﻿NO. 5 SMITIISOXIAX EXPI,OKATI()NS, 1922 85 



The examination of the specimens and the visits tu the sites where 

 most of them were chscovered. produced a deep impression on the 

 one hand of the growing importance as well as complexity of the 

 whole subject, and on the other of the vast amount of the deposits in 

 western and central lutrope bearing remains of early man and giving 

 great promise for the future. It was also once more forcibly im- 

 pressed upon the mind of the observer how much more satisfactory 

 is the handling of the original specimens than of even the best made 

 casts. 



So far as the scientific results of the trip are concerned, Dr. lird- 

 licka feels confident that he was able to reach a definite conclusion and 

 position as to the human nature of the Piltdown jaw ; to satisfy him- 

 self on the more or less intermediary nature, between Neanderthal 

 and the present type of man. of the Obercassel, the Pi'edmost and 

 some other crania ; and to see the admirable restorations of both the 

 La Ferrassie and the very important La Quina discoveries, the latter 

 including the highly interesting and, so far as ancient remains of man 

 are concerned, unique specimen of a well-preserved skull of a child. 



Plaster casts of nearly all the important specimens not yet repre- 

 sented in the U. S. National ^Museum were obtained for the 

 Institution. 



MEETING OF INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICANISTS 



IN BRAZIL 



The twentieth meeting of the International Congress of Ameri- 

 canists at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was attended by Dr. Walter Hough 

 and Dr. Ales Hrdlicka. who were delegated by the Department of 

 State and the Smithsonian Institution. Through the aid of the Car- 

 negie Endowment for International Peace means were supplied for 

 the journey of these delegates. A successful meeting of the Congress 

 is reported, the efi^ect of which on the promotion of anthropological 

 science in Brazil is lielieved by the delegates to be important. While 

 there was not time to travel in Brazil more than in the environs of 

 Rio, it was interesting to view the resources of the capital as an index 

 to the progress of the country. In this center there is a historical 

 department, a national library, a national museiun, fine arts institu- 

 tion, botanic garden, athletic clui), and all the activities relating to 

 engineering, sanitation, commerce, etc., reflecting modern conditions. 

 There is seen a tendency at present to lay more stress on historical 

 researches than on science, but the nucleus is here to be developed in 

 such a way as the future afifords. In some lines science is being ade- 

 quately treated as in General Rcindon's work among the Indians, 



