﻿EXPLORATIONS AND FIELD-WORK OF THE 

 SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION IN 1925 



INTRODUCTION 



The functions of the Smithsonian Institution as stipulated by the 

 will of the founder, James Smithson, are " the increase and diffusion 

 of knowledge among men." In its endeavor to increase the sum of 

 human knowledge, the Institution conducts researches and explora- 

 tions, the latter particularly in regions of the earth which have not 

 vet been thoroughly investigated. As the founder's will did not 

 discriminate in favor of any particular branch of science, the Institu- 

 tion endeavors to be partial to none, and its activities have covered 

 geology, biology, and anthropology, with all of their various subdi- 

 visions ; astrophysics, aeronautics, physics, and chemistry. The pres- 

 ent pamphlet is intended to present in 'brief form, illustrated, the 

 purpose and results of the expeditions in the field during 1925. 

 The very limited income of the Institution from its private endow- 

 ment does not permit of a comprehensive, coordinated program of 

 exploration, and it therefore takes whatever opportunity ofifers to 

 cooperate with other agencies in sending out field expeditions. The 

 accounts, although written in the third person, are prepared for the 

 most part by the explorers themselves, and the pictures are taken by 

 them in the field. 



GEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES 



In continuation of geological field-work in the Canadian Rockies, 

 Secretary Charles D. Walcott left Lake Louise Station, Alberta, on 

 the Canadian Pacific Railway on July 9 with a camp outfit and pack 

 horses. The field season was even more unfavorable than that of 

 1924. Smoke from extensive forest fires west and north of the 

 mountain area north and east of Lake Louise interfered with 

 photography during July and the first lialf of August. An eddy, 

 or dead area in the atmosphere, hung over the mountains for several 

 weeks, and then, after a severe gale of several days' duration, snow 

 began falling on August 21, blanketing the canyon valleys with a 

 depth of from 12 to 16 inches (fig. 9) and the mountain slopes with 



Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, Vol. 78, No. 1 



