THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION AT TORONTO. 43 



a somewhat impressive manner — the first two papers read were by 

 an American — and a lady — Miss Alice C. Fletcher, whose enthusi- 

 astic labors in the field of Indian folklore and traditions are familiar 

 to all American scientists. Her interesting account of the signifi- 

 cance of the " scalp-lock " among the Omahas, and of the mystical 

 rites connected with it, giving an insight, as it did, into much that 

 is obscure and unintelligible in the thought and the culture of these 

 peoples, was received with great appreciation. Sir William Turner 

 expressed not only his interest in the paper itself, but his admiration 

 of the manner in which it had been given, and held up Miss Fletch- 

 er's delivery as a model to those who should further address the 

 section. Another of the British members, who followed in the dis- 

 cussion, said that one of the objects of interest that had led him to 

 cross the ocean to this meeting was the hope of seeing and hearing 

 Miss Fletcher. Prominent in this section were also Prof. F. W. 

 Putnam, so long the efficient secretary and now chosen as the 

 president of the American Association, and Prof. W J McGee, 

 of the Bureau of Ethnology, Prof. Edward S. Morse, and Lieutenant 

 Cushing, of Zuni fame. Professor Putnam explained quite fully 

 the great Jesup expedition, now partly in the field, for the ethno- 

 logical study of the shores of the North Pacific, with the object of 

 obtaining light on the origin of the North American races. This 

 led to an exceedingly animated discussion on the question of Asiatic 

 or other migrations, in which Professor Morse, at the request of the 

 chairman, took a leading part. He presented very forcibly, from his 

 long and familiar acquaintance with Japan and the east coast of 

 Asia, the notable absence among the American coast peoples of 

 many, or nearly all, of the habits and utensils that are most widely 

 and commonly diffused on the Asiatic side. On the other hand, 

 he was inclined to trace some curious art resemblances from the 

 Mediterranean, by the Canary Islands, to South and Central Amer- 

 ica. Sir William Turner then called on Lieutenant Cushing, who 

 dwelt upon the spontaneous origin of peculiar forms of utensils and 

 decorations, and the need of caution in drawing conclusions from 

 resemblances. Another most active and interesting discussion was 

 that held on the last day, before a joint meeting of the depart- 

 ments of Anthropology and Geology, which was again opened by 

 Professor Putnam, on the subject of the evidence of Glacial or Pre- 

 glacial man in America. His remarks were principally an account 

 of the argillite implements from the Trenton gravels, first discov- 

 ered by Dr. C. C. Abbott, and now being systematically worked 

 for by Professor Putnam's assistants. He was followed by Pro- 

 fessor Claypole, of Ohio, describing a finely chipped flint imple- 

 ment obtained in a deep well, firmly imbedded in glacial drift. The 



