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Congress of Psychology.-Dr. William James, professor of philosophy at Harvard University, was designated to represent the Smithsonian Institution at the Fifth International Congress of Psychology at Rome, April 26-30, 1905.

Botanical Congress.-Mr. F. V. Coville, curator of the Division of Plants in the National Museum, represented the Smithsonian Institution and the Museum at the Second International Botanical Congress at Vienna, June 11-18, 1905.

Ornithological Congress.-Dr. Leonhard Stejneger, curator of the Division of Reptiles and Batrachians in the National Museum, represented the Smithsonian Institution and the Museum at the Fourth International Ornithological Congress at London, June 12-17, 1905. International Convention of the International Catalogue of Scientific Literature.-Dr. Leonhard Stejneger represented the Institution at the meeting of this body held in London, July 25-30, 1905.

NATIONAL MUSEUM.

A great museum, in the modern usage of the word, has been defined as "an institution for the preservation of those objects which best illustrate the phenomena of nature and the works of man, and the utilization of these for the increase of knowledge and for the culture and enlightenment of the people." This thought is that of one very especially conversant with the subject, and implies both a collection for the student and an exhibition for the visitor. It is this second part of the museum's work, the exhibition collection, which was probably in the minds of those who originally described the future Smithsonian museum as containing "objects of art and of foreign and curious research," although even at that early date they added "and all objects of natural history, plants, and zoological and mineralogical specimens belonging to the United States." Under the impulse of Congressional legislation the Museum has obtained a signal advantage over the national museums of other countries, since by law all collections made by the surveys of the Government of the United States must be deposited here, thus providing for the systematic preservation of collections of great extent and vast importance.

From the foundation of the Institution to about 1857 its specimens were collected solely to serve as materials for research, and the exhibition collections belonging to the United States were maintained at the Patent Office. At the date mentioned Congress made an appropriation to the Smithsonian Institution for the building of cases to receive these collections, which were known as the "National Cabinet of Curiosities," and from that time on the Institution's

museum besides aiding students served to instruct and entertain the public. The great growth of the Museum dates from the close of the Centennial Exhibition in 1876, since which time collections have been actively gathered and exhibited because of their educational value. Neither purpose has been lost sight of because of the other, and the instruction of the public has been secured not only by dignified exhibition of interesting objects, but by adding to them series of instructive labels based upon the maxim that a good educational museum consists in a series of carefully prepared labels with well selected specimens attached. With these two great purposes in mind the Museum has now succeeded in bringing together catalogued objects amounting to over 6,000,000 in number, the exhibition series being so installed that the individual objects or groups would not stand as inert curiosities by themselves, but are arranged in such manner as to show their relation either to the orderly development of nature or to the varied manifestations of human thought and activity.

It can not but be realized that the Museum's main attainment from this point of view consists not only of the collections or of the building which houses them, but to an ever increasing degree in the possession of the experts who have the custody of these collections and the knowledge to classify them and to make them available for public instruction. I regret to say that the enormous growth of the collections in the Museum has not been accompanied by any proportionate increase in its administrative and scientific staff. The greatest efficiency can hardly make up for the numerical inability to cope with the increasing work, and it becomes each year more painfully apparent that the personnel of the establishment must be materially augmented if the present standards are to be maintained.

Despite this paucity of workers and the congested halls, the past year has been as successful as any in the history of the National Museum. During this time more additions to its collections have been recorded than in any previous year save the period immediately following the Centennial Exhibition of 1876. From the Louisiana Purchase Exposition alone over thirty carloads were received, including many valuable ethnological and technological exhibits. Besides this there were the usual accessions from the Government surveys and from donations and exchanges. Altogether, nearly 250,000 specimens have been entered during the year, while a mass of material is yet to be sorted out, these recent additions bringing the total number of specimens now preserved in the Museum collections well over 6,000,000.

That only a very small fraction of these specimens can ever be on public exhibition is evident, yet those stored away are by no means the least important. The scientific staff is constantly engaged in re

search in connection with the work of classification, and students from kindred institutions frequently visit Washington or have collections sent to them for investigation.

Duplicate material is used, when not actually needed for study, for the purpose of exchange with other museums, and to a limited extent, by authority given by Congress to the Regents of the Institution, for distribution among American schools. Fourteen thousand specimens were distributed during the past year to schools and colleges throughout the land for the general purpose of promoting education.

The present crowded condition of the building has rendered it difficult to place any more collections there, and such as come in from one source or another are in the main temporarily stored in rented buildings. While it has been found impossible to increase the amount of material on exhibition, the standard of the objects exhibited is being constantly improved, and the methods of installation represent the most modern practice in this regard.

In the division of ethnology a place has been made for a Malaysian collection contributed by Dr. W. L. Abbott and an interesting Philippine exhibit gathered by Dr. E. A. Mearns. Over the hall of mammals has been hung the cast of a great sulphur-bottom whale, about 80 feet in length. Another noteworthy addition during the past year is the reconstructed skeleton of a gigantic Triceratops, measuring almost 20 feet.

