22 



PREFACE. 



i.se of iiuportaut finds, outline figures, both of the horizontal and verti- 

 cal sections, were drawn on which the positions of the skeletons and 

 relics were marked as found. 



Evei\v effort possible was made at the time oi collection to obtain all 

 the facts in reference to each specimen. The assistants made full 

 notes in the field and attached a number to each specimen before pack 

 ing and shipping. Descriptive lists, with corresponding numbers, were 

 forwarded with each shipment. All collections thus made were sent 

 direct to the Bureau of Ethnology, and there, after being opened, exam- 

 ined and compared with the field catalogue, the numbers of the Bureau 

 series were attached, and the collections forwarded to the National 

 Museum, where the Museum numbers were placed upon them. After 

 this a comparison was made, in most cases bj' the collectors themselves, 

 to see that the memoranda, numbers, and articles agreed and were 

 given correctly. The final catalogues contain not only the collector's. 

 Bureau, and Museum numbers, which form checks upon one another, 

 but also the name of the article, the locality, the collector's name, and 

 remarks indicating the conditions under which each was found. These 

 particulars are, of course, incomplete for specimens purchased and 

 donated. 



As an illustration, the heading of the columns and one line from 

 the general catalogue are given here: 



Two copies of this catalogue were made, one to be retained by the 

 Bureau, the other to be transmitted with the specimens to the Secre- 

 tary of the Smithsonian Institution, for use in the National Museum. 



Although the specimens are included in the general collection of the 

 National Museum, they are so carefully marked and numbered that by 

 reference to the catalogue any article can easily be found and the pre- 

 cise locality ascertained from which it was obtained, with the attend- 

 ant circumstances. In order to accomplish this, the collections made 

 by the Bureau were retained until this accuracy was assured and the 

 duplicate catalogues made out and compared. By reference to tlie fol 

 lowing report all the particulars known regarding them may be learned, 

 also all the facts in reference to the works from which they were 

 obtained. 



The number of specimens collected by the division since its organiza- 

 tion is not less than 40,000. Among those procured by the field assist- 

 ants, which constitute by far the most valuable portion, will be found 



