National Museum publications.--The Museum issued during the year 1 volume of the proceedings, 73 papers forming parts of this and other volumes, and 6 bulletins.

Bureau of Ethnology publications.-The Bureau of American Ethnology published 1 annual report, 2 bulletins, and a list of publications of the bureau.

Reports of historical and patriotic societies. In accordance with a provision in the charters of the American Historical Association and the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the annual reports of those organizations were submitted to your secretary, and communicated by him to Congress.

Allotments for printing.—The allotments for the printing of the Smithsonian report and the various publications of the branches. of the Institution were practically used up, a small balance remaining in one or two cases owing to the impossibility of getting certain publications off the press before the close of the year.

$10,000

The allotments for the year ending June 30, 1918, are as follows: For the Smithsonian Institution: For printing and binding the annual reports of the Board of Regents, with general appendices, the editions of which shall not exceed 10,000 copies.. For the annual reports of the National Museum, with general appendices, and for printing labels and blanks, and for the bulletins and proceedings of the National Museum, the editions of which shall not exceed 4,000 copies, and binding, in half morocco or material not more expensive, scientific books, and pamphlets presented to or acquired by the National Museum library---

For the annual reports and bulletins of the Bureau of American Ethnology and for miscellaneous printing and binding for the bureau___ For miscellaneous printing and binding:

International Exchanges

International Catalogue of Scientific Literature.

National Zoological Park__

Astrophysical Observatory_

For the annual report of the American Historical Association_

Total

37.500

21,000

200.

100

200

200

7.000

76, 200

Committee on printing and publication.-The Smithsonian advisory committee on printing and publication considers all manuscripts offered for publication by the Institution or its branches. During the past year 16 meetings were held, at which 101 manuscripts were considered and acted upon. The membership of the committee was as follows: Dr. Leonhard Stejneger, head curator of biology, National Museum, chairman; Dr. C. G. Abbot, director of the Astrophysical Observatory; Mr. Ned Hollister, superintendent of the National Zoological Park; Mr. A. Howard Clark, editor of the Institution, secretary of the committee; Mr. F. W. Hodge, ethnologist in charge of the Bureau of American Ethnology; and Dr. George P. Merrill, head curator of geology, National Museum.

LIBRARY.

The main purpose of the library of the Smithsonian Institution has been to assemble a collection of periodicals and publications of a scientific nature as well as the journals and other publications of the scientific institutions and learned societies of the world, the whole to be a library of reference for research in the broadest sense. In carrying out this policy an accumulation of over half a million titles has been made, the main part of which is housed in the Library of Congress with the designation of the Smithsonian Deposit of the Library of Congress. In addition to this main part of the Smithsonian library there are maintained a number of smaller libraries at the various branches of the Institution, the National Museum library, the Bureau of American Ethnology library, the Astrophysical Observatory library, and the National Zoological Park library. In the various offices of the Institution and the Museum sectional libraries of technical works in all branches of science are maintained for the use of the scientific staff. There are 35 of these sectional technical libraries.

The accessions to the libraries of the Institution and its branches during the year aggregated more than 9,000 volumes, parts of volumes, and pamphlets. Among important gifts during the year was a first consignment of 561 volumes and 293 pamphlets, part of the botanical library of Dr. John Donnell Smith, of Baltimore; the whole of which, amounting to 1,500 volumes, he has offered to the Institution.

In the Museum library, 1,572 volumes and 3,556 pamphlets were accessioned during the year, among them the scientific library of Dr. Edgar A. Mearns, associate in zoology, who died last fall. This collection is rich in works on mammals, birds, and plants. Through the continued generosity of Dr. William H. Dall, honorary curator of mollusks, the sectional library of the division of mollusks has been enriched by the addition of 307 titles during the year.

RECEPTION IN HONOR OF FRENCH SCIENTISTS.

On the evening of June 14, under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences, a reception was held in the Smithsonian building for the members of the French Scientific Mission to the United States. Prof. Charles Fabry told of what France is doing in the war; Commander Bridge spoke of Great Britain's work in submarine warfare; and Sir Ernest Rutherford sketched the situation as England sees it. President Walcott, of the National Academy of Sciences, and Mrs. Walcott were assisted by Lieut. Maurice Paternot, Prof. Charles Fabry, and Prof. Henri Abraham in receiving the guests.

NATIONAL MUSEUM.

One of the most important features to be recorded in the operations of the National Museum during the year was the actual beginning of the building for the Charles L. Freer Art Collections. Excavation was started on October 2, 1916, and by June 30, 1917. the foundations and concrete walls inclosing the subbasement had been completed. The structure, covering 228 by 185 feet, will be of Milford granite and in exterior and interior design best adapted to its purpose. Assistant Secretary Rathbun in the appendix to the present report gives some interesting details regarding this addition to the Smithsonian group of buildings. The construction of this art building is made possible through the most generous gift of $1,000,000 by Mr. Freer for the housing and study of the magnificent collection he has presented to the Nation. His gift of the building and collection is the most valued donation which any individual has ever made to the Government.

