OP THE BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY. XXV 



complete, both in form and substance. The thorough con- 

 scientiousness and punctilious care shown in tlie present cata- 

 logue, and especially the comprehensive bibliographic spirit 

 in which the work has been conceived, prove the peculiar fit- 

 ness of the author for the undertaking. He has set before 

 him and has kept steadily in view the following aims : 



First, to discover every document in existence relating to 

 the subject, either printed or in manuscript. 



Secondly, to record a description of every document found, 

 so accurate and full that each book or article mentioned is 

 clearly identified and all its contents relating to Indian lan- 

 guages set forth, with citation of the chapters and pages 

 within the work where the linguistic material may be found. 



Thirdly, to name, when possible, one or more libraries 

 where each work catalogued may be found. 



Fourthly, to arrange and combine the whole so that the stu- 

 dent using it may in the shortest time learn whether any work 

 contains the special matter which he desires to consult, and, if 

 so, precisely where he may find it. In the case of rare books 

 or papers special attention has been paid to obtain full informa- 

 tion, and in the case of some of the rarest books fac-similes of 

 the title pages are given. The value of a work so broadly con- 

 ceived and so carefully executed is very great. The literature 

 of this subject has become so voluminous, so disconnected, so 

 scattered in time and place, that progress in the classification 

 of Indian languages and the determination of their affinities 

 has been greatly retarded, awaiting the orderly arrangement 

 of accumulated information. This requisite, with the impor- 

 tant addition of the correction of current errors, is met by the 

 catalogue. It has been found indispensable to the Bureau and 

 has already been gratefully acknowledged as invaluable by 

 all students of American tribes to whom copies have been dis- 

 tributed. 



Since the printing and distribution of the proof-sheets, and 

 markedly as a result thereof, the card catalogue has continued 

 to grow ; and, although not complete and, from the nature of 

 the subject, not expected to become absolutely exhaustive, the 

 recent additions to it indicate how thoroughly the work was 



