12 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



vided for him at the Institution and the drawings of these sculptures 

 were reproduced by an artist under his personal supervision and con- 

 stant instruction. The expense of the preparation of the manuscript 

 and illustrations as well as of the publication has been borne by the 

 Smithsonian Institution. The publication of the work was recommended 

 by several of the leading archaeologists of the country, and in a report 

 in regard to it Prof. W. D. Whitney remarks, " It seems to me a story 

 refreshing by its brevity and simplicity, very unlike the pompous and 

 boastful way in which such things are often heralded. One may not 

 agree with all the inferences drawn at the end, but that is a matter of 

 very small importance ; no two persons would arrive at precisely the 

 same conclusions. So far as I can judge, the Institution has every rea- 

 son to take pleasure and pride in the issue of such a contribution to Amer- 

 ican archaeology." The sculptures represented are of such a remark- 

 able character that it has been thought advisable to institute some fur- 

 ther inquiries in regard to their present condition; and, fortunately, an 

 opportunity has occurred which enables the Institution to do this 

 without making any draft upon its income. The Government of Guate- 

 mala having requested the Government of the United States to nomi- 

 nate a competent geologist to make explorations of mines in the former 

 country, the Secretary of State referred the matter to the Secretary of 

 the Smithsonian Institution, who nominated Mr. Arnold Hague, who 

 had been engaged on the survey of the fortieth parallel under Clarence 

 King, a gentleman well qualified to discharge the duties intrusted to 

 him. He has been requested to visit the region in question and to report 

 on the state of the sculptures described in the memoir of Dr. Habel as 

 well as on any archaeological remains of interest which he may meet 

 with in the course of his explorations in the country. 



In previous reports a paper has been mentioned which is the result 

 of the investigations of the late Prof. Henry J. Clark relative to Lucer- 

 naria, a class of animals formerly regarded as polyps, but more recently 

 associated with the acalephce or sea-nettles and jelly-fishes. It was 

 presented to the Institution several years ago, but the publication 

 has been delayed by a series of unexpected hindrances. Much delay 

 was experienced at first in obtaining proper engravings of the very 

 minute and complicated drawings to illustrate the work, and before these 

 were completed the author was called from this life, in the flower of his 

 age and in the midst of a series of successful investigations. After his 

 death it was found difficult to obtain the services of a person sufficiently 

 acquainted with the subject to read the proof-sheets, but during the 

 year the printing has been commenced under the supervision of Prof. 

 A. E. Verrill, of Yale College. Unfortunately, another delay has been 

 occasioned by the ill-health of this gentleman. We hope, however, that 

 the work will be completed in the course of a month or two and will be 

 ready for distribution at an early day. 