The accessions to the National Museum collections during the year aggregated about 200,000 specimens pertaining to anthropology. zoology, botany, geology and mineralogy, paleontology, textiles and woods, mineral technology, and objects of art. In his report Assistant Secretary Rathbun enumerates the sources and importance of these accessions, so that it is not necessary here to do more than to mention some of the principal items. Interesting collections of anthropological objects were received from the island of Celebes, gathered at the expense of Dr. W. L. Abbott, who for many years has most generously contributed toward the growth of the Museum in ethnological and biological material from various parts of the world. Dr. Abbott personally visited the West Indies during the year and met with gratifying success in adding to our knowledge of the early history of man and of the fauna of that region. A large collection of stone implements belonging to the ancient town builders of Mexico was received through Capts. Wright and Cooper of Gen. Pershing's expedition, and extensive archeological collections from the Southwestern States were gathered by Dr. Fewkes and others connected with the Bureau of American Ethnology. Hundreds of objects of great value in the study of physical anthropology came to the museum as the result of explorations by Dr. Hrdlička and others in Peru.

To the division of American history memorials were added pertaining to eminent military and naval men and other prominent Americans and objects commemorative of historic events, besides costumes, furniture, and other articles illustrative of colonial and later periods.

Although the Museum is without funds for carrying on extended biological explorations, yet through the generosity of friends it has been greatly enriched by the results of field work in various parts of the world, particularly the work of Dr. W. L. Abbott so often mentioned heretofore. A large and fine collection of reptiles and batrachians came as a bequest by the late Julius Hurter, sr., of St. Louis.

To the botanical collections were added about 25,000 specimens and the remnant of the botanical library saved from the flood which so nearly destroyed the Vanderbilt Herbarium at Biltmore, N. C., in July, 1916. These objects were presented by Mrs. Vanderbilt. Prof. O. F. Cook gave to the Museum about 15,000 specimens of cryptogams gathered in the United States and Liberia.

In geological material, likewise, and in the department of textiles, mineral technology, and other divisions of the Museum, there were important additions described by the assistant secretary.

The attendance of visitors to the Natural History building aggregated about 400,000 and the Arts and Industries building about 250,000.

In calling attention to the present needs of the Museum, I may mention the fact that on account of the great growth of the collections during the last few years there is already presented a lack of exhibition and storage facilities in some of the departments, particularly in connection with the applied arts, the fine arts, and American history. It is exceedingly gratifying that the accessions should increase in such great proportions from year to year, but it is likewise important that there be a corresponding increase in the number of the scientific staff and other employees necessary for the proper care and study of this mass of material made up in great measure through gifts by the people of the Nation.

BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY.

The Bureau of American Ethnology, which conducts ethnological researches among the American Indians and the natives of Hawaii, is under the direction of Mr. F. W. Hodge, whose report is given in Appendix 2.

Among the important researches of the year was the excavation and study of Hawikuh, a large reservation on the Zuñi Reservation in western New Mexico. This work was carried on by Mr. Hodge in cooperation with the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation, of New York City. The purpose of the excavation of Hawikuh was to study a Zuñi pueblo, known to have been inhabited from prehistoric times well into the historic period, to determine as far as possible the character and arts of the Zuni people

NATIONAL MUSEUM.

One of the most important features to be recorded in the operations of the National Museum during the year was the actual beginning of the building for the Charles L. Freer Art Collections. Excavation was started on October 2, 1916, and by June 30, 1917. the foundations and concrete walls inclosing the subbasement had been completed. The structure, covering 228 by 185 feet, will be of Milford granite and in exterior and interior design best adapted to its purpose. Assistant Secretary Rathbun in the appendix to the present report gives some interesting details regarding this addition to the Smithsonian group of buildings. The construction of this art building is made possible through the most generous gift of $1,000,000 by Mr. Freer for the housing and study of the magnificent collection he has presented to the Nation. His gift of the building and collection is the most valued donation which any individual has ever made to the Government.

The accessions to the National Museum collections during the year aggregated about 200,000 specimens pertaining to anthropology. zoology, botany, geology and mineralogy, paleontology, textiles and woods, mineral technology, and objects of art. In his report Assistant Secretary Rathbun enumerates the sources and importance of these accessions, so that it is not necessary here to do more than to mention some of the principal items. Interesting collections of anthropological objects were received from the island of Celebes, gathered at the expense of Dr. W. L. Abbott, who for many years has most generously contributed toward the growth of the Museum in ethnological and biological material from various parts of the world. Dr. Abbott personally visited the West Indies during the year and met with gratifying success in adding to our knowledge of the early history of man and of the fauna of that region. A large collection of stone implements belonging to the ancient town builders of Mexico was received through Capts. Wright and Cooper of Gen. Pershing's expedition, and extensive archeological collections from the Southwestern States were gathered by Dr. Fewkes and others connected with the Bureau of American Ethnology. Hundreds of objects of great value in the study of physical anthropology came to the museum as the result of explorations by Dr. Hrdlička and others in Peru.

To the division of American history memorials were added pertaining to eminent military and naval men and other prominent Americans and objects commemorative of historic events, besides costumes, furniture, and other articles illustrative of colonial and later periods.