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

in early times, as well as the effect of Spanish contact during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The results of this important study, which were highly successful, will be published in the near future.

In the Mesa Verde National Park Dr. J. Walter Fewkes excavated and repaired a large rectangular ruin, 100 by 113 feet, to which he gave the name of Far View House, by reason of its commanding situation on the mesa. The most important result of the study of this structure is the revelation of a new type of Mesa Verde building, the form and character of which throws light on the close relation of pueblos and cliff dwellings. Dr. Fewkes believes that this structure is the only example of a pure type of pueblo ever completely excavated, the term "pure type" meaning a terraced community building constructed of shaped stones and having circular kivas, or ceremonial rooms, united with surrounding rectangular rooms. This type of pueblo may be considered a stage in architectural development between the older type of structure and the mixed or modern form which shows a retrogression in the art of masonry.

Mr. J. N. B. Hewitt, while conducting studies in Canada relative to the Iroquois League, was selected as an official delegate from the council of the Six Nations to attend a condolence and installation ceremony at Muncietown, in which he took a leading part, requiring the intoning of an address of comforting in the Onondaga language and also in acting the part of the Seneca chiefs in such a council.

Among the special researches carried on during the year may be mentioned the completion of the manuscript on the ethnology of the Kwakiutl Indians by Dr. Franz Boas, honorary philologist. Work is nearly completed on the results of the field work on the Salishan language, carried on through the generosity of Mr. Homer E. Sargent, of Chicago, by Mr. James Teit. The study of Indian music has been continued by Miss Frances Densmore, sufficient data now being on hand to complete a work on the music of the Ute Indians, among whom Miss Densmore has now spent two field seasons.

The bureau has published during the year one annual report, two bulletins, and a list of publications of the bureau. In press or in preparation at the close of the year were four reports and eight bulletins. The library of the bureau accessioned 435 new books and 388 pamphlets.

INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES.

The International Exchange Service, for the exchange of governmental and scientific publications with other countries, though very much hampered in its operations by war conditions, has nevertheless handled during the year a total of 268,625 packages, weighing 290.193

pounds. On account of the very high ocean freight rates Congress allowed a small additional appropriation to meet the expense of foreign shipments.

Suspension of shipments is still found to be necessary in the case of about 10 countries. It is gratifying to note that since the beginning of the war only three shipments sent out by the Institution have been lost through hostile action, two of these being on vessels sunk by hostile warships. Wherever possible duplicate copies of the publications in lost consignments are procured and another shipment made. It has been the custom of the Government of India to refer requests from establishments in this country for Indian official documents to the Exchange Service for indorsement, and this year a request for similar services by the director of the Government press at Cairo, Egypt, has been granted.

NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK.

The National Zoological Park is each year becoming more and more recognized as a means of natural history education and as a place of recreation and amusement for the public, and the collection of animals is now one of the most varied and interesting of its kind in the country.

In October, 1916, Dr. Frank Baker, superintendent of the park for 26 years, resigned to take effect November 1, and was succeeded by Mr. Ned Hollister, assistant curator of the division of mammals in the National Museum.

The total number of animals in the park at the close of the fiscal year was 1,223, including 484 mammals, 683 birds, and 56 reptiles. Among important additions may be mentioned five adult Rocky Mountain sheep received from the Canadian Government; four Bedford deer, or Manchurian stags, from the Duke of Bedford; and some desirable Australian marsupials presented by Mr. Victor J. Evans, of Washington, D. C.

Visitors to the park during the year numbered 1,106,800, a daily average of 3.032. One hundred and fifty-three schools and classes examined the collection for educational purposes.

Among recent improvements the superintendent notes that the hospital and laboratory on which work has been in progress for the past two years, now lacks only the laboratory equipment for the use of pathologists, and the outside yards for the animals to be confined in the hospital limits. The lake for North American water fowl has been enlarged and reconstructed to show as many as possible of these birds in their natural surroundings. At present no less than 136 American water birds of 24 species are to be seen in the lake.

Every effort is being made to make the park a sanctuary for native wild birds. Over 100 nesting boxes have been put in place and during the cold weather food is provided, resulting in a notable increase in the bird population of the park.

