PUBLICATION.
The only publication actually issued during the year was entitled Proof-Sheets of a Bibliography of the Languages of the North American Indians, by James Constantine Pilling. The volume, a quarto of 1,175 pages, consists of an author catalogue of books, manuscripts, magazine and newspaper articles, publications of learned societies, and other documents relating in any way to the Indian languages of North America. Only one hundred copies were printed, which were distributed to collaborators.
This work was commenced by Mr. Pilling in 1879 and has been prosecuted with diligence and skill, notwithstanding the engrossing nature of his other duties. It began as an author card catalogue, designed merely for office use. In time it became apparent that such a systematic catalogue of the literature of Indian languages, if printed and distributed, would be of important service to all the numerous workers on the general subject, besides those directly connected with the Bureau, to whom alone it was accessible in manuscript form. By this course the accumulated results of several years' labor would be immediately available for the use of students generally, and the distribution of proof-sheets would in turn increase interest in the work, elicit comment and criticism, and secure additional contributions, through all of which the final volume contemplated would become more satisfactory andcomplete, both in form and substance. The thorough conscientiousness and punctilious care shown in the present catalogue, and especially the comprehensive bibliographic spirit in which the work has been conceived, prove the peculiar fitness of the author for the undertaking. He has set before him and has kept steadily in view the following aims:
First, to discover every document in existence relating to the subject, either printed or in manuscript.
Secondly, to record a description of every document found, so accurate and full that each book or article mentioned is clearly identified and all its contents relating to Indian languages set forth, with citation of the chapters and pages within the work where the linguistic material may be found.
Thirdly, to name, when possible, one or more libraries where each work catalogued may be found.
Fourthly, to arrange and combine the whole so that the student using it may in the shortest time learn whether any work contains the special matter which he desires to consult, and, if so, precisely where he may find it. In the case of rare books or papers special attention has been paid to obtain full information, and in the case of some of the rarest books fac-similes of the title pages are given. The value of a work so broadly conceived and so carefully executed is very great. The literature of this subject has become so voluminous, so disconnected, so scattered in time and place, that progress in the classification of Indian languages and the determination of their affinities has been greatly retarded, awaiting the orderly arrangement of accumulated information. This requisite, with the important addition of the correction of current errors, is met by the catalogue. It has been found indispensable to the Bureau and has already been gratefully acknowledged as invaluable by all students of American tribes to whom copies have been distributed.
Since the printing and distribution of the proof-sheets, and markedly as a result thereof, the card catalogue has continued to grow; and, although not complete and, from the nature of the subject, not expected to become absolutely exhaustive, the recent additions to it indicate how thoroughly the work wasoriginally done. It may be possible, therefore, before long to substitute for the Proof-Sheets the Bibliography itself in standard form.