REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 55 
and distributed to observers, and examinations and reports have 
been made on a large number of this class of objects sent to the In- 
stitution. The publications in regard to this subject are.a number 
of papers by Professor Bailey, of West Point, and a very interesting 
memoir by Dr. Leidy, of Philadelphia, on a fauna and flora within 
living anunals. 
Physiology.—No experiments on this subject have been made under 
the immediate direction of the Institution, although it has furnished 
the materials for investigation by other parties. The publications in 
regard to it are chemical and physical researches concerning North 
American vertebrata, by Dr. J. Jones ; researches upon the venom 
of the rattlesnake, with an investigation of the anatomy and physi- 
ology of the organs concerned, by Dr. S. W. Mitchell; on the 
breathing organs of turtles, by Drs. Mitchell and Morehouse; on 
the anatomy of the nervous system of rana pipiens, by Dr. J. Wy- 
man; and on the medulla oblongata by Dr. John Dean. 
Ethnology and Philology.—One of the earliest efforts on the part of 
the Institution was directed to the advancement of the science of 
American ethnology. Its first publication as well as introductory 
volume to the series of Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, be- 
ing the work of Squier and Davis, on the ancient monuments of the 
Mississippi valley, remains the standard treatise on this subject. 
This was followed by a similar work on the antiquities of New York, 
by Mr. Squier ; and those of Wisconsin, by Mr. Lapham, of Ohio ; 
and of Lake Superior, by Mr. Whittlesey ; a memoir on some anti- 
quities of Mexico, by Brantz Mayer; and a general introduction to 
the whole subject of American archeology, by Mr. Haven, besides 
many articles of less extent in one cr another of the Smithsonian 
series. Several pamphlets of instructions for making observations 
and collections in this science have also been issued. 
In the department of philology, also, the Institution, has evinced 
its zeal and activity by the publication, among others, of the elaborate 
work on the Dakota language, by Mr. Riggs; that on the Yoruba 
language, by Mr. Bowen; and that on the Chinook jargon, by Mr. 
Turner and Mr. Gibbs. To Mr. Shea, of New York, who is engaged 
in the preparation of a library of American languages, annual appro- 
priations from the funds of the Institution have been made in fur- 
therance of the publication of linguistic memoirs furnished by its 
correspondents. 
Systematic efforts have been directed by the Tristan to the 
collection of as perfect a series as possibleof the specimens of Ameri- 
