REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 79 



H.— ACCESSIONS. 



Ten years ago the National Museum moved into its new building 

 and tlie present year marks the close of a very important decade in its 

 history. The increase in the collections during this period has been 

 unexpectedly large, the accessions from all sources now numbering 

 3,028,738 specimens. In 1882, when the first census of the collections 

 was made, the total number of specimens Mns estimated at less than 

 200,000. The totally inadequate space provided for this vast accumu- 

 lation of nmterial has been so frequently commented upon in previous 

 reports, that it is not necessary to reiterate the recommendations to 

 Congress for another building. 



The total number of ac(;essions to the Museum during the year is 

 1,187 (Nos. 23,341-24,527), inclusive). 



A geographical review of the more important accessions during the 

 year is here presented. This is preceded by a brief classified state- 

 ment showing the most valuable contributions of the year. 



STATEMENT OF THE MOST IMPORTANT OONTRIBUTIONS OF THE YEAR. 



(Arranged by De])artm('nts iu the Museum.) 



ANTHKOPOLOGY. 



Archoeolo{/y. — A large collection of prehistoric copper and galena 

 objects, chietly from Wisconsin and Ohio, purchased by special appro- 

 priation of Congress from Frederick S. Perkins, of Madison, Wis.; an- 

 thropological objects from the site of the ancient aboriginal fish Aveir 

 near Claymont, Del., presented by Dr. HilbornT. Cresson, Philadelphia, 

 Pa. ; sandstone rock containing human bones, found in Florida and 

 transmitted by Judge John G.Webb, Osprey, Fla. ; arclueological speci- 

 mens from the base of Roan Mountain, North Carolina, collected by 

 Mr. P. L. Jouy, of the National Museum. 



EihnoJofiy. — A collection of ethnological objects from the native tribes 

 of Angola, Africa, including medicine horns and musical instruments, 

 presented by Mr. Heli Chatelain, of Vincland, N. J. ; a fine collection 

 of spears, shields, bows, swords, birds' skins, and personal ornaments 

 from the Kilima-Njaro region. East Africa, collected and presented by 

 Dr. W. L. Abbott, of Philadelphia, Pa. 



Mammals. — Two pairs of interlocked elk antlers from Montana, de- 

 posited by Hon. Clinton L. Merriam, Locust Grove, N. Y. ; four skins 

 of Belding's Spermopliile, from Mr. L. Belding, Stockton, Cal. 



Birds^ sMns. — A valuable collection comprising 427 specimens of 

 birds' skins from the island of Yes.so, Japan, and c<mtaining species new 

 to the collection, purchased from Harry V. Hensen, Hakodadi, Japan; 