During the course of the year some 235,000 persons, an average of 753 visitors a day, have viewed these collections. This number would unquestionably be greatly increased should it become feasible to open the building at night or on Sundays.

Work on the new building, for the continuation of which Congress at its last session appropriated $1,500,000, is progressing satisfactorily. The excavation was completed and the heavy concrete foundation laid last autumn. The erection of the outer walls of granite is now well under way.

The completion of this structure will, it is hoped, mark the beginning of a new era in the activities of the National Museum. No longer cramped for space, it can suitably care for the splendid collections intrusted to its care; by exhibiting these, and by labels, publications, and lectures, it will still further endeavor to impart definite instruction along definite lines to all who care to learn. Then, as now, the first great lesson it will try to enforce is that a museum is in nowise a cabinet of curios to while away an idle moment, but an active instrument for the diffusion of knowledge among men.

SM 1905-6

THE BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY.

The energies of the Bureau during the past year have been devoted chiefly to preparing for publication the proposed Handbook of Indians, which will include not only descriptions of the tribes and their settlements, but also popular articles covering the whole range of ethnological and archæological research relating to them. No work of its kind so comprehensive in scope has ever been attempted, and the effort to combine popular treatment with scientific accuracy has involved an extra amount of time and labor. Almost all the prominent ethnologists of the country have written special articles for the Handbook, and all the staff of the Bureau and ethnologists resident in the city have aided in criticism and revision.

Though somewhat curtailed through the necessity of retaining several ethnologists for work on the Handbook, the field work of the Bureau has been continued in Maryland, Virginia, Oklahoma, Indian Territory, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, and Mexico. Dr. J. Walter Fewkes, under a grant from the Smithsonian Institution, made an extended archæological trip through Mexico; Dr. Ales Hrdlicka, of the National Museum, made a visit to Arizona in behalf of the Bureau; and Mr. E. L. Hewett was commissioned to visit New Mexico for the purpose of making researches among the ancient ruins of the so-called Pajarito Park district.

The systematic study of visiting Indian delegations has been continued with success. During the year 22 delegations consented to be photographed, and in some cases allowed themselves to be measured and even to have plaster casts of their faces taken.

The work of compiling an archæological map of the United States, which had received some attention in previous years, was carried forward with all possible dispatch during the past year.

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The International Exchange Service of the Smithsonian Institution has for more than fifty years been the medium of exchange of documents and scientific publications between the Government and learned institutions of the United States and those of foreign countries. Through its operations the Library of Congress has secured a large collection of public documents, and an unequaled collection of scientific serials has been acquired by the Institution for its deposit in the Library of Congress. Each year the service grows in size and importance. The weight of packages handled by it in 1899 was 317.883 pounds; in 1905 it was 474,871 pounds, an increase of 40 per cent in six years.

The number of exchange correspondents now aggregates 51,880, or nearly 4,000 more than the number ten years ago. These are scattered throughout every corner of the civilized world, and new centers of scientific activity are opening up every year. It is largely through the system of International Exchanges that the Institution realizes the catholicity of its founder's bequest, which contemplated the diffusion of knowledge among all men. Moreover, this constant exchange of courtesies among the learned institutions of the world. has not only served to enrich the universities, libraries, museums, and learned societies of our country and those with whom we exchange, but has at the same time done much to promote friendly relations. among the nations themselves.

NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK.

The annual appropriation made for the service of the National Zoological Park was in the following terms:

For continuing the construction of roads, walks, bridges, water supply, sewerage, and drainage; and for grading, planting, and otherwise improving the grounds; erecting and repairing buildings and inclosures and providing seats in the park; care, subsistence, purchase, and transportation of animals, including salaries or compensation of all necessary employees; the purchase of necessary books and periodicals; the printing and publishing of operations, not exceeding one thousand five hundred copies, and general incidental expenses not otherwise provided for, ninety-five thousand dollars.

The collection of animals exhibited has increased, and comprised at the end of the year over 1,300 individuals of all species. A considerable number of these were born at the park, and 128 birds were received from the exhibit made at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. The new house for mammals, mentioned in last year's report, is now approaching completion and will constitute one of the most attractive features of the park. As this structure is necessarily built from the general appropriation for the park, its progress is limited by the amount of funds available for use. As the care of the animals, the maintenance of the collection, the improvement and care of the grounds, including the roads and walks, the repair of all structures, fences, and inclosures must also be defrayed from this appropriation, it is obvious that considerable economy must be exercised in order to have any funds for the erection of buildings.

The park exists, in the words of the act of Congress, "for the advancement of science and the instruction and recreation of the people." The first and primary object is never to be lost sight of, but in pursuance of the second much is done to facilitate the visits of those who seek the pleasant influences of rural scenery and open air. For this reason it is thought that attempts should be made to enhance the

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