REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 37 



society beginning at the time of its organization in 1878, and con- 

 sists for the most part of swords, guns, pistols, flags, and miscella- 

 neous relics of the period of the Civil War, but includes also relics of 

 the former wars in which the United States has participated. 

 Among the most notable objects in the collection are a bronze can- 

 non captured from the British troops commanded by Maj. Gen. 

 John Burgoyne at Saratoga in 1777; a mortar made by D. King of 

 Philadelphia; a sword owned by Commodore Stephen Decatur, 

 United States Navy, and the mounted figure of the war horse of 

 Gen. Philip H. Sheridan. 



The accession of unparalleled importance is one including the en- 

 tire collection -of numismatic material formerly exhibited in the 

 United States Mint in Philadelphia, which, owing to the closing of 

 this mint to the public, was transferred to the Museum by the Treas- 

 ury Department in June, 1923. This collection includes a large num- 

 ber of ancient coins, a fair representation of medieval European 

 coins, a very complete aggregation of modern European coins and 

 commemorative medals, a large collection of the temporary coins of 

 the period of the World War, and an exceptionally fine and large 

 collection of United States coins, medals, and paper currency. While 

 the acquirement of this collection by the Museum is most gratifying 

 in that it adds such an aggregation of intrinsically valuable matter 

 to the Museum collection, the most essential fact in connection with 

 the transaction is the basis which it offers for the future develop- 

 ment of the collection and the encouragement of the science of numis- 

 matics in the United States. 



EXPLORATIONS AND FIELD WORK 



It is hoped that the falling off in biological exploration noted in 

 recent reports has reached its lowest ebb during the present year, 

 and that from now on a turn of the tide may be expected. With 

 this possibility in view plans and problems for future biological 

 explorations and expeditions have been outlined, preparing the 

 Museum to take the greatest possible advantage of the hoped-for 

 improved conditions. The central idea proceeds from the fact that 

 the early biological problems and research of the Museum naturally 

 related to the fauna and flora of North America, especially that part 

 opened up by the War with Mexico and the explorations for rail- 

 road lines to the Pacific coast. The necessity of working up this 

 material was naturally paramount. With the purchase of Alaska a 

 hitherto unexplored territory on this continent naturally attracted 

 the attention of the National Museum, especially since the early ac- 

 tivities in Alaska were almost exclusively investigated by the Federal 

 Government with the result that nearlv all the material collected 



