24 ANNUAL EEPOET SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1908. 



Valley, outside the Casa Grande Reservation. Dr. J. Walter Fewkes, 

 who directed the Mesa Verde explorations, has prosecuted this later 

 research also and will submit an account in detail of what he has 

 done, for publication by the Institution. The work thus far accom- 

 plished by Doctor Fewkes is briefly described in Appendix II of the 

 present report. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



The correspondence of the Institution, besides serving its purposes 

 in administration, furthers to a degree the second fundamental object 

 of the Institution, the diffusion of knowledge among men. Through 

 this department are received inquiries on the most varied topics 

 relating to almost every field of science, all of which, so far as prac- 

 ticable, are answered by a member of the staff familiar with the sub- 

 ject concerning which information is desired. The Institution 

 however, does not attempt to maintain a universal information bureau, 

 nor does it seek to answer queries of a commercial nature for in- 

 formation which may be secured from a professional advisor upon 

 payment of a fee. 



In addition to this general correspondence, there is carried on by 

 the several branches of the Institution a considerable correspondence 

 relating to the respective activities of each. All matters affecting 

 questions of policy, and all appointments, however, receive the 

 personal consideration of the secretary. 



During the past year newer and more convenient cases have been 

 installed for filing letters, and certain improvements in methods of 

 indexing and arranging letters have been made. 



CONGRESSES AND CELEBRATIONS. 



International Zoological Congress. — The Seventh International 

 Zoological Congress met in Boston, August 19 to 25, 1907. Dr. 

 Richard Rathbun, assistant secretary. Dr. Theodore Gill, and Dr. 

 William H. Dall were delegates on the part of the Smithsonian In- 

 stitution ; Dr. F. AV. True, Dr. Leonhard Stejneger, and Dr. Harrison 

 G. Dyar on the part of the United States National INIuseum, and Dr. 

 Frank Baker on the part of the National Zoological Park. These 

 gentlemen were also designated by the Department of State as rep- 

 resentatives of the United States Government. In addition. Doctor 

 Gill served as delegate on the part of the Washington Academy of 

 Sciences and the Biological Society of Washington, and to represent 

 His Siamese Majesty. After the Boston meeting the congress paid 

 a visit to Washington from September 3-0, during which time the 

 members were entertained by a trip and luncheon in the National 

 Zoological Park and by an informal reception at the National Mu- 

 seum and the Smithsonian Institution. 



