LVIII BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 
of a custom of the erection of mounds as sites for habitations 
and for the council house of the clan or tribe, the sites being 
either separate mounds or single large mounds, according to 
circumstances. Thus the study of the living Seminole Indians 
and of the shell mounds in the same vicinity, in connection 
with his previous studies of Indian mythology, suggests to Mar 
Cushing a possible origin for a custom of mound building at 
one time so prevalent among the North American Indians. 
Work in linguistics—Dr A. S. Gatschet continued researches 
concerning and comparison among the Algonquian languages. 
Especial attention was given to Peoria linguistic material, 
which he continued to elaborate. The studies and compari- 
sons of this material indicate that it is sufficient for publication, 
so far as the vocabulary is concerned, though the comparisons 
with other Algonquian dialects and with the dialects of other 
Indian families indicate that further material must be obtained 
before the grammar can be perfected. In connection with this 
special work, the preparation of the comparative Algonquian 
erammar and lexicon was carried forward. 
Mr J. N. B. Hewitt continued the transliteration of the 
Tubari linguistic material collected by Dr Carl Lumbholtz, 
making satisfactory progress; at the same time he made com- 
parative researches bearing on the affinities of this tongue, 
which is now practically extinct. 
Collections—Mr William Dinwiddie continued the labeling of 
the Papago and Seri collections made by the Ethnologist in 
Charge during the fiscal year, the preparation of the labels and 
manuscript being practically completed — At the same time he 
carried to essential completion the arrangement of this collec- 
tion for display at the Atlanta Exposition, being temporarily 
transferred to the Museum for this purpose. 
A part of the display is designed immediately for use at 
Atlanta, but eventually for the elucidation of the collections. 
arranged in the Museum. It has been planned to prepare 
three life-size figures in characteristic costume, with especial 
attention to somatologic details. ‘The modeling of these figures 
was entrusted to Mr U.S. J. Dunbar. Two of the figures rep- 
resent Papago women, in ordinary occupation; the third a 
Seri hunter, with bow and quiver of arrows. 
