388 



NA TURE 



[Fkhkuauv 23, 1899 



under glass. The vine as known here is a composite 

 product, representing the sum of the selection that has 

 taken place during the course of the ages. IJut the 

 selection has always been within the limits of one species, 

 and for one particular purpose. As the vine is ^rown for 

 its fruit, we might naturally expect the greatest amount 

 of variation to be manifested in the berries. Systematists 

 tell us that in such cases we should for comparative and 

 historical purposes attach more weight to characters 

 afforded by organs which have not been subjected to 

 man's interference, than to those which are the result of 

 intentional selection. This sounds plausiltly, but in prac- 

 tice any one who studies the leaves of the vine will 

 probably find in the foliage which has not been inten- 

 tionally selected, as great, or even a larger, amount of 

 variation than he will in the fruit. 



In the case of the .American vines the circumstances 

 are different. There are twenty or thirty native species 

 and a large number of varieties v/hich have been clas- 

 sified by the author of this treatise. 15y the commingling 

 of a few of these there have been produced within the 

 comparatively short time that has been at the disposal 

 of American cultivators, no fewer than eight hundred 

 "domestic" varieties. 



Of these varieties some are found specially suitable 

 to one locality, or to one set of circumstances, whilst 

 others adapt themselves to a different environment. It 

 may seem to some mere ingenious trifling to concern 

 oneself with all these morphologically petty variations. 

 The naturalist knows better, the evolutionist finds himself 

 placed in jjossession of an armoury of facts ; whilst, to 

 give only one illustration, the severely practical man is 

 rendered happy by finding himself endowed with varieties 

 which are relatively uninjured by Phyllo.xera, and on 

 which, therefore, the European varieties may be en- 

 grafted. If a great plague has not been entirely stayed, at 

 least its consequences have been evaded by this practical 

 application of a variation in constitutional endowment. 



On all grounds then, scientific, taxonomic or economic, 

 the study of these variations assumes such great im- 

 portance that naturalists have cause to be grateful to 

 Prof. IJailcy for the suggestive book that he has put at 

 their disposal. 



The principal aim of the book may be divined from 

 our previous remarks. It is only necessary to add that 

 the fruits treated of are the grape, the mulberry, the plums 

 and cherries, the native apples, the raspberry, blackberry, 

 and sundry other fruits. The history and evolution of 

 these are sketched in a very instructive and interesting 

 fashion. One thing comes out strongly, and that is that 

 the amelioration of fruits in the United States is better 

 secured by experiment with American species, than with 

 those of European origin. The "environment " is more 

 propitious to the native than to the introduced species. 



This fact may, however, be set against others ; such as 

 the extraordinary vigour which some species are known 

 to manifest when transferred to a new country, enabling 

 them even to oust the aborigines I Again, in the old 

 countries it is generally more immediately advantageous 

 to improve what we have, than to break entirely new 

 ground. In the one case we have everything to work up, 

 in the other we begin with the advantages conferred by 

 long years of inheritance. In this connection we are of 

 NO. 1530, VOL. 59] 



course spe<iking froin the point of view of the practical 

 cultivator always clamouring for immediate results. If 

 time is not of the essence of the matter, and only the 

 sure but slow advance of science is concerned, then it 

 would probably eventually be more fruitful to endeavour 

 to turn to account the opportunities offered to us by the 

 tens of thousands of plants which surround us, with only 

 a few scores of which, at present, we avail ourselves. 



Whatever be their needs or their predilections, 

 naturalists will find Prof. Bailey's book a most valuable 

 addition to their book-shelves. 



LEGENDS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN 

 INDIANS. 

 Creation Afyllis 0/ I'riiiiithie America in relation to 

 the Relii;ioiis History and Mental De-M/opment of 

 Mankind. I5y Jeremiah Curtin. Pp. xxxi.\ -I- 532. 

 (London: Williams and Norgate, 1899.) 



THIS book is to a great extent a product of journal- 

 istic enterprise. In 1895 Mr. Curtin made an 

 arrangement with the editor of a newspaper, by which 

 he was to travel among some of the Indian tribes 

 of North America and collect myth-tales ; the most 

 interesting of those that he might come across he was 

 to send to the paper for publication at regular intervals. 

 Mr. Curtin carried out his agreement. He tra\elled in 

 California, Mexico and C.uatemala, and the twenty-two 

 myth-talcs or stories here collected ha\e all previously 

 been published in the newspaper from which he obtained 

 his commission. Science is, perhaps, better served when 

 she is not written to order ; but there can be no doubt 

 that Mr. Curtin has collected a number of traditions 

 that will be of great interest to students of the beliefs 

 of savage and undeveloped races. 



The myths jniblishcd in the volume are some of those 

 still current among the Wintus and Yanas, two stocks 

 of Indians whose numbers have suflfered considerable 

 diminution during recent years. The Wintus formerly 

 occupied the part of California on the right bank of the 

 Sacramento from Mount Shasta to the northern shore of 

 San Erancisco Bay. Half a century ago they may have 

 numbered some 10,000 ; to-day not more than 500 of 

 them survive. The Yanas have suffered still more severely. 

 Before the year 1864 they probably numbered some 

 3000 ; but in that year, in consequence of the murder 

 of some white men in their district, the tribe was prac- 

 tically exterminated by the mining population of northern 

 California; not more than fifty escaped. It is not im- 

 probable that before the advance of civilisation these 

 tribes will soon cease to exist. Mr. Curtin has, 

 therefore, done well in rescuing what still remains of 

 their traditional system of belief before it disappears 

 altogether. 



The Indians have no very definite theory of creation, 

 and their conceptions on this subject, which really aflfect 

 their daily life to a considerable extent, can only be 

 gathered from the long rambling stories, passed down 

 with little change through many generations. The 

 stories told by the Wintus and the ^■anas resemble 

 many others to be found among the various Indian tribes 

 of North America, and those here published may 

 perhaps, be conveniently, though rather roughly, classified 



