14 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1915. 



of most of the species and to arrange them in definite groups. Of 

 the true grizzlies there appear to be about 38 species and subspecies 

 representing a dozen groups, and of the brown bears about 10 species, 

 representing 5 groups. Opportunity will now be afforded for study 

 in other fields of biological research. 



THE LANGLEY AERODYNAMICAL LABORATORY. 



The Langley Aerodynamical Laboratory was reopened under reso- 

 lution of the Board of Regents adopted May 1, 1913, and on May 23 

 an advisory committee was organized, as detailed in my report for 

 that year. In my last report I reviewed what had been accomplished 

 up to June 30, 1914, in certain lines of investigation, including the 

 successful flights of the Langley aeroplane built in 1898-1903, and 

 further trials of that machine were described by Dr. A. F. Zahm in an 

 article in the general appendix of the Smithsonian Eeport for 1914. 



During the past year it was found necessary for legal reasons to 

 discontinue the advisory committee as originally organized, and it 

 therefore seemed advisable to call upon Congress to authorize the 

 establishment of a national advisory committee for aeronautics. 



Following an urgent appeal by myself and others to the Senate 

 Committee on Naval Affairs, there was inserted in the naval appro- 

 priation act (Public, No. 271, 63d Cong.) approved March 3, 1915, the 

 following provision for a national advisory committee for aeronautics. 



An Advisory Committee for Aeronautics is hereby established, and the Presi- 

 dent is authorized to appoint not to exceed twelve members, to consist of two 

 members from the War Department, from the office in charge of military aero- 

 nautics ; two members from the Navy Department, from the office in charge 

 of naval aeronautics ; a representative each of the Smithsonian Institution, of 

 the United States Weather Bureau, and of the United States Bureau of Stand- 

 ards ; together with not more than five additional persons who shall be ac- 

 quainted with the needs of aeronautical science, either civil or military, or 

 skilled in aeronautical engineering or its allied sciences: Provided, That the 

 members of the Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, as such, shall serve with- 

 out compensation : Provided further, That it shall be the duty of the Advisory 

 Committee for Aeronautics to supervise and direct the scientific study of the 

 problems of flight, with a view to their practical solution, and to determine the 

 problems which should be experimentally attacked, and to discuss their solu- 

 tion and their application to practical questions. In the event of a laboratory 

 or laboratories, either in whole or in part, being placed under the direction of 

 the committee, the committee may direct and conduct research and experiment 

 in aeronautics in such laboratory or laboratories : And provided further. That 

 rules and regulations for the conduct of the work of the committee shall be 

 formulated by the committee and approved by the President. 



That the sum of $5,000 a year, or so much thereof as may be necessary, for 

 five years is liereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not other- 

 wise appropriated, to be immediately- available, for experimental work and in- 

 vestigations undertaken by tlie committee, clerical expenses and supplies, and 



