_ The society of the Troglodytes was numerous, and 
hierarchically organised. There were several orders 
of dignitaries. The proofs of this organisation are to 
be found in the three stations of the last epoch—- 
the Eyzies, Lower Laugerie,- and the Madelaine. They 
are large pieces of deer-horn, carved artistically, and de- 
signated in general terms under the name of “ batons of 
command.” These batons are numerous. Here are 
several, and you can see that they have a uniform type. 
Their whole surface is richly adorned with various draw- 
ings, representing animals or hunting scenes. They are 
less thick than wide, and the care that has been taken to 
diminish the thickness proves that they sought lightness 
rather than solidity. Then, again, the greater number, 
though not all, are pierced with large round holes, varying 
in number from one to four (see Figs. 19 and 20). The 
purpose of these very curious objects is still a disputed 
point, but most probably they were used as insignia. 
They indicate the sceptre, borne among the ancients, not 
only by the king, but by the chiefs of a less elevated 
rank. The dignity of marshal is to this day characterised 
by a baton. The batons of command are too numerous 
to allow of their being considered a sign of royalty. They 
are only signs of hierarchical distinction, The holes in- 
dicate the grade. ; 
This superposition of grades or ranks, a sure sign of a 
numerous society, might doubtless be utilised in times 
of war, but it is very probable that it referred primarily to 
the appointment of hunting expeditions, for the chase was 
the essential element of public prosperity, and it was 
necessary to organise it systematically in order to secure 
food for the community. ; 
Thanks to the organisation and administration of which 
we recognise the proofs, the society of Troglodytes, though 
numerous, lived in comfort. Food was sufficiently abun- 
dant to enable them to choose the best pieces, and reject 
those of an inferior quality. Thus, they despised the feet 
of animals, which nevertheless contain, in the bones and 
tendons, a remarkable quantity of alimentary matter. The 
destruction of dangerous animals had given security ; the 
_ improvement in hunting had given abundance. It was 
no longer necessary for the entire tribe to devote their 
whole time, energy, and intelligence to the urgent neces- 
sities of daily life. They could rest occasionally. They 
could have leisure hours, and leisure, joined to intelli- 
gence, produces the arts. 
(To be continued.) 
NOTES 
THE names of fifty-three candidates which, in pursuance of 
‘the Statute, were read out at the meeting on Thursday last, is a 
proof that the desire to enter the Royal Society does not abate. 
Out of this large number the Council will, in April, select fifteen 
whom they will recommend for election ; and the names of these 
will, as usual, be made known at the meeting of the Society on 
the first Thursday in May. The selection ought not to be diffi- 
cult, notwithstanding that in perusing the names we mark not a 
few instances of misplaced ambition, and indications that an 
obvious misunderstanding as to the qualification for membership 
exists on the part of the candidates. It must not be forgotten 
that the Royal Society is of a kind of superior College of Sur- 
geons or Physicians or Preceptors ; in fact, that something higher 
even than the art of healing or teaching must be looked for, namely, 
research, and the enlargement of the boundaries of knowledge. As 
in the majority of cases non-election is inevitable, it isas well that 
the number should be large : disappointment is, thereby, reduced 
toa minimum. But here is the list, and our readers may judge 
for themselves. The election day is fixed for June 12. 
W. Aitken, M.D. ; Sir Alexander Armstrong, K.C.B., M.D. ; 
_ R. Stawell Ball, LL.D.; Rev. A. Barry, D,D., D.C.L.; 
rex naa SS). a Sa zi ; = 
Mar. 13, 1873] NATURE 466 
E. Middleton Barry, R.A. ; J. Beddoe, B.A., M.D. ; I. Low- 
thian Bell; G. Bishop, F.R.A.S.; F. J. Bramwell, C.E. ; 
W. Lawry Buller, Sc.D. ; Capt. E. Kilwick Calver, R.N. ; 
A. Carte, M.A.. M.D.; W. Chimmo, Commander R.N. ; 
H. Davies, M.D. ; Henry Dircks; R. L. J. Ellery, F.R.A.S. ; 
J. Fayrer, M.D.; P. Le Neve Foster M.A.; T. Minchin 
Goodeve, M.A. ; L. D. Brodie Gordon, C.E.; Lt.-Col. J. A. 
