REPORT OP THE SECRETARY. 19 



bound should be completed, and thus rendered easier of access for pur- 

 jjoses of reference. The amount above stated is the lowest sum which 

 will produce the desired result, and I therefore very much hope that 

 Congress will not dimiuish it. 



In my last report I alluded to the death of Mr. William 0. Winlock, 

 which occurred on Sex^tember 20, 189G. In addition to his duties as 

 curator of exchanges, he held the position of honorary curator of phys- 

 ical apparatus in the l^ational Museum. 



Maj. Charles Bendire, United States Army (retired), honorary curator 

 of the department of birds' eggs in the National Museum, died at Jack- 

 sonville, Fla., on February 4, 1897. 



Major Bendire was a native of Germany. He served in the United 

 States Army and was brevetted major for bravery in action against the 

 Indians at Canyon Creek, Montana, in 1877. In 1886 he was retired for 

 disabilities incurred in the line of service. During his residence in the 

 West he became interested in ornithology through correspondence with 

 Professor Baird. He made extensive collections of birds' eggs, which 

 he afterwards presented to the National Museum. After leaving the 

 Army he devoted a large amount of time to scientific investigation, 

 and had recently published in the series of Special Bulletins of the 

 National Museum an imj)ortant work entitled Life Histories of North 

 American Birds, consisting of two large quarto volumes, handsomely 

 illustrated. 



In obedience to the provisions of the act of Congress directing that 

 the Institution and its dependencies should participate in the Tennes- 

 see Centennial Exposition, which opened on May 1, 1897, special exhibits 

 have been prepared. Dr. Frederick W. True was appointed represen- 

 tative of the Smithsonian Institution and the National Museum on the 

 Government board of management, and Mr. W. Y. Cox was designated 

 special agent in charge of the exhibit, and later was appointed secre- 

 tary of the board. 



I BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY. 



The researches relating to the American Indians, conducted under 

 the Smithsonian Institution by authority of law, have been continued 

 by Maj. J. W. Powell, the director of the Bureau, assisted by Mr. W J 

 McGee as ethnologist in charge, Mr. F. W. Hodge acting as chief clerk, 

 and several other scientific collaborators. The field operations have 

 been extended into a large number of States and Territories, and inci- 

 dentally into those districts of neighboring countries occupied by 

 native tribes closely affiliated with the aborigines of the territory now 

 comprised in the United States. The examinations and surveys in 

 field and office have been conducted with the view of obtaining for 

 publication definite information concerning the arts and industries, the 

 institutions and languages, and the beliefs of the natives, 



