilson's plan of re-arrangement 

 is given in detail in his report.* 



Fourteen of the collections received during the year have been con- 

 sidered by Mr. Wilson sufficiently valuable to receive special notice. 

 The contributions of the U. S. Fish Commission from Patagonia, Straits 

 of Magellan, Lower California, and California, have been numerous and 

 of great importance. These collections were made by the steamer Al- 

 baross during the voyage from Virginia to California in 18S7-1S88. 



Mr. Wilson has continued his researches in regard to the existence 

 of paleolithic implements in the United States. There have been 14,000 

 entries made iu the catalogue of the department. A special exhibit, 

 intended to indicate the existence and geographic distribution of pre- 

 historic man, as shown by the implements and objects which he manu- 

 factured and used, was prepared by the Curator for the Cincinnati 

 Exposition. This exhibit is described by Mr. Wilson in a paper which 

 will be published in a future report. 



Section of Aboriginal Pottery. — Among the more important additions to 

 this section may be mentioned a collection of pottery from a mound near 

 Lake Apopka, Florida, made by Dr. Featherstonehaugh, and a collection 

 from a mound near Perdido Bay, Alabama, made by Mr. F. H. Parsons. 



See Section n. 



