44 PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON. 
sound should be received with caution; for it is well known that 
very great and sudden disturbances may be propagated through a 
medium with a greater velocity than the normal velocity of sound 
in that medium. In Captain Parry’s Arctic expedition it was 
noticed that distant observers heard the report of cannon before 
hearing the command to fire. 
The PRESIDENT announced that Mr. T. C. MENDENHALL, having 
removed from the city, had resigned his position on the General 
Committee of the Society, and that the committee had filled the 
vacancy by the election of Mr. Wiiu14Mm B. Tayxor. 
291st Meerrina. NovEeMBER 6, 1886. 
Vice-President MALLERY in the Chair. 
Twenty-three members and guests present. 
Mr. O. T. Mason made a communication on 
BOWYERS AND FLETCHERS. 
[Abstract. ] 
Whatever may be our theory of creation, the arts of mankind 
proceed from the same sources as the genera and species of natural 
objects. The design ‘of this paper is to demonstrate, by means of 
an art almost universally dispersed in time and place, that we may 
regard the implements and products of human industry in the light 
of biological specimens. They may be divided into families, genera, 
and species. They may be studied in their several ontogenies (that 
is, we may watch the unfolding of each individual thing from its 
raw material to its finished production). ‘They may be regarded as 
the products of specific evolution out of natural objects serving 
human wants and up to the most delicate machine performing the 
same function. They may be modified by their relationship, one to 
another, in sets, outfits, apparatus, just as the insect and flower are 
co-ordinately transformed. They observe the law of change under 
environment and geographical distribution. 
The bow, at first, was only an elastic limb or branch transformed 
little or none at all. From this parent form have developed three 