Grant, C.B.; J. Eliot Howard; Rey. A. Hume, LL.D. ; 
Edmund C. Johnson, F.R.C.S.; Lord Lindsay, F.R.A.S.; 
Clements R. Markham, C.B. ; W. Mayes, Staff-Commander 
R.N.; E. J. Mills, D.Sc.; R. Stirling Newall, F.R.A.S.; 
G. E. Paget, M.D., D.C.L. ; F. Polkinghorne Pascoe, F.L.S.; 
O. Pemberton, M.R.C.S. ; Rev. S. J. Perry; J. A. Phillips, 
F.G.S.; W. O. Priestley, M.D.; C. B. Radcliffe, M,D.; 
A. Rattray, M.D., R.N.; E. J. Reed, C.B.; W. Chandler 
Roberts, F.C.S.; G. W. Royston-Pigott, M.A., M.D.; 
W. Westcott Rundell; Osbert Salvin, M.A. ; Major-General 
Hi. Y. Darracott Scott, R.E., C.B. ; J. Spiller, F.C.S. ; Hon. 
J. W. Strutt ; G. J. Symons, F.M.S. ; Sir Henry Thompson, 
F.R.C.S. ; E. T. Truman, M.R.C.S. ; F. H. Wenham ; Capt. 
C. W. Wilson, R.N. ; H. Woodward, F.G.S.; Lieut.-Col. 
A. H. P. Stuart Wortley; J. Young, F.C.S. 
M. BERTHELOT, the eminent chemist, has been elected a 
member of the French Academy. 
THE reports of the Hunterian Lectures which appear in 
NATURE are not written by Prof. Flower. 
THE Belgian Academy announces the following as subjects 
for prizes to be awarded in 1874:—1. To perfect in some im- 
portant point, either in its principles or its applications, the 
theory of the functions of an imaginary variable. 2. A com- 
plete discussion of the temperature of space, based upon experi- 
ments, observations, and the calculus, stating the grounds for 
the choice made between the various temperatures which have 
been attributed to it. 3. A complete study, theoretic and, if 
necessary, experimental of the specific absolute heat of simple 
and compound bodies. 4. New experiments upon uric acid and 
its derivatives, principally in relation to their chemical structure 
and their synthesis. 5. (a.) A succinct critical résumé of existing 
observations of the Aucedinee. (b.) The exact determination 
—applied to only a single species—of the part which is due, first, 
to the essential nature of the vegetable (its specific energy), and 
next to the external conditions of its development. (c.) A posi- 
tive proof, or a satisfactory disproof, of the statement that the 
fungi of fermentation in certain circumstances, can be transformed 
into fungi of a higher class, 6. A paper on the Plutonic 
rocks, or those that are considered such, of Belgium and the 
French Ardennes, especially in relation to their composition. 
The prizes for Nos. 1, 4, and 5 will be a gold medal of the 
value of 600 francs ; for No. 6, one of the value of 800 francs ; 
and for No. 3, a medal worth 1,009 francs. The manuscripts, 
which may be in either French, Flemish, or Latin, must be sent 
to M. Ad. Quetelet, perpetual secretary, before August 1, 1874. 
WE understand that Mr. F. J. M. Page, B.Sc., Assoc. R.S.M., 
F.C.S., has been appointed chemical assistant to the Brown 
Institution, under Dr. Burdon Sanderson. It is with much 
pleasure that we announce this, as it argues well for the attention 
which will be paid to physiological chemistry, a subject which 
of late years has received comparatively little attention in 
England. 
AN examination for a Natural Science Scholarship for 60/, 
per annum will be held at Gonville and Caius College, Cam- 
bridge, on April 3 and 4, The subjects :—chemistry and experi- 
mental physics, zoology with comparative anatomy and physic- 
logy, botany with vegetable anatomy and physiology. The 
Scholarship is tenable for two years, but the tenure may be 
prolonged for another year if the Scholar sufficiently distin zuish 
