114 
NATURE 
| NOVEMBER 29, 1906 
(3) The behaviour in stars of the lines affected in sun- 
spots appears to be consistent with the view that tempera- 
ture changes alone are sufficient to account for their 
variation in intensity. (In this connection the authors 
formerly were inclined to the view that the presence of 
sun-spot lines in the spectra of red stars indicated the 
presence of many spots like those on the sun. Recent 
work has led them to the opinion that the comparatively 
low temperature of these stars offers the simplest explan- 
ation of the observed phenomena. The latter opinion had 
previously been arrived at and published by Sir Norman 
Lockyer in a paper “* On the Relation between the Spectra 
of Sun-spots and Stars.’’*) In a Orionis—which from 
other considerations has been regarded as much cooler than 
the sun—lines that are strengthened in sun-spots are still 
further increased in intensity, and in Arcturus, which is 
always assumed to be intermediate in temperature to 
a Orionis and the sun, the intensities of its lines have 
been shown by Mr. Adams to agree remarkably with those 
observed in sun-spots. 
In an addendum to the paper an account is given of 
further work with (1) the flame of an ordinary arc; (2) a 
modified form of a Moissan electric furnace. 
It was found that the spectrum furnished by the flame 
of the arc—which is undoubtedly of a lower temperature 
than the core—showed changes of intensity similar to those 
observed with the 2-ampere are and synchronous. arc. 
Comparison of the lines affected in the flame with those 
affected in the weak are showed that, of the lines of 
Ti, V, Cr, Fe, and Mn which were compared, nearly 
go per cent. were affected in the same direction, and of 
these latter the same proportion were affected to a like 
amount. Consequently, a large majority of the lines 
strengthened in sun-spots are relatively strengthened in 
the flame, while those weakened in sun-spots are relatively 
weakened in the flame. 
The work with the electric furnace was done under con- 
ditions which, the authors state, eliminated all possible 
electrical effects, and left temperature as the only possible 
agent for producing any variations in intensity of the 
spectrum lines. Only Mn and Fe were investigated in this 
way, but the resulting spectra again showed great 
similarity to the weak-are spectra, the majority of the 
lines being affected alike in the two cases. 
At the end of the paper a few objections which can be 
laid against the temperature hypothesis are toucned upon. 
In a note added on October 2 an observation is included 
which seems to leave no doubt as to the comparatively low 
temperature of sun-spots. At least one of the titanium 
flutings which occur in the flame of the arc has been clearly 
demonstrated to be present in two of the best spot-spectrum 
photographs. 
The work is regarded by the collaborators as being only 
at a preliminary stage, but it is evident that it will, with 
subsequent work on similar lines, have an important bear- 
ing, not only on the relative temperatures of sun-spots and 
photosphere, but also on the temperature classification of 
stars. 
ANTHROPOLOGICAL NOTES. 
O the second number of Bulletins et Mémoires de la 
Société d’Anthropologie de Paris (ser. 5, T. vii., 1906) 
Lieut. Desplagnes contributes an interesting paper on a 
little-known region of Central Nigeria, lying at the base of 
the plateau of Bandiagara (Banjagara), in the Massina 
district. This lake region seems to have been inhabited 
from the earliest antiquity, and in the Polished Stone 
period to have supported a dense population at a high grade 
of civilisation, to which numerous Megalithic monuments 
and a quantity of stone weapons and implements bear 
testimony; and long before our era examples of metal 
working, weaving, pottery, &c., show the industrial stage 
to which the inhabitants had attained. The character of 
the remains, physical and cultural, seem to suggest an 
Eastern origin for these early occupants, who were prob- 
ably related to the ancestors of the Galla-Somali peoples. 
Later on, the nomad and pastoral peoples of the Sahara, 
1 Roy. Soc. Proc., vol. Ixxiv. p. 53- 
NO. 1035, VOL. 75) 
attracted by the well-watered pastures, poured down from 
the north, and the tribes from the forests pressed up from 
the south; but all of these, though attaining right by 
might, had no aptitude for organised industry, and the 
primitive inhabitants were utilised as a sort of caste of 
workers, superior to slaves, but yet not mixing with the 
conquering clans. In the smiths, weavers, fishers, and 
potters, are found the descendants of the earlier owners 
of the land, while others maintained their indepen- 
dence by taking refuge in the islands in the river, the 
Sorkos, or in the surrounding mountains, the Habbés. 
