30 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1888. 



which a message was sent in 1840 daring the experiments of Professor 

 Morso. 



The War Department has transferred to the National Museum sev- 

 eral interesting relics, including a large section of an oak tree riddled 

 with bullets from the battle-field at Appomattox Court-House. The 

 original plaster model of the bronze statue of George Washington, de- 

 signed b}^ William Eudolf O'Donovan, has been received. A pair of 

 silver-mounted flint-lock i)istols, once the property of General Lafay- 

 ette, has been deposited by Mr. William Burnett. The Smithsonian 

 Institution has transferred to the Museum its collection of portraits of 

 American and foreign men of science and of persons prominent in politi- 

 cal and civil life. The Museum had already accumulated engraved and 

 photographic portraits, and plans are now being arranged for the for- 

 mation of a comprehensive collection, in which especial attention will 

 be given to the representative men of America. 



The collection of coins, medals, and paper money has been gradually 

 increased. A series of proofs of all the current bonds and currency 

 notes issued by the United States, and of gold and silver certificates, 

 coupons, and registered bonds, has, through the courtesy of Hon. E. O. 

 Graves, been presented by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. 



During the year, 1,006 specimens have been added to the collection, 

 and 553 entries have been made in the catalogue. 



ETHNOLOGY. 



Prof. Otis T. Mason, curator, has pushed forward work in connection 

 with the ethnological series, the object of which is to show representa- 

 tives of all the races of men. The arrangement of the Eskimo col- 

 lection, which was commenced last year by Lieut. T. Dix Bolles, U. S. 

 Navy, has been completed. The curator is arranging for comparison 

 the bows and arrows from all j)arts of the world, with a view to prepar- 

 ing an extensive monograph upon the subject. Prof. G. Stanlej^ Hall 

 investigated the subject of mythology from the psycho-physical point 

 of view, and was accorded the use of the ethnological collections of the 

 Museum. An exceedingly valuable collection of objects from Easter 

 Island has been placed in the Museum by Paymaster W. J. Thomson, 

 U. S. Navy. 



It is the intention of the curator to prepare each year for publication 

 in the Museum report one or more papers relating to special collections 

 illustrating the arts and industries of the North American Indians. In 

 the report for 1884, two papers were published, on Throwing-sticks and 

 on Basket-work of the North American Aborigines. In the report for 

 1887 were two papers by Professor Mason on Cradles of the American 

 Aborigines and the Human Beast of Burden. 



During the year, 1,700 specimens have been a'lded to the collection, 

 and 790 entries have been made in the catalogue. 



