CPL ORATIONS AND FIELD-WORK OF THE SMIETCE- 
SONIAN INSTITUTION IN 1916 
Every year the Smithsonian Institution initiates or takes part in 
numerous expeditions to all parts of the world for the purpose 
of increasing the knowledge in various branches of science. The 
present pamphlet deals with explorations and field-work in geology, 
zoology, botany, archeology and ethnology, and astrophysics, during 
the year 1916, the various accounts being written largely in the 
words of the investigators themselves. 
Friends of the Institution have generously aided this work, par- 
ticularly during the past few years, through the contribution of funds 
for specific purposes. Most of the field-work is carried on directly 
through the branches of the Institution, including the National 
Museum, the Bureau of American Ethnology, the Astrophysical 
Observatory, ard the National Zoological Park. Wherever funds 
are not available for specific explorations every opportunity is taken 
to send representatives of the Institution with such expeditions in 
order to add to the natural history and archeological collections. 
The Bureau of Ethnology conducts extensive field-work among the 
Indians themselves, detailed accounts of which are published in 
the reports of the Bureau. The Astrophysical Observatory has 
continued observations in this country and abroad in connection 
with its work of studying the sun; and the National Zoological 
Park has cooperated with similar institutions in securing from 
other countries animals desired for the collections. 
These various activities result in valuable additions to scientific 
knowledge of unexplored and imperfectly known regions, and bring 
to the collections of the National Museum important material for 
exhibition and research. Many opportunities for undertaking 1m- 
portant field researches and for participating in various expeditions 
are lost to the Institution every year through lack of sufficient funds. 
GEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES 
In continuation of work carried on for several years past in the 
Canadian Rocky Mountains Dr. Charles D. Walcott, Secretary 
of the Smithsonian Institution, was engaged during the summer 
SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS, VcL. 66, No. 17 
