proceedings: anthropological society 373 



IV. The Sedge Association, with the long-billed marsh wren, bittern, 

 swamp sparrow, short-billed marsh wren, and marsh hawk. 



V. The Grass Association, with the song sparrow and Maryland 

 yellowthroat. 



VI. The Alder- Willow Association, with the green heron and alder 

 flycatcher. 



VII. The Maple-Elm Association, with the black-crowned night 

 heron and great blue heron, of the marsh birds, and a great variety 

 woodland species. 



Of all these species the most generalized in habit and structure is 

 the red-winged blackbird. It, too, is the most adaptable and is the 

 dominant species in the marsh. (Author's abstract.) 



Dr. Allen's paper was illustrated by numerous lantern slides from 

 photographs of the marsh, its bird inhabitants, and their homes, and 

 by motion pictures of the least bittern and of the canvas-back and 

 other ducks. It was discussed by Dr. L. O. Howard. 



M. W. Lyon, Jr;, Recording Secretary. 



THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



At the 481st meeting of the Society, held January 19, 1915, at the 

 Public Library, an address on The ancient civilization of India was de- 

 livered by Sarath Kumar Ghosh, a member of the ancient princely 

 house of Ghoshpara, India. About 260 persons were present. The 

 lecturer said that the Aryans settled in India between 6000 and 4000 

 B. C. There, shut off from hostile neighbors by the mountains on the 

 north and finding a fertile soil, they adopted agriculture, the beginning 

 of civilization. Aryan civilization first began in India. In Europe, 

 much later, the Greeks were the first to become civilized, because they 

 too were protected by mountains. Primitive man had no distinct do- 

 mestic hfe. A woman was not even the chattel of a particular man, 

 but common to the community. Later, the man accepted the responsi- 

 bilities of husband and father. That stage had been already reached 

 when the Aryan race came to India, but it was there that the family 

 became a distinct unit. The mode of government was patriarchal. 

 Later, the heads of famihes made the laws; the community became a 

 republic. Next, a group of elders were acknowledged as the leaders of 

 the community, constituting an oligarchy. Still later, a man of su- 

 preme valor and ability was elected as king, probably at some crisis. 

 Finally, monarchy became hereditary when the Aryans evolved a caste 

 system. 



Man first worshipped his tools and weapons; later, the forces of na- 

 ture. The worship of nature was intensified when the Aryans became 

 agriculturists, as their food depended upon the clemency of nature. 

 The Aryans of the West, even the Greeks and Romans, never pro- 

 gressed beyond this stage. The Hindus, however, evolved a higher 

 religion, worshipping a supreme and omnipotent Deity above the 

 forces of nature. This x^as about 2500 B.C. By this time the Hindus 



