14 PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON. 
to the concha. When man listens intently he adjusts the tensions of 
the membrana tympani. “ 
The possible influence of wind velocity on the pitch of sound was 
discussed by Messrs. PAut, Tayntor, and GILBERT, and other 
remarks were made by Messrs. Kine, Haui, Evuiorr, and H. 
Farquiar. 
Mr. WaAsuinaton Marruews began a communication on 
MYTHOLOGICAL DRY PAINTINGS OF THE NAVAJOS, 
which occupied the remainder of the evening. Its completion was 
deferred. 
268rH MEETING. AprRIL 11, 1885. 
Vice-President Briur1nes in the Chair. 
Forty-six members and guests present. 
Mr. Wasuincton Matruews concluded his paper on 
MYTHOLOGICAL DRY PAINTING OF THE NAVAJOS. 
This paper described an art in use among the medicine men of 
the Navajo Nation, by which they represent various mythological 
conceptions on the sanded floor of the medicine lodge with dry pig- 
ments of five different colors. These dry paintings are from ten to 
twelve feet in diameter, and are quite intricate, containing from five 
to thirteen mythological figures of large size. About a dozen men 
labor from eight to ten hours in making them. When completed, 
they are after some ceremonies completely obliterated, and even the 
sand on which they are drawn is carried out.of the lodge and thrown 
away. The existence of such an art is not generally known and 
the figures are not copied from any visible standard but are retained 
in the memories of the medicine men. 
The paper was illustrated with seven water-color paintings— 
reproductions of the Navajo drawings. Four were pictures of the 
esoteric portion of a Navajo ceremony called dsilyidje-qacal or “song 
in the mountains,” and represented visions or revelations of the 
Indian prophet who instituted these ceremonies. The remaining 
three pictures were from a ceremony known as kledje-qagal or “song 
of the night,’ and represented the revelations of another Navajo 
