POPULAR MISCELLANY. 



859 



983 ; North America, 978 ; Brazil, 938 ; 

 Egypt, 1,025; Japan, 971'; Siberia, 934. 



Dimensions of the Esquimau Skull. 



Though the Esquimaux are generally below 

 the middle stature of man, their heads are 

 as large as those of more favored races. 

 According to Professor Flower, the average 

 capacity of an Esquimau skull (male) is 

 l - 546 cubic centimetres (94*3 cubic inches), 

 almost exactly the same as the average Eng- 

 lish skull of the lowest class, while it ex- 

 ceeds by seventy-one cubic centimetres the 

 average of seventy -four modern Italian 

 skulls. This large size of the brain seems 

 not necessary to be connected with intellec- 

 tual development. Another distinctive char- 

 acteristic of the Esquimau skull, as pointed 

 out by Professor Flower, is its great length 

 and narrawness, especially in the upper 

 part. The base is fairly broad, and the 

 mastoid processes well developed ; but, in- 

 stead of expanding upward to the parietal 

 region, it narrows, and, toward the median 

 line above, contracts so rapidly that the up- 

 per part of the skull has the form of the 

 roof of a house. The affinities of the Esqui- 

 mau race are declared to be more with the 

 inhabitants of northeastern Asia than with 

 the American Indians ; and probably they 

 are derived from the same stock as the Jap- 

 anese. 



The Climate, of Mogador. From the 

 journal of a tour in Marocco by Dr. Hooker 

 and others, recently published, we learn 

 that the climate of Mogador is one of the 

 most equable known in the temperate zone. 

 This fact is shown by careful observations, 

 made by M. Baumier, covering a period of 

 eight years. The lowest temperature ob- 

 served was 50-7, the highest 87-8. The 

 mean temperature for the hottest year was 

 68 - 65, the mean for the coldest year was 

 65 - 75. If we compare the mean tempera- 

 ture of summer with that of winter, we find 

 a difference of 10 only, the mean for sum- 

 mer being about 71, the mean for winter 

 being 10 less, or about 61. 



It is stated that phthisis is almost com- 

 pletely unknown among the people of this 

 part of Africa. A resident physician, Dr. 

 Thevenin, had found five cases only in ten 

 years, and of these the disease was in three 



cases contracted elsewhere. Europeans suf- 

 fering from lung-diseases find speedy relief 

 on removing here. 



In Algeria, which has some fame as a 

 health resort, the range of the thermometer 

 is much greater, and the climate is less suited 

 to delicate constitutions. The same is true 

 of the climate of Egypt, and of Madeira 

 (Funchal). 



The total rainy days in a year at Moga- 

 dor is forty-five. If a fog occurs, it is 

 rapidly dissipated as the morning advances, 

 and the desert-wind, so distressing over 

 many parts of northern Africa and southern 

 Europe, is scarcely felt, the period of its 

 prevalence being only about two days in a 

 year. 



The northeast trade-wind, which prevails 

 two hundred and seventy-one days in each 

 year, and the proximity of the great Atlas 

 chain of mountains, greatly modify the cli- 

 matic conditions. There seems no reason 

 to doubt that invalids will find Mogador a 

 most favorable place of resort. . At present, 

 however, the social conditions in which a 

 stranger finds himself in this Moorish city 

 are a serious drawback. There is want of 

 society, of occupation, and amusement. But 

 Dr. Hooker well observes, " Ope interested 

 in any branch of natural history may find 

 constant occupation in a climate where not 

 half a dozen days in a year but may be 

 passed agreeably out of doors." 



Remarkable Luminous Phenomenon. 



Commander Pringle, of the British naval 

 ship Vulture, makes report of a singular 

 phenomenon observed at sea, at about 9 - 40 

 p. m., on May 15th, in latitude 26 26' north, 

 and longitude 53 11' east. It was a clear, 

 unclouded, starlight night, Arcturus being 

 within some 7 of the zenith, and Venus 

 about to set. The wind was northwest, sea 

 smooth, ship on starboard tack, heading 

 west-southwest, and going three knots. 

 Commander Pringle writes, " I noticed lumi- 

 nous waves or pulsations in the water, mov- 

 ing at great speed, and passing under the 

 ship from the south -southwest. On look- 

 ing toward the east, the appearance was 

 that of a revolving wheel with center on that 

 bearing, and whose spokes were illuminated, 

 and looking toward the west a similar wheel 

 appeared to be revolving, but in the oppo- 



