246 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



countenances the idea of relationship, yet Professor Huxley 

 has shown that these are singularly human. Among the 

 marked resemblances, the length of the leg as compared with 

 the trunk, and the form and proportion of the bony thorax, 

 are especially noteworthy. 



Furthermore, one species of gibbon (the siamang) is the 

 only ape that possesses a true chin, together with a slight 

 prominence of the nose. The power,- quality, and compass 

 of voice in the gibbons are dwelt upon by Mr.Darwin as re- 

 markably related to man, and also the gentle, yet quick and 

 active nature. While making these suggestions, however, 

 Mr. Mivart takes especial occasion to renew the expression 

 of his antagonism to Mr. Darwin's theory of natural selection, 

 taking into consideration the totality of man's being, and re- 

 marks that, so considered, science convinces him that a mon- 

 key and a mushroom differ less from each other than do a 

 monkey and a man. 12 A, April 20, 481. 



GAY-HEAD IXDIAXS. 



A report has recently been made to the Legislature of 

 Massachusetts by Mr. Richard L. Pease, of Edgartown, upon 

 the numbers and present condition of the Indians now occu- 

 pying the southwestern point of Martha's Vineyard, known 

 as the district of Gay Head, prepared with special reference 

 to the change in the policy of the state concerning these In- 

 dians, as well as several other remnants of the descendants 

 of the aboriginal inhabitants. This change consisted in the 

 abolition of the original condition of wardship, or their con- 

 version into citizens having equal privileges with other mem- 

 bers of the commonwealth. This was determined upon not 

 merely on account of the former political anomaly, but be- 

 cause these people are not really Indians in any sense of the 

 word, since, by repeated intermarriages with whites, negroes, 

 Sandwich Islanders, etc., they have been transformed into a 

 mixed race, totally different from the aboriginal inhabitants. 



The whole number of the so-called Indians at Gay Head, 

 according to the report, is 237, most of the men being sea- 

 men, farmers, and laborers, and a few engaged in mechanical 

 pursuits. 



They are an industrious, hard-working community, living 

 in comfortable houses, and as anxious to make money as their 





