128 SCIENTIFIC ILLUSTRATIONS 



equally curious, this unnatural treatment does not appear to 

 interfere much with the development of their intellectual facul- 

 ties. It would appear that though the natural shape of the 

 brain is greatly changed, still this organ retains its usual size 

 and weight. Amongst the civilised formalists we have those who 

 are always aiming at alteration in the forms of the Church ; 

 others, who by an enforced improvement in the customs of 

 society seek to put a new appearance upon the country. The 

 like amount of work expended with an intelligent desire to 

 change the inner character of the people would produce glorious 

 results. Of what consequence are mere forms if the great mind 

 of the world is all right? What can the form, either of the 

 skull or of the institution, matter if the brains are strong and 

 healthy ; for if the latter be really all right, of what possible 

 importance is it whether the former have or have not the 

 appearance of being either broad or narrow, expanded or con- 

 tracted ? And if that which is contained in the form be not 

 strong and healthy, how can you produce the strength and the 

 health by merely operating upon the outside form ? s. 







Running Bisks in Fortune-Fishing. 



The Pondicherry eagle (Haliastur Indus) is a common and 

 conspicuous species in India. It is seen constantly sailing over 

 the tanks, rice-fields, and rivers at a moderate height, often 

 passing up and down the course of a river, ready to pounce 

 down in a moment at any unlucky fish that may make its 

 appearance at the surface of the water. It usually snatches up 

 its prey from the surface without immersing itself, but occasion- 

 ally it dips entirely under water, when it experiences some 

 difficulty in rising again with its prey. It then risks its being 

 upon its speculation. In this it resembles the human fisher for 

 fortune. Sometimes he departs from his proper course and 

 stakes upon a novel and greedy adventure his whole nature 

 his health and his soul. He dives into the very waters of the 

 poisonous Styx to obtain what he wants. He may escape 

 being drawn down into the stream of hell, but it is with diffi- 

 culty that he rises to enter again into the sunny air of rectitude. 



MU. 



