78 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1887. 



Besides the above-mentioned accessions I may mention small series 

 of earthen relics obtained through William J. Baker, C. J. Hering, A. 

 A. Peling, J. K. Watson, J. K McComb, jr., W. E. Safford, and E. M. 

 Kirkby. 



This enumeration includes only those acquisitions that were turned 

 over directly to the curator of the department. Other accessions of ob- 

 jects of clay are included in series or sets intrusted to other depart- 

 ments. 



The first catalogue number for the year is number 131934, and the 

 last 132955. The total number of entries is 611. 



The curator has been occupied during the year in completing his 

 studies of the collections from Chiriqui and in taking initiatory steps 

 looking toward the discussion of the ceramic art of Mexico. 



A special paper upon a remarkable group of spurious antiquities 

 from Mexico has been prepared and delivered to the Smithsonian In- 

 stitution for publication. It is shown in this paper that for more 

 than half a century the manufacture of pottery and certain other 

 classes of objects has been extensively carried on and for no other pur- 

 pose than to profit by sales to collectors of antiquities. It is also shown 

 that museums in all parts of the world are well supplied with these 

 spurious articles, and that a number of pieces have found their way 

 into literature as genuine antiquities. Some twenty illustrations are 

 given. They are taken from the most striking pieces in the National 

 Museums of Mexico and of the United States, and from published 

 illustrations. 



The papers published during the year are referred to in Section iv 

 of this report. 