As noted in last year's report, the appropriation made by Congress in 1913 for the acquisition of a frontage for the park on Connecticut Avenue, lapsed owing to delays caused by legal complications, and it is regretted that Congress has not made a new appropriation for this purpose. As the principal entrance to the park will probably be on Connecticut Avenue for all time, it is exceedingly important that the land in question be acquired before it is too late.

Among the imperative needs of the park, the superintendent mentions some provision for the parking of the increasing number of automobiles that visit the Zoo, outdoor dens for carnivorous animals, additional ponds for waterfowl, a bird house, and a reptile house. The most urgent need, however, is a substantial increase in the general appropriation. Owing to the steady advance in the cost of supplies and the increasing expense occasioned by the larger number of visitors, the point has now been reached where the entire appropriation, which has remained the same for the past seven years, does not cover actual maintenance expenses.

For some years past the National Zoological Park, in common with other similar institutions in the United States, has felt the effect of conditions that operated to hinder more and more the importation of wild animals from abroad and to reduce the supply.

At the suggestion of Dr. W. T. Hornaday, director of the New York Zoological Park, a conference was held at the Philadelphia Zoological Garden to consider the question of sending a joint expedition, on behalf of the New York, Philadelphia, and National Zoological Parks, to South Africa for animals. It was decided to send a man out to look the ground over, see what could be done in the way of arranging for a supply of animals for the future, and bring back anything desirable that could be secured at the time. Mr. J. Alden Loring, who had been successful in bringing animals from Europe for the New York Zoological Park, and had also had experience in Africa as a member of the Smithsonian expedition to East Africa, was selected to make the trip.

Mr. Loring sailed from New York July 22, 1916, taking with him hay and grain enough to feed as many antelopes and other herbivora as he was likely to obtain, for one of the conditions necessary to secure their entry into the United States was that no forage from Africa should be brought with the animals. He arrived at Port Elizabeth, South Africa, August 31, and, returning, sailed from Durban November 22.

The opportunities for securing animals to bring back were found to be in some respects less favorable than had been anticipated, but fortunately the zoological garden at Pretoria was fairly well stocked, and the director was kind enough to deplete the collection somewhat for the benefit of his distant colleagues. Most of the animals which Mr. Loring brought back were obtained there, an interesting collection of mammals and birds being secured. The mammals obtained include a gemsbuck, a blessbuck, a white-tailed gnu, a nilgai, four springbucks, a pair of duikers, a pair of meerkats, and a few monkeys and rodents. Among the birds are two secretary vultures, a bateleur eagle, a hornbill, francolins of several species, a few touracous and hawks, and a number of smaller birds. The collection has been divided between the three institutions concerned, according to their choice, and in proportion to the share of the expenses that was borne by each. Altogether there were secured 28`mammals, representing 13 species; 60 birds, of 25 species; and 55 snakes and tortoises, of 8 species.

While in South Africa, Mr. Loring visited and made notes on the zoological gardens at Cape Town, Durban, Bloemfontein, Johannesburg, and Pretoria.

ASTROPHYSICAL OBSERVATORY.

Measurements of solar radiation were continued as usual on Mount Wilson. As stated in connection with the Hodgkins fund, an allotment has been made to undertake similar work in South America. Much attention was devoted by Director Abbot to the preparation of the equipment of this expedition. Valuable new instruments were devised and constructed under his direction. Owing to war conditions the expedition was located temporarily at Hump Mountain, N. C., in May, 1917, and shelters prepared and apparatus set up and adjusted under the care of Messrs. Abbot and Aldrich. The research on the absorption of terrestrial radiation by vapors of the atmosphere, upon which Mr. Fowle has been engaged for several years, has been completed, and the results, which are of great importance to meteorology, have been made ready for publication by the Institution. A paper of uncommon interest, by H. Helm Clayton, based upon observations by the Astrophysical Observatory, has been published in the Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections. The author shows that the short-interval solar variations, discovered in Mount Wilson work, affect terrestrial temperatures and pressures the world over in a well-marked and predictable manner. It is greatly to be hoped that daily solar-radiation observations at all times of the year may be obtained for use in such meteorological researches. It was for this purpose that the South