156 
belief underlying the custom being the charac- 
teristic notion that the powers of the consumed 
are thereby conveyed to the consumer. A re- 
lated belief finds expression among the same 
people in the practice of opening the abdomen 
of an enemy killed in battle, extracting the 
caul fat and annointing with it the body of 
the victor, the ceremony taking place while the 
body of the victim is still warm, or, if prac- 
ticable, before his death. In all cases, of 
anthropophagy the skins were carefully re- 
moved, dried, and then hung in high trees to 
be blown about by the winds. 
W JM. 
PROPOSED INSCRIPTION FOR THE STATUE 
OF DARWIN. 
WE recently quoted from the London Academy 
inscriptions proposed for the statue of Darwin. 
Mr. Edward Montgomery, of Hemstead, Texas, 
suggests the following substitute : 
Charles Darwin, whose painstaking biological in- 
vestigation has demonstrated the developmental as- 
cent of lowest to highest forms of life, proving Evo- 
lution to be the master-key to the secrets of nature, 
and opening to striving humanity the inspiring pros- 
pect of natural perfectibility. 
We have also received from ‘ Milner Kenne’ 
the following sonnet : 
CHARLES DARWIN. 
Father of Science, versed in Nature’s lore, 
Toilsome unraveller of her mystic laws, 
Tracing by painful thought effect to cause 
Till, like Columbus, thou new worlds explore ; 
Say, shall we ever see thy equal more ? 
Modest as great, yet fearless without pause, 
Careless alike of censure or applause, 
Steering still onward to the unknown shore. 
To thy keen sight, thy patient thought and clear, 
The newer science owes nativity. 
Thy sunlike mind bids ignorance disappear 
Till Nature’s wonders seem to mirror thee, 
And to us mourning say in words of cheer, 
Si monumentum quaeris, aspice ! 
THE NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 
THE following circular letter has been sent by 
the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution to 
officers of the army serving in the Philippines, 
Cuba, Porto Rico and Hawaii and on other 
outside stations: 
SCIENCE. 
[N.S. Vou. X. No. 240. 
The Secretary, on behalf of the Regents of 
the Smithsonian Institution, and with the per- 
mission of the Honorable the Secretaries of 
State, of War and of the Navy, calls the atten- 
tion of officers of the United States on foreign 
stations to the fact that there is at the capital a. 
National Zoological Park, established by an Act- 
of Congress approved April 30, 1890, which 
provides : 
That the National Zoological Park is hereby placed 
under the direction of the Regents of the Smithsonian 
Institution, who are authorized to transfer to it any 
living specimens, whether of animals or plants now or 
hereafter in their charge ; to accept gifts for the Park 
at their discretion, in the name of the United States; 
to make exchanges of specimens, and to administer 
the said Zoological Park for the advancement of 
science and the instruction and recreation of the 
people. 
That the heads of the executive departments of the 
government are hereby authorized and directed to 
cause to be rendered all necessary and practicable aid 
to the said Regents in the acquisition of collections 
for the Zoological Park. 
This Park, of which some idea may be formed 
by the accompanying map and illustrations, 
has been established in an unusually beautiful 
site near the city of Washington. It is in- 
tended to form here a representative national 
collection which, while especially rich in our 
native American animals, shall also contain 
specimens from all parts of the world, and shall. 
be to America what the zoological gardens at. 
London, Paris and Berlin are to their respective 
countries. 
For several years Congress made no appro- 
priation for the purchase of animals, and the 
Park is still largely dependent upon gifts to in- 
crease the collection, which is far from adequate 
as an exhibit in a national institution. 
If officers stationed abroad who may be in- 
terested in animal life would bear in mind the 
necessities of the Park many additions could 
be made to the collection. Almost any foreign 
animals would be gladly received. 
Expenses of boxing and of land transporta- 
tions, where necessary, will always be paid by 
the Zoological Park. 
Purchase of animals can be made only in ex- 
ceptional cases, but if the opportunity for any 
especially desirable acquisition arises the Secre- 
