REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 53 



The applications for the Museum publications are now so numerous as to render it 

 impossible to continue the sending out of full volumes of ihe Proceedings or complete 

 series of the Bulletins to individuals. 



So far as possible, each scientific correspondent of the Smithsonian Institution and 

 National Museum will be supplied with publications essential for his use in the held 

 of investigation in which he is individually engaged. 



S. P. Langley, 



Secretary. 

 Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C. 



The custom of printing the Proceedings signature by signature, which 

 was maintained during the publication of the first eleven volumes, 

 has now been discontinued, for reasons given on page 58 of the last 

 report. Commencing with Vol. XII, a limited number of copies of 

 each paper is printed in advance of the bound volume, for distribution 

 to specialists. These are distributed as soon as received from the Gov- 

 ernment Printing Office. The bound volumes are now reserved for 

 public libraries and other educational establishments, whose publica- 

 tions the Museum receives in exchange. 



Reports of the National Museum. — During the year the reports of the 

 Museum (constituting Part n of the Smithsonian Report) for 1886 and 

 1887 have been published. The report for 1888 has been put in type, 

 and the manuscript prepared for the report for 1889. 



The report for 1886 was issued in October, 1889, and contains xi+ 

 842 pages. The volume contains the following special papers relating 

 to and illustrative of collections in the Museum: 



The Meteorite Collection in the National Museum : A Catalogue of Meteorites rep- 

 resented November 1, 1886. By F. W. Clarke. 



The Gem Collection. By George F. Kunz. 



The Collection of Building and Ornamental Stones: A Handbook and Catalogue. 

 By George P. Merrill. 



The Collection of Textiles : list of Fibers and Fabrics. By Romyn Hitchcock. 



Instructions for Preparing Microscopical Mounts of Vegetable Textile Fibers. By 

 Romyn Hitchcock. 



Instructions for Collecting Skins of Mammals, for Study or Mounting. By William 

 T. Hornaday. 



The report for 1887 was issued in December, 1889, and contains 

 xviii+771 pages. The special papers based upon collections in the 

 Museum and published in the report are : 



Cradles of the American Aborigines. By Otis T. Mason. 



Notes on the Artificial Deformation of Children among Savage and Civilized Peo- 

 ples. (With a biography.) By Dr. J. H. Porter. 



The Human Beast of Burden. By Otis T. Mason. 



Ethno-Conchology : A Study of Primitive Money. By Robart E. C. Stearns. 



A Preliminary Catalogue of the Eskimo Collection in the U. S. National Museum, 

 arranged geographically and by uses. By Lieut. T. Dix Bolles, U. S. Navy. 



The Extermination of the American Bison. With a Sketch of its Discovery and Life 

 History. By William T. Hornaday. 



The Preservation of Museum Specimens from Insects and the effects of Dampness. 

 By Walter Hough. 



