realized on both the physical and moral plane by a rigid ad- 

 herence to primitive yet fundamental eugenic laws. 



Jt is evident that any other ideal of physical or mental 

 endowments might be similarly attained. Unfortunately our 

 present civilization does not look with favor upon the sacri- 

 fice of individual preference in matrimonial unions to the good 

 of the commonwealth, so that Seri practices are scarcely 

 applicable today. We have, however, the compromise of com- 

 pelling a scientific study of the unfit and a barring from matri- 

 monial union all those who are recognized as being incapable 

 of procreating healthy and normal descendants. 



References: Besides the illuminating work of W '. J . McGee on the Seri Indians 

 (Bureau of Am. Ethnology, Vol. XVIII, Part I ) , which includes practically all the 

 most authoritative knowledge we have regarding these aborigines, and which has been 

 used largely here, the following publications may be of value in the study of special 

 features of the subject: Am. Anthropologist, The Beginning of Marriage, 1896, Vol. 

 IX; Arricivila, Fray Juan Dominf/o, Cronica Serafica y Apostolica, etc., Mexico, 

 1792; Bancroft, Hubert Howe, History of North Mexican States, Vol. XV; Ban- 

 delier. A. F., Magazine of iVestern History, Vol. IV, 1886; Frazer, J. C, 

 Totemism and Exogamy; Hiltell, Theo. H., History of California, Vol. I, P. 43; 

 Hovelacque et Herve, Precis d 'Anthropologic; Venegas, Miguel, Natural and Civil 

 History of California, trans. London, 1 756. 



The Protective Coloration in the Gold-fish. 



Wilhelm Schrader. 



I am employed as gardener at the California Hospital in 

 Los Angeles. About six years ago I constructed a little foun- 

 tain with cement waterhasin, surrounded with ferns and rock- 

 work. To make it a little lively I stocked it with two dozen 

 goldfish, and expected to see the family soon grow larger; 

 hut as the water is only a foot deep and very clear, the fish 

 could find no place in which to hide; and as our company 

 employs about one hundred nurses, and everybody likes to 

 watch the fish, it seems they were a little timid; for some 

 reason the fish family did not increase. 



In the course of time the water plants grew larger and 

 partly covered the water: also certain algal growths started 

 on the cement bottom, and this afforded hiding places, as 

 nature makes them, and the goldfish now seemed to he at 

 home. 



It is a known scientific fact, that when fish are kept for 

 a long time in comparative darkness, they are able to change 

 to a darker color, hut I have never heard that a goldfish was 

 able to change the hright golden yellow color completely to 

 a darker one like a carp, so that not one yellow scale is left. 

 I think this came about, while two of my goldfish were, during 

 the spawning period, a long time in a dark, shady place, and 



13 



