200 proceedings: anthropological society 



represented by 100-foot contour lines with sea level datum. The con- 

 tours based on mine surveys in these lower beds are sho\^ai as full lines; 

 those constructed from workings in overlying beds are shown by broken 

 lines, while in areas not j^et worked, dotted lines are used. The struc- 

 ture is still further represented by 15 vertical sections which cross the 

 basin at frequent intervals. 



Much attention was given to the extension of the different coal beds 

 and it is now practicable to correlate all the beds thruout the basin. 

 The investigation has incidentally disclosed structural details, showing 

 notable discordance in the forms of the flexed beds at different depths 

 and in harder and softer layers. It was necessary to make a very careful 

 study of the conditions under which variations of this character occur 

 in order to represent the probable position of important coal beds in 

 areas not yet worked. As such a representation becomes a prediction 

 and may affect plans for the future exploitation of coal, its occurance is a 

 matter of great economic importance especially in the deeper basins 

 where some of the coal lies nearly half a mile below the surface. 



Frank L. Hess, Secretary. 



ANTHROPOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



A special meeting of the Anthropological Society of Washington was 

 held March 6, 1913 in the National Museum, the President Mr. George 

 R. Stetson in the chair. Dr. Walter Hough read a paper on: Savage 

 mutilations for decoration. The paper was a short excursion into the 

 enormous field of custom with regard to ethnic mutilations, and sufficient 

 examples were given to lay the subject rather completely before the 

 society. In it were described the most striking forms of head shaping 

 by pressure in infancy; the various forms of teeth mutilations; ear, nose, 

 cheek and lip modifications and ornaments; pressure and mutilations 

 in the arms, waist and limbs, and modifications of the bones of the feet. 

 With mutilations also should be considered, perhaps, extraordinary hair 

 dressing and treatment of the finger nails. 



Many slides were shown of tatooing, scarification and decoration of 

 the skin by means of dyes and pigments, and some of their multifarious 

 meanings given. On the whole, it was concluded that ethnic mutila- 

 tions originated from many concepts, the more important being a desire 

 for identification, in some cases individual, but in most cases tribal; a 

 desire for ornamentation, mainly individual in its treatment, but follow- 

 ing environmental and tribal fashions; and also very important mutila- 

 tions growing out of superstitions and religious ideas. 



Many ethnic mutilations also relate to sex, puberty, social rank, honor 

 for warlike feats, and the like. All these ideas, which at times have 

 been advanced as the explanation of the causes, show that the matter is 

 extremely complex. The bearing of ethnic mutilations on primitive 

 surgery was also hinted at, as well as its effects on the development of 

 costume. 



Dr. Williams and Dr. Swanton made certain inquiries and brief 

 remarks. The meeting then adjourned. 



Wm. H. Babcock, Secretary. 



