684 The American Naturalist. [August, 
of value to the sciences or as an aid in solving the great prob- 
lem of prehistoric man, but regard them as so many trinkets 
to gratify their own pride or excite the envy of their less for- _ 
tunate neighbors. 
I have considered as part of my duty the endeavor to 
awaken and elevate the public mind to the importance of the 
science of prehistoric anthropology, to so far as possible pre- 
vent the search for Indian relics as a matter of commeree, and 
cause collectors to regard these objects in their true light as 
aids to science, not as gewgaws and trinkets. 
In the performance of this duty I have, during the past 
year, delivered ten public lectures, distributed from my office 
a thousand or more copies of Circular 47, descriptive of the 
prehistoric exhibit at the Cincinnati Exposition that has a — i 
bearing in this direction, and my Handbook of Prehistoric 
Anthropology, No. 743, which, it is to be hoped, will not be 
without effect. 
There has also been prepared a circular (No. 49) relating to 
prehistoric anthropology and containing information for the 
guidance of explorers and collectors. 
Despite the fact that the discovery of prehistoric man in 
Europe was made so many years, possibly so many hundreds of | 
years, after his discovery in America, yet I am compelled by the 
facts to declare that Europeans, because of their interest in the 
new science, have established prehistorie anthropology on a 
much broader basis and a firmer foundation, and have given to 
it more thorough and scientific treatment than has been done 
in the United States. -If I make a comparison in this regard 
between the two countries as to the detriment of our own itwill 
only be that we may benefit thereby, may take warning _ 
and so redouble and direct our efforts, using the opportunity 
and material which we have in such improved methods and = 4 
increased endeavors that in future years the difference will not 
be to our disadvantage. If the following statements will 
_ direct the attention and increase the energy of our scientists _ 
to proper exertion in this regard I shall feel amply repaid for 
: my labor. ee 
