SYNOPSIS OF PROCEEDINGS. 26 1 



ineness of this relic of antiquity there can be no reasonable doubt whether 

 we consider the opportunity of the giver or the institution from which 

 it came. Dating back to the 20th dynasty of the Pharaohs, it had its 

 origin in an age that has contributed much to the archaeological wealth 

 of the present century. A mummy very much like this has just been 

 received by the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Louis. Prof. Ives, in 

 charge, is most enthusiastic in its praise. This comes tons in as good 

 condition as found in any museum. The mummy itself suggests the 

 care and labor of the embalmer and throws light on the manners and 

 customs of a people passed away. The ornamentation of the coffin is 

 a work of highest art and the figures stand forth as clear cut and the 

 colors as effective as though they were wrought but yesterday. The 

 Academy is to be congratulated in the possession of such an addition 

 to its art treasures. 



In May, Mrs. M. L. D. Putnam presented a collection of shells from 

 Florida, with echinoids and corals. The shells were submitted to Miss 

 Sadie Foote, and on examination several were found to be new to the 

 Academy and were carefully labelled. At the same time several large 

 and small cestacian vertebrae and fine teeth from the South Carolina 

 phosphate beds were received from Mr. George Putnam. A collection 

 of Mexican relics was bought of Prof. Starr of the University of Chicago. 

 This collection included twenty pieces of pottery from ancient Mexican 

 graves. Among these are two two-eared jars, one three-eared jar, three 

 pitchers, three corndishes, three tripod food dishes, three obsidian flakes, 

 three spindle wheels, and two scraping knives. Collected in another 

 section were six of the puzzling little heads to be found in San Juan 

 de Tcotihuacan, remarkably human little carved stone faces. There 

 was also an obsidian nucleus and six little pottery vessels from Chapala 

 almost as puzzling as the faces. 



In June, Captain Hall remembered us by sending one large grooved 

 stone axe, with thirty or forty flint implements, among them one 

 exquisitely formed, leaf-shaped, over a foot in length, and with a cen- 

 tral breadth of two inches, made of a jasper-colored flint. 



In July, the Academy received from Dr. Palmer a collection of one 

 large and one small celt, one small axe, a discoidal stone with miner- 

 als and two geodes. 



In September, Captain Hall sent us two axes, one quite small, and 

 thirty flint implements and arrows, large and small, mostly perfect. 



In November, the gift of a genuine Eskimo kayak came to us from 

 Greenland, a present from Mr. George R. Putnam. This now occu- 

 pies a conspicuous place in the Academy. It is a model of grace and 

 beauty. The outfit is in keeping with the appearance of the craft and 

 the objects sought to be accomplished by it. The most primitive 

 workmanship characterizes every article used. Everything needed 

 has its place. All the simple devices of the Greenland Eskimo may 

 be seen attached to the ka)ak in some place, as though ready for use. 

 Paddle and harpoon, spear and casting stick, bird spear and sealskin 



[Proc. D. A. N. S., Vol. VII.] 32 [ June 3, 1899.] 



