14 Report of the President. 



Dr. Edmund O. Hovey, Assistant Curator in the Geological De- 

 partment, while in attendance at the Seventh Triennial Session of 

 the International Geological Congress convened at St. Petersburg. 

 Dr. Hovey also made a short stay at the Marine Zoological 

 Laboratory, Bay of Naples, where he secured a very interesting 

 series of specimens. His leave of absence covered a period of 

 several months, a portion of the cost of the journey and his 

 salary being defrayed by the Trustees. 



Expeditions. — Field exploration is an influential factor in the 

 growth of the Museum, and its importance increases with each 

 succeeding year. The brief mention here following gives but an 

 inadequate idea of the great increase in the collections due to 

 this source. 



After remaining nearly four years in Mexico, Dr. Carl Lumholtz 

 returned in April last, and has since been engaged in preparing 

 his notes, and the labels for the material gathered by him. This 

 large and costly collection, secured among the tribes of Mexico, 

 adds greatly to our knowledge of their history. From the Hui- 

 chols a full series of objects was obtained relating to tribal cere- 

 monies. The specimens have been catalogued, and will soon be 

 arranged in the west wing. 



Dr. Adolf F. Bandelier has continued his researches in 

 Bolivia and Peru, mainly in the vicinity of Lake Titicaca. 

 The collections received during the year were numerous and 

 valuable, and contained a number of trephined skulls, to which 

 attention was called many years ago by the late E. G. Squier. 

 The Museum now owns a large number of these skulls, and 

 very interesting results will accrue from their study, particu- 

 larly since one gives evidence of the remarkable surgical oper- 

 ation of bone-grafting. The Peruvian collection has not yet 

 been exhibited in its entirety, but will soon be placed in the 

 west wing. 



The services of Mr. Ernest Volk were continued for the entire 

 year, exploring at several points near Trenton, N. J. As before 

 mentioned, the Duke of Loubat defrayed the cost of this work, 

 which has been carried on under the direction of Prof. F. W. 

 Putnam for the purpose of careful investigation of the question 



