June 8, 191 1] 



NATURE 



481 



stitute for the idea of a single Creator, orders of 

 angelic beings, each charged with the task of originat- 

 ing and exercising supervision and control over special 

 evolutionary processes ! Everyone must feel how in- 

 congruous are such incursions into the realms of the 

 unknown and the unknowable with the really valu- 

 able and suggestive discussions of the first part of 

 the book. But however much we may regret the 

 intrusion by the author of these wild sp>eculations, and 

 greatly as we may dissent from his social and political 

 panaceas, as hopelessly impracticable, we all recognise 

 that they are inspired by the author's love of humanity 

 and all living things, by a desire to ameliorate' the 

 sorrows and sufferings he sees around him, and by a 

 hope — ill-founded though it may be — that such teach- 

 ings may be of service to his fellow-men. 



i<iailIves of the argentine republic. 



Los Aborigenes de la Republica Argentina. Manual 

 adaptado d los programas de las Esciielas Primarias, 

 Colegios Nacionales y Escuelas Normales. By 

 Prof. F. F. Outes and Prof. C. Bruch. Pp. 149. 

 (Buenos Aires : Angel Estrada y Cia., 1910.) 



THIS neat little book, well printed and illustrated, 

 far surpasses its modest subtitle : a manual adapted 

 to the teaching in primary and secondary schools. It 

 is really a condensed account of what is known 

 of the natives of the Argentine Republic, of those who 

 are quite prehistoric, those who were found at the 

 time of the conquest by the Spaniards, and those who 

 ^' still survive precariously in some far-off districts." 



A rapid survey of the earth's history as told by 

 the sedimentary strata and their leadiner fossils is 

 made the occasion for explaining the meaning of the 

 many indispensable technical terms. Since much of 

 the evidence of the existence of prehistoric man rests 

 upon his primitive implements, the theory of arti- 

 ficially chipped stones is explained and illustrated, and 

 how, at least in Europe, the evolution through polished 

 and carved implements of stone to those of metal can 

 be traced. A roll-call of scientific work in Argentina, 

 from Pigafptta, Magellan's companion in 1520, to the 

 Princeton University expedition, concludes this intro- 

 duction of twenty-eight pages. 



The pakeontological account is greatly helped by 

 a coloured diagram. Besides the mystical Tetraprot- 

 homo, the pliocene Monte hermoso level has yielded 

 pieces of rock which enthusiasts have taken for 

 examples of intentionally fire-baked clay, whilst others 

 refer their condition to volcanic action. In short, the 

 earliest undoubted human remains and traces date 

 from the Ensenada Loess, lowest pleistocene. The 

 Homo pampeanus, of the early American type, seenis 

 to have used the carapace of the contemporary Glyp- 

 todons for shelter. Post-pampean man was clearly 

 neolithic, and he continued in this state until his dis- 

 coverv bv the Spaniards, with the sole exception of 

 the Diaquita in the north-western mountains, which 

 had advanced to the use of bronze. These interesting 

 people are described in the second chapter. 



To facilitate the account of the various tribes, each 

 chapter has a little map, and stress is laid upon the 

 NO. 2 1 71, VOL. 86] 



prevailing climate, as influencing man through the 

 fauna and flora. Each chapter begins with a descrip- 

 tion of the physical aspect of the respective district, 

 whether forest, mountain, or plain, with frequent 

 photographs ; the tribes are grouped as much as pos- 

 sible according to their relationship. Each group, or 

 tribe, or race, is tersely characterised physically; as 

 a linguistic point the personal pronouns have been 

 selected. Sociologically : the kind of food and how 

 it is prepared, especial attention being paid to the 

 mode of kindling of fire. Then follow the kind of 

 shelter, dress, ornamentation, dances, creeds, and 

 superstitions, family and funeral rites, weapons, and 

 wars. To each chapter is attached a carefully selected 

 and apparently well-nigh exhaustive bibliography, and 

 146 illustrations, comprising maps, scenery, imple- 

 ments, pictographs, and portraits enhance the text, 

 which in a small compass manages to impart an 

 astonishing amount of information. 



OUR BOOK SHELF. 



Solectrics : a Theory Explaining the Causes of Tem- 

 pests, Seismic and Volcanic Disturbances, and how 

 to Calculate their Time and Place. By Alfred J. 

 Cooper. Pp. iv4-ioo; illustrated by over 100 dia- 

 grams. (London : J. D. Potter, 1910.) Price 10s. 

 The " solectric theory " postulates a force which in 

 some sense corresponds to the sun's radiant energy, 

 giving rise to light, heat, chemical action, and mag- 

 netism, but the author also inserts crravity and vital 

 force. Having introduced such a force, the author 

 is able to explain the rotation of the earth, the 

 obliquity of the ecliptic, and many other things. This 

 solectric energy penetrates the whole solar system, 

 and there is a constant adjustment of this force ac- 

 cording to the configuration of the planets and moon. 

 The sum is constant, the whole passing continually 

 from and to the sun ; only local disturbances have to 

 be considered. At intervals the earth becomes charged 

 with solectric energy, both directly from the sun and 

 indirectly from the planets and moon. .According to 

 the length of time that the earth is submitted to this 

 force, so its manifestation will vary. If the accumu- 

 lated energy is spread over a large flat country or an 

 ocean, a storm occurs; if the energy has been gather- 

 ing for ten or twelve days, and is concentrated in a 

 mountainous district, an earthquake takes place ; if 

 the earth has been surcharged for a month or more, 

 volcanic eruptions follow. But whatever the form of 

 the disturbance, it is necessary that the sun or moon 

 should be 57^° or 88° from the position affected at 

 the critical moment. 



If we have correctly interpreted the author, this 

 expression means that the place must He on a circle 

 57P or 88° from the position in which the sun or 

 moon is vertical. We have not been able to follow 

 the process by which the position on either of these 

 circles is definitely located, but evidently the operation 

 is not a simple one, for the author intimates that a 

 body of expert calculators will be required in order 

 to apply the theory. Rut if the instructions are nur- 

 sued rigorously, it will be possible to issue warnings 

 to any state threatened by an earthquake, or to ships 

 likely to be overtaken by' n tempest. 



Differing from many theories, the aim here is 

 eminentlv practical, but if the author entertains any 

 hope that it will be tested, we are afraid he is doomed 

 to disappointment. Though we cannot acrree with his 

 conclusions, we should wish <<> 'r<-if Cnpt. Cooper 



