[ARCH 9, 1917] 



SCIENCE 



241 



described forms, but since the older authors 

 had little or no conception of the true specific 

 diilerences in this group, many names have 

 necessarily been set aside as practically mean- 

 ingless. The treatment throughout is full and 

 sufficient; the genera and species are separated 

 by keys, and the descriptions of the species are 

 quite detailed. Types are carefully designated, 

 and localities and collectors are cited. Biolog- 

 ical details are given when available. In all 

 respects the book worthily initiates a series 

 which may be expected to take first rank 

 among those devoted to zoological subjects. 



From a postscript at the end it appears that 

 two of the species described by Dr. Aldrich 

 were published a little earlier, under quite 

 other names, by Dr. E. E. Parker. It seems 

 strange that when there are only two persons 

 in the Western Hemisphere working on a sub- 

 ject, they can not consult together sufficiently 

 to avoid such conflicts. Figure 110, as I learn 

 from Dr. Aldrich, though labelled Sarcophaga 

 hison is in fact 8. hullata Parker. The fonner 

 name was a manuscript one of the author's, 

 and was altered in the text at the last moment, 

 because Dr. Parker published the species as 

 hullata. 



We hear much these days about the encour- 

 agement of research, but it is often overlooked 

 that adequate facilities for publication are es- 

 sential. Authors are not justified in spending 

 months and years in the preparation of mono- 

 graphs which may never appear in print or 

 serve any useful purpose. There are at this 

 moment many excellent contributions the pub- 

 lication of which is indefinitely postponed, or 

 which must be split up into short papers in 

 order to see the light. To those who are fa- 

 miliar with actual conditions the situation is 

 rather discouraging, and it is not mended by 

 the appearance of a certain number of large 

 books in sumptuous and extravagant form. 

 The Thomas Say Foundation, from necessity 

 no less than choice, publishes as cheaply as is 

 consistent with excellence, and in this respect 

 earns the gratitude of students. 



T. D. A. COCKEEELL 



University op Colorado 



THE ORIGIN OF THE PRE-COLUMBIAN 

 CIVILIZATION OF AMERICA 



My attention has just been called to the let- 

 ters (Science, October 13, 1916) in which Dr. 

 A. A. Goldenweiser and Mr. Philip Ainsworth 

 Means have put a series of questions for me to 

 answer. As the problems to be solved involve 

 the validity of the foundations upon which has 

 been built up (as the result of more than half 

 a century's intensive studies on the part of 

 leading scholars of every civilized country) a 

 vast superstructure of ethnological doctrine 

 and complex rationalization, perhaps you will 

 afford me the opportunity of replying in some 

 detail to these criticisms, and of adding to the 

 article of mine which appeared in Science on 

 August 11, 1916, some further reasons for 

 thinking that this elaborate edifice of ethno- 

 logical speculation will have to be demolished. 



While admitting that in the end my con- 

 tention may be justified, Mr. Means makes the 

 significant comment that " it will be a long 

 time before American anthropologists will be 

 forced to accept these views as final." All that 

 I have attempted to do is to " force " them 

 seriously to examine the foundations of their 

 beliefs, being firmly persuaded that such of 

 them whose minds are still sufficiently alert to 

 be no longer blinded by the outworn dogmas 

 of Bastian and Tylor^ will be led to accept the 

 views which I have sketched as the only pos- 

 sible interpretation of the facts. 



One of the three difficulties suggested by Mr. 

 Means I have already discussed at some 

 length.2 



1 By the same mail that brought me the proofs 

 of this letter also came the tidings of the death of 

 the veteran ethnologist whose teaching is so 

 frankly criticized in it. But though his theories of 

 ' ' animism ' ' and ' ' independent evolution of cul- 

 ture" have been a serious factor in clouding the 

 vision of ethnologists, the great merit belongs to 

 Sir Edward Tylor of stimulating a widespread in- 

 terest in the subject and thereby contributing ma- 

 terially to the advancement of learning, which has 

 earned him the grateful tribute of all scholars. 



2 ' ' Ships as Evidence of the Migrations of Early 

 Culture, ' ' Journal of the Manchester Egyptian and 

 Oriental Society, 1916. 



