Report of the President. 1 9 



Museum, secured data bearing upon Mexican archaeology, and 

 re-examined the Ruins of Monte Alban. 



The collections in the Loubat Hall have been arranged so 

 as to show the geographical sequence of the several special 

 culture areas of the ancient people of Mexico and Central 

 America and the progress made by the various prehistoric 

 nations. This has necessitated the provision of several new 

 cases and the printing of a large number of descriptive labels. 

 A guide to the hall is in process of preparation. 



The general exhibits of the archaeology of the United States 

 have been enlarged through the material collected in the valley 

 of the Columbia by Mr. Harlan I. Smith, and by minor addi- 

 tions, as will be noted by referring to the list of accessions. 

 The preparation of a series of relief maps, illustrating the work 

 of the ancient Mound Builders, has received considerable 

 attention, and an exhibit, illustrative of the customs of the 

 Atlantic Coast Indians, has been installed. 



The return of Mr. A. F. Bandelier, after an absence of 

 eleven years in Peru and Bolivia, has awakened interest in the 

 Museum's large collection of archaeological specimens from 

 South America. Mr. Bandelier, assisted by Mrs. Bandelier, 

 has undertaken the re-examination and rearrangement of all 

 the material exhibited in the Peruvian gallery, and has added 

 to the Museum's records scientific data, historical matter and 

 incidental information, which greatly enhance their value. ^ 



Mr. C. W. Mead has selected a series from the South Amer- 

 ican collections to illustrate the use of musical instruments by 

 the Incas, and has written a very creditable guide 'leaflet on 

 this subject. 



In May, Dr. Ales Hrdlicka, who, through the liberality of 

 the Messrs. Hyde, has for several years been attached to the 

 Museum, received an appointment at the National Museum, 

 Washington. While his departure from New York leaves a 

 distinct vacancy in our scientific ranks, which may retard the 

 development of the Museum's contemplated work in Physical 

 Anthropology for a while, we are glad that the toil of one of 

 our scientific men has received such prompt acknowledgment, 

 and we wish him every success in his new undertaking. 



