XXVI ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 
in a volume composed of separate papers by several authors. 
Its subject-matter being essentially pictorial, it required a 
large number of illustrations, twelve hundred and ninety-five 
figures being furnished in the text, besides fifty-four full-page 
plates, which, with their explanation and discussion, expanded 
the volume to such size as to exclude other papers. 
PICTURE-WRITING OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS, BY GARRICK 
MALLERY. 
The papers accompanying the Fourth Annual Report of this 
Bureau, which was for the fiscal year 1882—83, included one 
under the title ‘‘ Pictographs of the North American Indians, a 
Preliminary Paper, by Garrick Mallery.” Although that work 
was of considerable length and the result of much research 
and study, it was in fact as well as in title preliminary. The 
substance and general character of the information obtained 
at that time on the subject was published not only for the 
benefit of students already interested in it, but also to excite 
interest in that branch of study among active explorers in the 
field and, indeed, among all persons engaged in anthropologic 
researches. For the convenience of such workers as were 
invited in general terms to become collaborators, suggestions 
were offered for the examination, description, and study of 
the objects connected with this branch of investigation which 
might be noticed or discovered by them. The result of this 
preliminary publication has shown the wisdom of the plan 
adopted. Since the distribution of the Fourth Annual Report 
pictography in its various branches has become, far more than 
ever before, a prominent feature in the publications of learned 
societies, in the separate works of anthropologists, and in the 
notes of scientific explorers. The present paper includes, with 
proper credit to the authors quoted or cited, many contribu- 
tions to this branch of study which obviously have been 
induced by the preliminary paper before mentioned. 
The interest thus excited has continued to be manifested by 
the publication of new information of importance, in diverse 
shapes and in many languages, some of which has been received 
too late for proper attention in this paper. 
