REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 19 



cial library. When we add to these the Washington Library and that 

 of the Young Men's Christian Association, the aggregate of the boohs 

 in the city of Washington must be greater than that in any other city 

 in the country in proportion to the population. Unfortunately, how- 

 ever, these collections are not at present as readily accessible to the 

 public as could be desired. The rapid increase, however, of the Na- 

 tional Library will soon render the erection of a separate building abso- 

 lutely necessary, and in the new arrangement which will result from 

 this, the different libraries can, perhaps, be brought into harmonious 

 relation, and while provision is afforded for the accommodation of a 

 much larger number of readers, the number of hours during which the 

 books are accessible may be increased. 



Explorations and collections. — The Institution has continued, during 

 the past year, as heretofore, to prosecute researches and explorations 

 in ethnology and natural history, both by detailing special agents for 

 particular work, and by co-operating with private individuals and 

 Government expeditions, in securing the desired result. 



Among the more important of the first-mentioned class was an inves- 

 tigation among the mounds of Tennessee, under Mr. J. P. Stelle. This 

 gentleman spent a number of mouths in examining carefully several 

 groups of ancient mounds, and has furnished an interesting account of 

 his researches, accompanied by topographical drawings of the localities, 

 and large numbers of specimens, obtained in the course of his explora- 

 tions. The report of Mr. Stelle will be printed in the appendix to the 

 annual report of the Institution. 



Professor Baird, during his visit to Wood's Hole, in Vineyard Sound, 

 continued his investigations of previous years among the shell-heaps 

 of the coast, and added largely to the collection in archaeology. He 

 also devoted much attention to the study of the habits of the marine 

 fishes of that part of the coast. Under the special direction of Profes- 

 sor H. E. Webster, a system of dredging was carried on in the same 

 locality, from which an interesting series of mollusca and other marine 

 animals was procured. 



Captain Dow, of the Panama Eailroad service, has furnished 

 important collections from Central America, among them the skulls 

 of what will probably prove to be a new species of tapir. Mr. Durkee, 

 of Wyoming Territory, has supplied a large number of specimens of 

 nests and eggs, with fossils and other objects from his locality, 

 embracing several species not before in the collection. 



The largest collections, however, received during the year, are those 

 made by Professor Hayden, as United States geologist for the Territo- 

 ries. These, in accordance with the law of Congress making the Insti- 

 tution the depository of all objects of nature and art, natural history, 

 etc., belonging to the United States, have been sent from time to time 

 to the Institution, forming an aggregate of about sixty boxes, and em 



