656 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXX. No. 775 



energy of elastic spheres alone may suffice to 

 account for their kinetic conditions in many 

 respects. J. E. Siebel 



Chicago, III. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 



THK ANTHROPOLOGICAL SOCIETY OP WASHINGTON 



The 434th regular meeting of the society was 

 held October 12, 1909, in the West Hall of the 

 University Building, George Washington Univer- 

 sity, with President Fewkes in the chair. 



The paper of the evening was by Dr. Ales 

 Hrdlicka, whose subject was " The Anthropology 

 of Egypt in the Light of Recent Observations." 

 This dealt mainly with the results of Dr. 

 Hrdlicka's expedition to Egypt, carried out during 

 the first part of the current year under the 

 auspices of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and 

 the National Museum. The expedition brought, 

 besides other results, very important additions to 

 the skeletal collection in the National Museum. 



The speaker, after pointing out the importance 

 to anthropology of studies on the Egyptians, and 

 mentioning the important work that has been and 

 is being done in Egyptian research and exploration 

 by American men of science, particularly Breasted, 

 Reisner, Lythgoe and Davis, proceeded to discuss 

 the results of recent investigations on well identi- 

 fied skeletal remains from that country, ranging 

 from the earliest to the latest periods, and also 

 the results of his examinations of the living rem- 

 nants of the Egyptians. 



The principal facts brought out were as follows: 



Contrary to the hitherto prevailing opinion, 

 there were, in the course of time, marked changes 

 in the physique, particularly the form of the 

 skull, of the Egyptians, the ancient crania being, 

 on the average, decidedly longer and narrower 

 than those of the later periods. 



The Egyptians originated, in all probability, 

 from more than one stream of anthropologically 

 related people, the principal elements being Libyan 

 and Puntite or Arabian. 



Negro admixture was very small up to the time 

 of the empire. A more noticeable addition con- 

 sisted of a brachycephalic strain coming probably 

 from Asia Minor. This is traceable from the 

 earliest times and became important during the 

 Greek and Roman occupation. 



The Egyptians were light to medium brown in 

 color, usually with black, straight to slightly 

 curly hair, a moderate stature and muscular 

 development. They approached closely in all their 

 important features the north Africans and south- 



western Asiatics and with these the European 

 dolichocephalic whites. 



At the present time the ancient Egyptians may 

 be considered as practically extinct or rather ob- 

 literated. The actual population of the country 

 is an amalgamation of the original inhabitants 

 with the Arabs, Negroes and many elements from 

 the northwest, north and northeast of the Nile 

 Valley. 



In certain localities traces of the old Egyptians 

 still can be recognized. This seems to be prin- 

 cipally the ease in the great oasis. A series of 155 

 natives of this oasis were closely studied, also 

 photographed. The data are being prepared for 

 publication. 



The paper was discussed by Professor Holmes, 

 Dr. Casanowicz, Dr. Folkmar, Dr. Hough, Dr. 

 Fewkes and others. John R. Swanton, 



Secretary 



THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. NEW YORK 

 SECTION 



The first regular meeting of the session of 

 1909-10 was held at the Chemists Club on Octo- 

 ber 8. 



Dr. Morris Loeb, in taking the chair, made a 

 short address. He spoke of the plans of the sec- 

 tion for the approaching session and especially 

 commented upon the desirability of a chemical 

 museum, expressing the hope that it might be 

 housed together with the society library in the 

 new quarters of the Chemists' Club. 



Dr. A. P. Hallock gave a report of the general 

 meeting of the society at Detroit, calling atten- 

 tion to the hospitality and very enjoyable enter- 

 tainment offered by the Detroit Section. 



Professor M. A. Rosanofi', of Clark University, 

 read a paper by C. W. Easley and himself " On 

 the Partial Vapor Pressures of Binary Mixtures." 

 This paper is published in full in the current 

 number of the Journal of the American Chemical 

 Society. 



Professor H. C. Sherman presented " A Source 

 of Error in the Examination of Foods for Salicylic 

 Acid." 



The members present were invited to attend a 

 special meeting of the Chemists' Club held after 

 the adjournment of the meeting of the section. 

 At this meeting the plans of the building com- 

 mittee for a larger and more adequate club house 

 were adopted, insuring a home for the chemists of 

 New York unexcelled in this country or probably 

 abroad. C. M. Joyce, 



Secretary 



