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From the Bureau of Ethnology a large number of specimens has come gathered from the Papago and Seri Indians of the South-west. These are especially valuable for the reasons stated above.

The Curator would beg the attention of the Director to the fact, that while certain great culture areas have been almost exhausted with reference to the aboriginal histories of America, there are other vast regions from which we have few specimens. I might draw especial attention to the scientific and careful study of the Cliff Dwellers. Permit me to emphasize the statement that there is no other place in the United States where we are so sure that we are in the presence of relics of culture untouched in any way by the Caucasian race.

Southward from the border of the United States to the architectural region of Mexico there is also a region to be searched. South America is almost "Terra Incognita" to this Museum.

Finally, in this connection permit me to urge that there is a scientific idea of a more refined character which has not been the ruling principle in most of our explorations hitherto. A large body of material in possession would be double in value if a systematic and careful observation could be made of the remaining industries of our continent. Whenever a specimen is collected carefully and the description of its manufacture accurately reported and it is found that we have already in the National Museum from one to a dozen old pieces exactly similar in form and from nearly the same locality, the proper securing of every poor specimen and one showing evidence of modern contact, brings into the field of accurate science many pre-