Oo'2 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1889. 



poons, tish spears, all manner of points, needles, spoons, etc., were thus 

 made, and they were all smoothed and polished; yet they belonged to the 

 paleolithic age quite as much as did the rude chipped stone implements. 



The rude stone axes sent by Mr. Stone are not paleolithic, do not be- 

 long to that age, and have no relation with or resemblance to any pale- 

 olithic implements. They belong no more to the paleolithic age than 

 would a split bowlder or piece of stone chipped to an edge by a hunter 

 who, loaded and armed with all the scientific appliances of the nine- 

 teenth century, having lost his hatchet, and being overtaken by night, 

 should improvise and make such an implement to cut the needed brush 

 for his fire or boughs for his bed. 



This implement, rude and simple as it is, has no resemblance to the 

 true paleolithic implements — not in form, shape, mode of manufacture, 

 kind of chipping, nor the formation or sharpening of its edge. Any one 

 acquainted with them would recognize the difference at once and could 

 not be deceived. 



From William Taylor (San Diego, Duval County, Texas) was re- 

 ceived a rude flint implement, found near top of Equus beds, one-half 

 mile from San Diego, where species of Mylodon, Glyptodon, and three 

 species of Equus and Elephas have been found. (Accpsion 21181). 



From the U. S. Fish Commission (Washington, District of Colum- 

 bia) was received archaeological specimens from Patagonia, Straits of 

 Magellan, Lower California, and California, collected by the Fish Com- 

 mission steamer Albatross duriug her voyage from Virginia to Cali- 

 fornia in 1887-'88. 



The localities from which the specimens were obtained are as follows: 

 Port Churruca, Elizabeth Island, Saint Martas Islaud,and Gregory Bay, 

 Straits of Magellan, Pichilingue Bay, Gulf of California, Margarita 

 Island, Lower California, and San Celmente Island, California. 



The greatest number of objects collected at any one point was at 

 the Kitchen Midden, Elizabeth Island, Straits of Magellan. 



The stone implements of flint and obsidiau number four hundred and 

 forty-five and include hammers, rude implements of paleolithic type, 

 leaf-shaped implements, scrapers or knives, arrow and spear points, 

 pitted stones, pebbles slightly worked, and a large number of chips and 

 flakes. Bone implements were also found, such as perforators, knives, 

 etc. The bones of animals and birds received have been identified as 

 follows: Whale (species not identified), Sea Lion, Ota Ha jubata; Sea 

 Bear, Arctocephalus; Penguin, two species, Aptenortytcs and Spheniscus; 

 Cormorant, two species, Phalacrocorax xdbiventris; and Phalacrocorax 

 magellanicus; Steamer Duck, Tachyeres cinereus and Gull, Larus. 



A large number of bones are in such a fragmentary condition that 

 it is almost impossible to identify them with any degree of accuracy. 



The shells (426) belong to the following species : Patella, Mytilus, and 

 Valuta. The specimens obtained at the other localities mentioned are 

 perhaps of equal importance, and should, in the future, be made the 

 subject of a more elaborate report. (Accession 21<>!>9.) 



