58 



NA TURE 



[November 21, 1901 



<1evoted to natural history. In the first two chapters the 

 author describes the leading features of the fauna of the 

 Mississippi prairies at a time when, in many parts, it still 

 existed in its pristine abundance. Like most amateur 

 naturalists, Mr. Fountain is on the side of those who 

 take a broad view of the limits of species, and we can 

 fully endorse his remarks as to the close relationship of 

 the American wolves to their Old World cousin. When, 

 however (p. 5), he says that the American bison is a 

 mere variety of the European species, and that the 

 differences between the two animals are very slight, we 

 take leave to dififer from his opinions. And before 



-\ M.irqu 



High-Priest, with girdle of human hair, and stone 

 "Sunshine and Surf.") 



putting in print a statement as to his doubts whether the 

 number of ribs in the two is or is not identical, he 

 might surely have taken the trouble to visit a good 

 museum or consult some standard work on the subject. 



A different phase of animal life is presented in the 

 ■chapter entitled " A Day in a Cypress Swamp " ; while in 

 a later one (v.) we have many interesting observations on 

 insects. 'Die seventh chapter is devoted to the red 

 man, who in some respects is viewed in a more favourable 

 light than by many other writers. Of especial interest 

 is the chapter headed " A Little Hit of the Desert," 

 NO. 1673. "^'OL. 65] 



which is devoted to a description of Arizona and its 

 fauna at the time when that State was an almost un- 

 known land. This journey was made in 1871, only two 

 years after Cope had described the poisonous lizard of 

 .■\rizona, the so-called Gila monster (Heloderma sus- 

 />ec/um), as a species distinct from the Mexican form. 

 The author's account of its habits is probably one of 

 the earliest on record, his description of hou- he found 

 out its poisonous nature being an excellent instance of his 

 careful observation. 



The remaining three chapters deal with the Yosemite 



\'alley and California and Colorado generally ; and it is 



with a feeling of regret that limitations 



of space prevent our alluding to these 



otherwise than by name. 



\'ery different in character from the first 

 is the second of the two Ijooks named at 

 the beginning of this notice, which is in the 

 main the description of a trip to a number 

 of the islands of the South Seas, with 

 observations on the^ inhabitants and a 

 few scattered notes on their natural his- 

 tory. Pleasantly written and beautifully 

 illustrated, this work appeals more to the 

 general reader and traveller than to the 

 naturalist ; and, in spite of the existence 

 of such books as Kingsley's " The Earl 

 and the Doctor " and Stevenson's " South 

 Seas," both the former will scarcely fail 

 to find much to interest them in its 

 pages. The first visit of the authors was 

 to Tahiti, with which they appear to have 

 been as delighted — alike as regards 

 scenery, climate and the people — as have 

 all previous visitors. Of greater interest 

 is the account of their visit to the 

 Marquesas ; and the excellent photograph 

 of a Marquesan high-priest standing 

 alongside a stone idol (herewith repro- 

 duced) should be of value to anthropolo- 

 gists as representing a phase of savage 

 life rapidly on the wane, .\mong other 

 interesting photographs, special mention 

 may be made of one of a " Maori Belle " 

 and a second of a " Sanioan Beauty," the 

 latter exhibiting the supreme develop- 

 ment of the handsome Polynesian type. 

 We should, however, like to know whether 

 the Maori girl is pure bred or a half- 

 caste. In the islands under French rule, 

 where it was formerly the universal 

 custom, tattooing, the authors tell us, has 

 been prohibited in the case of females, 

 with a corresponding improvement in 

 their personal appearance — at least from 

 a European point of view. It may be 

 added that much interesting information 

 will be found with regard to the admin- 

 istration of the islands under French 

 rule. 



Much interest also attaches to the 

 too brief remarks with regard to the 

 feral goats, sheep and cattle — the de- 

 scendants of animals introduced in iiSi3 — now found 

 in the interior of the Marquesas. The pleasures — 

 and dangers — of reef-fishing are alluded to in some 

 detail ; and the authors endorse previous observations 

 as to the diving powers of the natives, some of whom, 

 ihey assert, are able to remain under water for four 

 minutes at a time. A novel mode of shark-fishing, 

 in which a diver fixes a running noose round the 

 tail of the victim, is also described. But even in 

 the South Sea Islands life has some tlrawbacks ; and 

 the authors speak in bitter terms of the miseries they 



idol. (Fn 



