THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 195 



For a detailed account of the spcimens forming the Smithsonian col- 

 lection, I refer to Professor Baird's report, herewith submitted. 



American Antiquities. 



During the past year we have received information of the locality 

 of a number of mounds, and other remains of ancient art, in different 

 parts of the United States. A gentleman is now engaged in the exam- 

 ination of the mounds of Western Virginia, with the intention of pre- 

 senting the results of his labors for publication in the Smithsonian Con- 

 tributions. 



The survey of the mineral land in the vicinity of Lake Superior has 

 disclosed the site of an ancient copper mine, whence, in all proba- 

 bility, the copper of the ornaments, instruments, &c, found in the 

 mounds, was derived. The remains of the implements, and of the ore, 

 as left by the ancient miners, are exhibited in place, and afford an in- 

 teresting illustration of the state of arts among the mound-builders. 

 The geological surveyors have promised to make accurate measure- 

 ments and drawings of everything of interest connected with these 

 works, and to present them, with suitable descriptions, to the Institu- 

 tion for publication. 



Mr. E. G. Squier, during his sojourn in Central America, as charge 

 d'affaires of the United States, made some interesting explorations re- 

 lative to the antiquities of that country, and has sent to this Institution 

 five large stone idols and several! smaller objects, as the beginning of an 

 ethnological museum. For the cost of shipment and transportation of 

 the three larger idols, by way of Cape Horn, the Institution is indebted 

 to the liberality of B. Blanco, esq., of New York. 



For some remarks relative to the importance of forming an ethnolo- 

 gical museum, I beg to refer to a paper by Mr, Squier, given in the 

 Appendix to this Report. 



Ayiwatus and instruments of research. 



It is a part of the plan of the Institution to appropriate a small por- 

 tion of the funds to the purchase of sets of instruments for physical re- 

 search, to be used by the officers of the Institution, and, under certain 

 restrictions, by other persons. In accordance with this purpose, I was 

 requested, by the Board of Regents, to procure an astronomical clock, 

 with the electro-magnetic registering apparatus, to be lent to Lieutenant 

 Gillis during the continuance of his astronomical labors in Chili. The 

 clock has been imported from Germany, and is now in the hands of the 

 instrument-maker to receive the registering attachments. The whole 

 will be sent to Chili as soon as the apparatus is completed. I regret 

 that the difficulty of procuring the services of suitable workmen has 

 delayed so long the completion of these instruments. 



A communication from Lieutenant Gilliss informs us that the Chilian 

 government has resolved to establish a permanent national observatory 

 at Santiago, and that it will purchase the instruments above mentioned. 

 The institution will therefore again, as in the case, mentioned in a former 

 Report, of the purchase of a telescope for the same expedition, be the 

 means of promoting science without an expenditure of its income. 



