TEANSACTIONS OF SECTION H. 843 



We find a remarkable similarity of feature in the fair and dark Aryans if 

 we compare European and Indian features. But I confess that the subject is very 

 puzzling. I should be glad of light on the questions: What are the true Aryan 

 features ? What the Semitic ? And how are we to distinguish between the two ? 



2. The Influence of Canadian Climate on European Baces. 

 By Professor W. H. Hingston, M.D., D.G.L. 



A few preliminary observations were made on the physical geography of Canada 

 and its influence in controlling climate. Its extent was shown by its boundaries : 

 the Arctic Ocean on the north ; Baffin's Bay and Davis' Straits on the north and 

 north-east ; the Atlantic on the east ; the Pacific on the west ; and line 45° and 

 the Great Lakes on the south. Of the interior valley of North America Canada 

 occupied the greater part — a valley which passes through the entire northern zone. 

 The contents of this valley, and it contains the St. Lawrence basin, were described 

 — the watersheds of which cover 130,000 square miles. The Lawrentides on the 

 north, and the hills of Isotre-Dame on the south, were alluded to, and their mode- 

 rating influence on climate, their extent, the form, extending from the coast of 

 Labrador to the Arctic Sea, and varying in height from 1,000 to 4,000 feet. The 

 low altitude of Canada (300 to 500 feet) greatly modified its climate, and gave to 

 Canada a great range of animal and vegetable life. 



The climate of Canada is regular and is influenced by position alone. A know- 

 ledge of the climate of two distant places led to a knowledge of the climate of in- 

 tervening places. Its dryness was proverbial, but more rain falls usually than in 

 Great Britain, but at longer intervals, and more at a time. The different seasons 

 were described ; their great regularity, and the regularity of advent and departure 

 of animals and birds. The difference in vegetation was hastily considered ; and 

 lastly, the influence of the climate on man. The effects of heat and of cold were 

 according as they were immediate, remote, or continued. Heat was much more 

 easily and comfortably borne than the same temperature in Great Britain, as the 

 dryness of the atmosphere favoured evaporation from the surface of the body and 

 produced sensible coolness. Cold in winter is stimulating, and Europeans become 

 quickly inured to it without suffering inconvenience in the meantime, provided 

 they took indigenous customs as their guide in the selection of food and clothing. 



The tables of mortality were considered. The death-rate was not large, except 

 in early life ; but the death-rate among children is high because the birth-rate is 

 enormous. The natural increase is the best proof of the healthiness of the climate. 

 There are 7io diseases indigenous to Canada, but diseases of all kinds, as met with 

 elsewhere, are considerably modified in course and duration. Deaths from re- 

 mittent fever are less frequent than in any other portion of America. The ephe- 

 mera are trivial, and intermittent fever, which is almost unknown in the eastern 

 portions of Canada, is becoming rapidly dissipated in its more western parts. 

 Great stress was laid on the importance of Canada to the consumptive and the 

 dyspeptic, and a few remarks on the habits of the people were made, and ex- 

 periments were alluded to which went to show that in height, weight, and lumbar 

 strength the residents of Canada had given unmistakable signs of advancement 

 over the peoples from which they are sprung. 



3. Traces of Ancient Sun Worship in Hampshire and Wiltshire. 

 By T. W. Shore, F.G.8. 



The outlying stone towards the north-east from the so-called Altar Stone at 

 Stonehenge has long been considered to have been so placed to denote the line of 

 the midsummer sunrise. If a tangential line be supposed to be drawn from the 

 northern part of the outer circle of stones to the outlying stone above referred to, 

 this line will denote the line of sunrise at the beginning of May. The three chief 

 Celtic festivals were those of the Summer Solstice, the Winter Solstice, and that 

 of Spring, from which the comparatively modern May-day festival is a survival. 