‘The paper deals chiefly with the Habbés, describing their 
traditions, customs, habits, dwellings, industries, religious 
ideas, and sociology, in all of which they differ from their 
neighbours. The illustrations give an idea of the character 
of the country and the people, and the photographs of the 
masked figures in the religious dances, supposed to repre- 
sent the Spirit of the Ancestors, are of particular interest. 
L’ Anthropologie, Tome xvii., 1906, contains the first 
instalment of a study by Dr. E. T. Hamy, ‘* Les Premiers 
Gaulois.’’ Dr. Hamy attempts to trace the physical 
characters of these invaders of northern Italy in the early 
Iron age from the evidence of the tumulus burials in 
France. The evidence is unfortunately very scanty, but 
it is worthy of note that the skulls in the neighbourhood 
of the forest of Chatillon have a cephalic index ranging 
from 80 to 84, with an altitudinal index of 88 to 93, 
although one skull from Banges, in the same district, has 
an index of 73-1. This is followed by a paper by Mr. Ed. 
Piette, ‘‘ Le Chevétre et le Semi-domestication des animaux 
aux temps pléistocénes,’’ with many figures showing clear 
representations of halters in the engravings from the caves 
of Brassempouy, Mas d’Azil, &c. This communication 
forms the ninth in Piette’s series of prehistoric ethno- 
graphic studies, and his last, for the volume ends with a 
notice of his death and a recognition of the great services 
which he has rendered to the science of prehistoric ethno- 
graphy. The second part of ‘‘ Les Restes humaines 
Quaternaires dans 1’Europe Centrale,’ by Mr. H. 
Obermaier, continues the useful summary of the evidence 
for Quaternary man in Europe. The cautious tone of the 
writer is seen in the brevity of the list of human remains 
““strement quaternaires ’’? when compared with the list of 
““Tndications Aa écarter comme erronées, douteuses ou 
insuffisantes.”’ 
In Globus, Ixxxix., Nos. 14 and 15, Mr. Vojtéch Fri 
gives an account of his travels along the Pilcomayo—a 
tributary of La Plata—in Central Chaco, with notes on 
the Pilaga and other Indians, and illustrations showing 
the character of the country and the fine-looking type of 
inhabitants. Among the majority of these tribes, it may 
be noted, the women propose marriage to the men, the 
modus operandi differing among the different groups. The 
method employed by the PilagA women is to place a 
certain zigzag mark on a certain tree; the chosen man 
presents himself, and no further ceremony is needed. 
No. 17 contains a description, by Dr. Claus Schilling, of 
the Tamberma, who until a few years ago were an un- 
discovered people, near the borders of Togo. The illus- 
trations taken by the author show the peculiar architec- 
ture and costumes of the district. This paper is followed 
by a short account of another African people, the Mpororo 
of the north-west corner of German East Africa, by Ober- 
leutnant Weiss. Nos. 18 and 19 of the same periodical 
contain articles on the Gold Coast negroes by the medical 
missionary Dr. H. Vortisch, who gives a review (with 
illustrations) of their physical features, clothing, character, 
family life, sociology, political organisation, &c., and a 
careful record of their musical instruments, thirteen of 
which are figured. Mr. Erland Nordenskjéld contributes 
an article to Globus, Ixxxix., No. 22, ‘‘ Der Doppeladler 
als Ornament auf Aymarageweben,’”’ tracing the degener- 
ation of the zoomorphic design through varying stages. In 
a series of papers (in Nos. 11, 20, 24, and xc., 1.) Dr. 
Theodor Koch-Griinberg describes his travels “‘ Kreuz und 
Quer durch Nordwestbrasilien,’’ giving excellent pictures 
of the scenery and of the natives, with a map to show 
the linguistic grouping. Of particular interest are the 
native drawings of animals. In xc., No. 4, W. von 
Bilow criticises the theories of Percy Smith, E. Tregears, 
