526 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



latitude 38° x 18 N. west of the Rio Grande and east of the Rio Colorado 

 and the Gulf of California. Dr. Hrdlicha points out that one of the main 

 results of his work is to show that " in many points of physiological nature, 

 as well as in those relating to medicine, there is much similarity among all 

 the tribes visited. This likeness extends, so far as can be judged, ... far 

 beyond the region already outlined. Another point of even greater importance 

 is the growing evidence of similarity, though never reaching full identity, of 

 the vital processes in Indians and whites." 



This is perhaps scarcely surprising, for the majority of the Indians investi- 

 gated appear to have adopted white customs, and to a great extent to have 

 given up their old habits of life, though many tribes still build huts of the 

 patterns made by their forefathers. Agriculture is the staple industry, though 

 some tribes fish extensively and the Otomi are largely labourers and carriers 

 of burdens. These facts and a number of others recorded in the first ten 

 chapters show that the altered environment of the tribes has greatly modified 

 the habits of the members, though there is nothing to show whether adaptation 

 has changed any of the functions of the body or not. Nor does the author 

 give his opinion upon this important matter, though it is certain that the 

 tribes among whom these observations were made cannot be regarded as living 

 their natural life under normal conditions. Under these circumstances it does 

 not seem possible at present to estimate the value of the many tables of 

 measurements which this volume contains. On the other hand, the absence 

 of decisive evidence as to the existence of hardened arteries, although special 

 attention was paid to the study of senility, seems to show that in some matters 

 at least the Indians have retained their primitive physiology. The point here 

 mentioned is of considerable interest, since the writer has examined a con- 

 siderable number of elderly uncontaminated Papuasians, some of whom were 

 absolutely senile, without finding any trace of arterio-sclerosis. It is noted 

 that the special senses (sight, hearing, smell, and taste) " differ but little, if 

 any, from the same functions in the whites." Although the adult Indian passes 

 somewhat more time in sleep than the civilised white man, the Indian shows 

 greater capacity for enduring loss of sleep without ill effects. Ceremonies and 

 gambling-parties are usually prolonged throughout the night, and often last 

 over several nights and days, yet the usual effects of sleeplessness were never 

 complained of, and seldom noted, in spite of the fact that but little sleep was 

 taken during the day. Dreams, though not often terrifying, appear to be 

 frequent and variable. 



C. G. Seligmann. 



The New Flora of the Volcanic Island of Krakatau. 1 By A. Ernst, Ph.D., 

 translated by A. C. Seward, F.R.S. [Pp. 74.] (Cambridge : University 

 Press, 1908. Price 4s. net.) 



Any naturalist who visits the tropics, and particularly if he has the good fortune 

 to visit different and preferably widely separated localities in that zone, can scarcely 

 fail to have his attention attracted by the interesting plants which comprise the 



1 Prof. Seward gives reasons for following Prof. Ernst and adopting "Krakatau" 

 in place of the more familiar spelling " Krakatoa." 



