EXPLORATIONS AXD FIELD-WORK OF THE S^ITTFI- 

 SONL\X IXSTITUTTOX IX 1920 



IXTRODUCTIOX 



Investigation of the unexplored regions of the earth and extending 

 scientific knowledge of imperfectly known localities have from tlie 

 beginning been an important phase of the Institution's activity in the 

 " increase of knowledge." This pamphlet serves as an announcement 

 of the more important expeditions sent out during the calendar year 

 1920, and more detailed accounts of the scientific results are later 

 published in the Proceedings of the U. S. X^ational Museum, Bul- 

 letins of the Bureau of American Ethnology, and other series of 

 publications issued under the direction of the Institution. 



Xot only has our knowledge of little known regions been increased 

 through the numerous expeditions sent out by the Institittion during 

 the 75 years of its existence, but also the collections in natural his- 

 tory and anthropolog}- in the Museum have been greatly enriched 

 thereby. The urgency of some of the field-work is illustrated by the 

 Australian expedition herein briefl}' described. The remarkable 

 Australian mammal life has been but meagerly represented in the 

 Xational Aluseum and the rapid extermination of the native animals 

 through various agencies renders increasingly difficult the securing 

 of an adequate collection. However very satisfactory shipments are 

 being received from the present expedition and it is hoped that a 

 good representation will be secured for the IMuseiuu before it is 

 too late. 



GEOLOGICAL EXPLORATK )X.S IX TH1-: CAXADIAX I>:OCKlF,S 

 During the field season of 1920, geological ex])loration was con- 

 tinued by Secretary Charles D. Walcott in the Canacfian Rocky 

 Mountains, with two main points in view. ( i ) the determination of 

 the character and extent of the great interval of non-dc])osition of 

 sedimentary rock-forming material along the P'ront l\ange of the 

 Rockies west of Calgary, Alberta; (2) the clearing up tif the rela- 

 tions of the summit and base f)f the great Clacier Lake section of 

 1919* to the gef)logical formations above and Ix'low. I'he parlv 

 going from Washington consiste<l nf Dr. and .Mrs. W'alctiit aii<l 

 •Artliur P>rown. 



' .Snlitll^onian Misc. Coll., Vol. ~j. No. i, i<)-'i», p. 1;. 



Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, Vol. 72. No. 6. 



