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SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXX. No. 774 



pottery of the same character was found, with 

 flints and fragments of stone basins, etc. It ap- 

 proximates more in style to the larger megalithic 

 buildings of the island, and has a facade with a 

 more pronounced curve than at Hagar-Kim, con- 

 structed of very large blocks, but much ruined. 

 The interior consists of several distinct groups of 

 rooms (often apsidal) not intercommunicating. 

 The construction is of rough masonry, with large 

 slabs at the bottom, and smaller blocks higher up ; 

 the walls begin to converge, even at the height 

 (5 to 6 feet) to which they are preserved, as 

 though to form a roof. Into one of the rooms a 

 very curious trough has at a later period been 

 inserted; it is cut in a block of the local hard 

 stone, eight feet nine inches long, three feet eight 

 inches wide, and is divided by six transverse divi- 

 sions into seven small compartments, which show 

 much trace of wear. The object of it is not as yet 

 apparent. Another more carefully constructed 

 room, perhaps contemporary with the trough, has 

 its walls partly of large slabs, partly of narrow 

 pillar-like stones. The floors of these rooms are 

 sometimes of cement, sometimes of slabs. Many 

 bones of animals were found, but only one human 

 skeleton, and that in disorder and at a compara- 

 tively high level. The use of standing slabs at the 

 base of walls, with coursed masonry above, visible 

 in these buildings, finds its parallel in the Giants' 

 Tombs at Sardinia, the prehistoric huts of Lam- 

 pedusa, and in many other places. 



Dr. F. C. Shrubsall spoke on "The Influence 

 of Geographical Factors on the Distribution of 

 Racial Types in Africa." The movement seems 

 to have been from north to south, following the 

 course of the mountain ranges and across the 

 continent eastward and westward following the 

 great river systems. The influence of the nature 

 and configuration of the land and of climatic con- 

 ditions upon the natives was explained. The pres- 

 ence in certain regions of the tsetse fly and other 

 parasitic pests led to modifled conditions in the 

 animal life and thus directly or indirectly influ- 

 enced the occupation of these sections by the 

 native races. 



"A Study of Malaria in Ancient Italy," by 

 Mr. W. H. S. Jones, was read by Dr. Shrubsall 

 in the absence of the author. Malaria has exerted 

 a powerful but unmeasured influence on the his- 

 tory of Rome. It is caused by a mosquito. The 

 patient becomes immune only after many years. 

 In order to escape from the mosquito, which can 

 not fly far, towns were built on the hills. At a 

 very early period Rome was marshy. Whether 



it was malarious before 500 B.C. is an open ques- 

 tion, although the disease is thought to have been 

 introduced by merchants from Africa as early as 

 600 or 700 B.C. Continuous wars brought about 

 conditions that tended to increase the breeding of 

 mosquitoes and thereby the prevalence of malaria. 

 The periodicity of the fever gave rise to the belief 

 that it was a divine visitation. There was thus 

 a goddess of fever. The author cited early writers 

 who mention fever. 



A communication describing "A Cult of Ex- 

 ecuted Criminals in Sicily" was presented by Mr. 

 E. Sidney Hartland. Certain of the Sicilian 

 peasantry believe in the intercessory powers of 

 beheaded malefactors, or " Decollati," to whom 

 petitions are addressed. Instances ranging from 

 the prayers of the love-lorn maiden to appeals for 

 protection in times of attack by robbers were 

 cited by the author. Dr. D. Randall-Maclver's 

 paper on " A Nubian Cemetery at Anibeh " was 

 read by Professor Gordon, and that of Mr. F. M. 

 Dawkins on " The Excavations at Sparta of the 

 British School at Athens," by Professor Myres. 



Many social functions were held in connection 

 with the week's program at Winnipeg, among 

 them being receptions by Lord and Lady Strath- 

 eona, the Lieutenant-Governor and Lady McMil- 

 lan, Mr. C. C. Chipman, commissioner of the 

 Hudson's Bay Company for North America, and 

 Mrs. Chipman, Chief Justice and Mrs. Howell, 

 Principal and Mrs. W. J. Black, and the local 

 executive committee. Excursions were also made 

 to many points of interest in and about Winnipeg. 



At the close of the meeting about 180 members, 

 including the ofEcers and guests of the association, 

 were invited to take part in an excursion from 

 Winnipeg to the Pacific coast and back. This was 

 made possible through the generosity of the west- 

 ern provinces. The schedule was planned so as to 

 include visits to the capitals and largest cities of 

 the provinces as well as mountain resorts like 

 Banff, Lake Louise and Glacier. The stop at 

 Gleichen afforded an opportunity to see a group 

 of Blackfeet Indians. The scientists highly appre- 

 ciate and will long remember the courtesies ex- 

 tended by the reception committees at Regina, 

 Moose Jaw, Calgary, Vancouver, Victoria and 

 Edmonton. They were also much impressed by 

 the rapid material development of the country 

 and its splendid endowment of as yet unmeasured 

 resources. 



Geobge Gbanx MacCubdt 



Yale Univeesitt, 

 New Haven, Conn. 



