26 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



to refer briefly to them again in tbeir systematic sequence, as likely to 

 give a better idea of the actual increase in the scientific value of the col- 

 lections. 



Of the various additions received during the year, those which are 

 most varied and comprehensive in their nature, and of most importance, 

 have been derived from the labors of Mr. W. H. Dall and Mr. H. W. 

 Elliott, in Alaska ; of Mr. Archibald Campbell, Major Twining, and Dr. 

 E. Coues, of the Northern Boundary Survey, in Dakota; of Major Pow- 

 ell, Lieutenant Wheeler, and Dr. Hay den, in Utah, Arizona, and Colo- 

 rado ; of the United States steamers Portsmouth and Narragansett, in 

 the Pacific Ocean; of Capt. Nicholas Pike, in the Mauritius; of the 

 United States Fish-Commission on the eastern coast of the United 

 - States ; and of Professor G-abb, in Costa Pica. 



Ethnology. — The Smithsonian Institution has been, for several years 

 past, especially interested in extending the ethnological collections of 

 the National Museum, desirous that this should embrace as full an illus- 

 tration of American archaeology as possible. The results of its efforts in 

 this direction have been very satisfactory, few days elapsing without 

 the receipt of one or more packages of specimens. These collections are 

 so numerous, indeed, as to render it impossible to mention them all here ; 

 and we can only specify a few, referring to the list of douations for a 

 statement in full. 



By far the most important of these collections were those received 

 from Alaska and the west coast of America and from Costa Pica, 

 already referred to in general terms. The specimens procured by Mr. 

 Dall furnish a lull representation of the prehistoric antiquities of the 

 islands and the main land of Alaska, as also of many of the objects at 

 present in use among the Esquimaux, the Aleutians, &c. Mr. Elliott's 

 collections relate more especially to Saint Lawrence Island, Behring Sea, 

 a region previously unrepresented in any collection. 



The collections made in Oregon by Mr. A. W. Chase and Mr. Paul 

 Schumacher relate to the shell-heap deposits, and are quite unique in 

 their character. Still more so are the gatherings made by Mr. Dall and 

 Mr. Schumacher from the islands and main land of Southern California. 

 The carvings by the Haidah Indians, collected by Mr. J. G. Swan, are of 

 great interest and beauty. 



The collections of Doctor Gabb, of both modern and prehistoric 

 ethnology in Costa Rica, are of very great extent and of extreme value, 

 and are supplemented by a collection of aboriginal musical instruments 

 from Guatemala, furnished by Mr. Henry Hague. 



Large numbers of stone implements, pipes, pottery, &c, have been 

 received from the expeditions of Major Powell, Doctor Hayden, and 

 Lieutenant Wheeler, from Governor Amy, of New Mexico, and from 

 many localities in the interior and in the - east, all together forming an 

 aggregate of very great extent. Conspicuous among these are speci- 



