EEPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 65 



The division of physical anthropology has been enriched by over 

 2,000 crania and skeletons transferred from the Army Medical Museum. 



During- the last few years the curator of the division of technology 

 has made special effort to increase the series illustrating the develop- 

 ment of firearms. Recently there has been lent by Col. Wright Rives 

 a finely finished 44-caUber rifle, made by Henry Deringer, Philadel- 

 phia, Pennsylvania, and often used for target practice by David 

 Crockett and other friends of Mr. Rives. This was the rifle used by 

 W. J. Graves in his duel with Jonathan Cilley^ in 1838. 



There may also be mentioned a valuable series of sporting rifles, 

 collected by Mr. Herman Hollerith in Mitchell County, North Caro- 

 lina, in 1893, and lent by him to the Museum. These are typical 

 specimens of sporting guns used throughout the United States up to 

 about 1850. They are provided with homemade powderhorns, pow- 

 der charges, turkey calls, and other appliances, showing the skill of 

 the early backwoodsman. 



A collection of rifles, muskets, carbines, and revolvers has been 

 transferred to the National Museum by the Ordnance Office of the 

 War Department. These weapons include, besides the guns manu- 

 factured by the Government for many years, fine specimens made by 

 private firms for the Government. There is one remarkable example, 

 which is a 7-barrel flintlock revolving gun, with 11-inch barrels, 

 caliber .50, fastened to a central frame and revolved b} T hand, to bring 

 each barrel successivel}* under a common flash pan. 



Another especial^ rare and valuable loan from the War Depart- 

 ment is the Ferguson breech-loading rifle, which it has been claimed 

 is the only one of its kind in existence. It was invented and patented 

 in England in 1775-76 by Maj. Patrick Ferguson, of the British Army, 

 and was manufactured by Mr. D. Egg, of London. This gun was 

 presented by Major Ferguson to Capt. Frederick de Peyster and 

 bequeathed by him to his son. Gen. John Watts de Peyster. 



To the division of history there has been added a number of objects 

 illustrating the colonial and Revolutionary periods, including inter- 

 esting relics received from Gen. John Watts de Peyster, who has 

 during the last few years presented his Napoleonic library to the 

 Smithsonian Institution. Mention may also be made of the sword and 

 epaulets worn by Gen. Alexander McComb, U. S. Army, a loan from 

 Mrs. F. C. d"Hautville, and of a fine portrait in oil of George Catlin, 

 the Indian portrait painter, received from Mrs. Louise Catlin Kinney. 

 The portrait, which is an excellent likeness, was painted in 1849 by 

 Mr. W. H. Fisk, R. A. It adds much to the interest of the great 

 collection of Indian portraits given to the Museum many years ago. 



As a result of the war with Spain in 1898 the Museum has gradually 

 acquired a large number of objects illustrating the history of the peo- 



NAT MUS 1904 5 



