MUSEUM NOTES 39 



reser\'ation in the region of Anadarko, Oklahoma. A fairly representative 

 collection, which included a nunihcr of excellent buckskin garments and 

 ceremonial objects of interest, was o!)tained from the Kiowa-Aj:)ache and 

 Kiowa. A collection of metal-work and other objects was obtained from 

 the Caddo; and from the Wichita, who still occupy their large grass 

 houses, were obtained among other old and valuable specimens two buffalo 

 skin robes and a buffalo skin l)ag. During the stay a large numl)er of 

 myths and folk tales were recorded in the Kiowa-Apache dialect. These 

 will furnish much needed information concerning the folklore of the region 

 and a basis for linguistic study. This is a matter of unusual interest since 

 the Kiowa-Apache have been believed to be more closely connected with 

 the Athapascan peoples of the North than with their other relati\es, the 

 Apache and Navajo of the Southwest. It was discovered howe\'er that 

 they are linguistically closely related to both the Lipan and the Jicarilla 

 Apache. About two weeks w-ere spent with the Jicarilla Apache of north- 

 ern New ]\Iexico checking up the proofs of the forthcoming Museum publi- 

 cation on the Apache. 



The United States Geological Survey has established with great 

 accuracy the astronomical position of the Museum building and its eleva- 

 tion above mean sea level. An observer from the United States Coast and 

 Geodetic Survey spent some weeks here during the past summer, making 

 observations of the stars while getting direct telegrajjliic reports on the 

 apparent movements of the same stars from the Naval Observatory in 

 Washington; also an engineer from the New York City dej)artment of 

 surveying ran a series of levels from several known points to two points at 

 the Museum. We learn that the central point of the foyer is in latitude 

 40° 46' 47.91" N.. longitude 73° 58' 40.4(3" W., and that tiic floor of the foyer 

 is almost exactly S8 feet 6 inches above mean sea level. 



The department of preparation is constructing for the Darwin hall a 

 series of models of Tahiti and other islands of the Society Group. These 

 show various stages in subsidence and wearing away of volcanic peaks in 

 the ultimate formation of coral atolls. 



In revising the installation of the New Guinea material in the South Sea 

 hall, Dr. Lowie is making extensive use of the sketches secured by the 

 ^Museum with the Finsch collection. Dr. Otto Finsch, the celebrated 

 naturalist and traveler, provided with the collection a very full series of 

 illustrations accurately picturing many phases of native life. These are 

 highly desirable, as many aspects of aboriginal culture, such as house and 

 boat types cannot always be readily transported or even secured in model 

 specimens, although often they form the most characteristic elements of 



