Decembku 7, 188y.] 



iSCIEXCE. 



;53 



is one of these, and yields with facility to almost any 

 external influence. 



Dr. Rosse speaks slightingly and flippantly of phil- 

 ological studies, and liolds that the observation of 

 habits in satisfying the demands of nature is a surer 

 guide to racial affinities. The dietetic value of seal, 

 bear, walrus, eider-duck, whale, and reindeer, is dis- 

 cussed; and we are led to believe that the Eskimo are 

 by no means to be pitied for their miserable food. 

 Says Dr. Rosse, ''We dined occasionally on fresli 

 trout, young wild duck, and reindeer. . . . There is 

 scarcely any better eating in the way of fish than 

 Coregonus, and certainly no more dainty game than 

 young wild geese and ptarmigan." The cranberries 

 and a kind of kelp are the only vegetable food. Eggs 

 in all states are eagerly devoured, though the women 

 win not take gull's eggs. Game is both plentiful and 

 very tame. 



Courtship and marriage are exceedingly simple, 

 parturition is easy, families are small, and mortality 

 among the new-born excessive. The description of 

 the carrying of infants and the plays of children ex- 

 hibit in the author a genuine sympathy absolutely 

 necessary in an observer of natural history. The per- 

 sonal ornamentations are chiefly tattooing and wear- 

 ing labrets. The native has no music in his soul, 

 although rare instances of acquired facility in singing 

 and playing are recorded. He is a born dancer or 

 jumper, however, mingling this pastime with all his 

 feasts. Dr. Rosse speaks in the highest terms of the 

 Eskimo art talent and of the facility shown by some 

 in learning the art of the higlier race. Of the intel- 

 ligence of tlie race the author has a high opinion. In 

 speaking of their crania. Dr. Rosse confirms the re- 

 sults of Dr. Kohlmann, that there is no fixed Eskimo 

 cranial type. As to character, nncontaminated, they 

 are models of truthfulness and honesty; but as to 

 chastity. Herder was far from truth wlien he wrote, 

 " The blood of man near the pole circulates slowly, 

 the heart beats but languidly: consequently the mar- 

 ried live chastely, the women almost require compul- 

 sion to take upon them the troubles of a married life." 



Owing to hish.ard life, the conflict with his circum- 

 stances, and his want of foresight, the Eskimo soon 

 becomes a physiological bankrupt: and, his stock of 

 vitality being exhausted, his bodily remains are cov- 

 ered with stones, aroinid which arc placed wooden 

 masks, and articles that have been useful to liira 

 during life; or they are covered with driftwood, and 

 the weapons and personal effects placed near by, in 

 response to the sentiment commemorated by Schiller 

 in ' Bringet hier die letzten gaben.' 



— The Ottawa microscopical society lield a conver- 

 sazione on Nov. 20, at which nearly three hundred 

 invited guests were entertained by the president and 

 members. Tlie admirable arrangement of the rooms 

 allowed of a varied programme. Microscopes of vari- 

 ous makers and models, and of highest grade, were 

 set out in the upper story of the building; while the 

 lower hall was devoted to music, elocution, the oxy- 

 hydrogen microscope, and the stereopticon. In the 

 hands of the Rev. Dr. Ballaud, of the College of Ot- 

 tawa, the gas-microscupe and gas-lantern charmed 



all by the novelty and brilliancy of the objects and 

 views presented U> them. The entertainment lasted 

 nearly three hours, and a repetition is e:igerly de- 

 manded. 



The general meetings of the society will be held 

 this winter on Dec. 18, Jan. 1.5, Feb. 19, and March 

 18, at eight p.m., in the offices of the Geological sur- 

 vey. 



— In accordance with the vote passed at the public 

 meeting of the Archaeological institute of America, 

 reported in Scie.vce, No. 41, the Hon. Samuel C. 

 Cobb and Messrs. Henry Lee, William Endicott, jun., 

 Oliver W. Peabody, and John C. Phillips have been 

 appointed a committee to solicit subscriptions for the 

 publication of the report of the investigations at Assos 

 and for the general work of the institute. Twenty 

 thousand dollars are needed ; and subscriptions may 

 be sent to either of the mimbeisof the committee, or 

 to Henry L. Higginson, Esq., treasurer of the insti- 

 tute. No. 44 State Street, Boston. 



— At the third annual meeting of the Natural science 

 association of Staten Island, held in the village hall, 

 New Brighton, Nov. 10, Dr. A. L. CaiToU was chosen 

 president; Samuel Henshaw, treasurer; Charles W. 

 Lang, recording secretary; Arthur Hollick, corre- 

 sponding secretary; and W. T. Davis, curator. The 

 society numbers seventy, and has a balance in the 

 treasury. Objects of interest were exhibited at this 

 meeting by seven members, and consisted very large- 

 ly of specimens collected in the immediate vicinity, 

 — the highest sign of activity. 



— The editor of the Americanmonthlymicroscopical 

 journal announces that the office of publication will 



be removed to Washington with the beginning of 1884. 



— The Russian academy of science held its cen- 

 tennary anniversary at St. Petersburg with much 

 ceremony on the second of last month, under the 

 presidency of Count Tolstoy, the Russian minister of 

 the interior. 



— The Moniteur industrielle announces that the 

 International exhibition at Marseilles opened on the 

 15th of November, and remains open until April 31, 

 1884. The programme is extensive, and, on the 

 whole, embraces much the same range of subjects 

 as the London fisheries exhibition. 



— After the electrical exhibition in Paris, a number 

 of French electricians formed themselves into a club, 

 which has met once a month for a dinner. From 

 this small beginning there has developed an ' Inter- 

 national society of electricians.' The society num- 

 bers more than nine hundred members from twenty 

 nationalities. Information may be had from Georges 

 Berger, 99 Rue de Grenellt, Paris. 



— Mr. Charles A. Ashburner of the State geological 

 survey is completing his surveys and examinations 

 in Cameron, Elk, and Forest counties, Penn. Mr. 

 Ashburner's report, to be accompanied by maps and 

 sections, will be ])ubllshcd late in the winter, and 

 will contain much information of interest to the coal 

 and oil operators in this section of the state. 



— The next issue of the Library of aboriginal 

 American literature, published by ])r. D. G. Brinton, 

 Philadelphia, will be ' The comedy of Gucguence,' 



