ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT 27 
In his previous reports the chief has annually called atten- 
tion to the time consumed by the staff in answering corre- 
spondence asking information regarding American ethnology 
and related subjects. Some of these letters request elemen- 
tary knowledge, others demand more or less research. 
Whether for the one or the other purpose, they often neces- 
sitate investigation and absorb considerable time, which 
tends to distract the attention of the experts from intensive 
scientific research, thus causing the scientific output to be 
reduced to a greater or less degree. Nevertheless the chief 
regards this aspect of the work of the bureau as a very 
important one and indicative of the respect in which the 
bureau is held by its correspondents. For this reason replies 
have been prepared with great care, so that they may be 
reliable and authoritative. 
FIELD RESEARCHES OF THE STAFF 
Two members of the staff, the chief and Dr. Truman 
Michelson, engaged in field exploration at some time during 
the year. 
During the past year the chief made three visits to the 
Mesa Verde National Park, Colo.; one in July and August 
and another in November, 1920. On the second visit he 
was the guest of Mr. Stephen T. Mather, Director of the 
National Park Service, Mr. F. A. Wadleigh, general passen- 
ger agent of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, and other 
gentlemen. The object of this visit was an inspection of 
past work in the park and formulation of plans for the 
future. The work in July and August was a continuation 
of cooperative work of the Bureau of American Ethnology 
and the National Park Service, with an allotment by the 
latter for the excavation and repair of the ruins in the park. 
A third visit was made in May and June, 1921, at the expense 
of the bureau. 
In the report for 1920 attention was called to the beginning 
of the work of excavating a ruin known as Painted House, 
which is situated near the head of Fewkes Canyon, 214 miles 
south of Spruce Tree Camp. The result of this work, which 
was not finished at the close of last year, intensified the 
