16 PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON. 
The speaker closed by referring to the transitory nature of the 
pictures, and showing how it might easily have happened that no 
knowledge of them would ever transpire. 
Mr. Gitpert THompson described pictures on the walls of a 
shallow cave near San Antonio Spring, New Mexico, and exhibited 
copies of the same. The outlines of the pictures are etched on the 
rock, and several different colors are employed, both in the etched 
grooves and on the plane surface of the rock. Mr. MarrHEws 
explained the relations of these drawings to Navajo myths and cere- 
monies. 
In response to questions by Messrs. Bituines, M. Baxer, Pavt, 
and Mauuery, Mr. Marruews said that individual drawings are 
not repeated on the same occasion. The ceremonial dances, most 
of which take place only during the season when the snakes hiber- 
nate, are executed for the benefit of invalids, or for the gratification 
of individuals who by conventional fiction are regarded as ill. They 
are paid for, and they are very expensive luxuries, the gross bill of 
expenses sometimes amounting to the value of $300. The patient 
or his friends select the particular dance to be performed. After 
the completion of the picture, the patient enters the lodge, and is 
seated upon the east figure, while a litany is chanted. Sand from 
one of the painted figures is then applied to his body, sand from the 
arm being applied to his arm, &e. 
Mr. Pavt described a similar art of dry-painting, practiced by the 
Japanese, but for amusement only. Bold designs of great variety 
are executed skillfully and rapidly in-public places, for which the 
artist receives compensation from the by-standers. Wealthy Japan- 
ese also employ persons to dance for them, and, for that matter, to 
fish for them; but the motive appears to be pleasure, and not religion, 
or health. 
Other remarks were made by Mr. JENKINS. 
Mr. W. C. WINLOcK made a communication on 
COMETS II AND III, 1884, 
i!lustrating his subject by models exhibiting each cometary orbit in 
its proper relation to the earth’s orbit, and also by plane diagrams 
and sketches of the comets. 
