THE NAUTILUS. 103 
ity of settlement and occupancy, than any white man. ‘Their title 
was aboriginal, and they were and had been, from time immemorial, 
permanent residents “ to the manner born.” Whether their lack of 
social position was due to the fact that they did not recognize the 
merits of “ baked beans and brown bread,” “ cod-fish balls” and 
“ »yumpkin pie,” etc., as gastronomic delicacies, or were unable tosing 
“ pennyroyal hymns” through their noses—having no noses to sing 
through—can only be surmised, as they were not given to gossip or 
backbiting, but always maintained a discreet and dignified silence. 
While they were the only permanent residents, they often had tran- 
sient visitors. Various salt-water birds frequented the region at 
certain times in the year. Yellow-legs, doe birds, curlew, teal duck 
and other species were pretty certain to make a short visit when- 
ever a “northeaster”” was brewing. 
The locality now known as Copley Square, with its impressive 
buildings, Trinity Church, the Art Museum and the new “Old 
South,” was good hunting ground in those days. Most people, in- 
eluding many credulous or unsophisticated Bostonians, honestly 
regard these church edifices as erected for religious purposes, and 
think, too, that the “ Museum of Fine Arts,” of which they are very 
proud, is intended to foster and encourage the work of painters and 
sculptors. No one will deny such persons the right of opinion, even 
if it does rest upon a hallucination ; on the other hand a fellow may 
be pardoned who sees in these “ places of worship” simply funeral 
monuments sacred to the memory of the thousands of harmless 
mollusks, Modiola plicatula, that were buried alive in a so-called 
Christian city in the nineteenth century, with no one to say a word 
in their behalf. Andthe Art Building! What of that? It may 
be regarded as commemorative of the fact that the spot whereon it 
stands was good hunting ground in days long since gone by, and 
that hereabout my father (of blessed memory) and myself often- 
times successfully pursued ornithology for gastronomic purposes. 
In course of time, it is highly probable, suitable tablets will be 
placed in front of the principal buildings bearing the following in- 
scription :— 
“The region hereabout was formerly inhabited by a branch of 
the great aboriginal family Moprota. The members of the local 
tribe, PLicaruLa, were peaceful in their lives, simple in their 
habits, never told lies, never talked back to old people, and met 
their fate without a murmur. 
“Keep their memory green.” 
