140 
new instrument devised for the purpose of 
measuring the torsion of the long bones. 
The features of the instrument were sim- 
plicity, ease and rapidity of manipulation 
and accuracy. 
Dr. Walter Hough gave an ethnographic 
sketch of the Totonac Indians of Mexico, 
concerning whom but little has heretofore 
been known. 
A second paper by Dr. G. A. Dorsey, 
on ‘An Aboriginal Quarry in Eastern 
Wyoming,’ closed the morning session. 
Upon reassembling in the Historical Semi- 
nary Room Professor Boas withdrew from 
the office of chairman and Dr. Frank Rus- 
sell was elected to that position. 
The first paper of the afternoon was by 
Professor O. T. Mason, on ‘ Technique in 
Amerindian Basketry.’ In the absence of 
the author the paper was read by Dr. 
Hough. All American baskets are of two 
types: woven or plicated and coiled. The 
forms of woven baskets were enumerated, 
with examples of each. The varieties of 
twined and of coiled basketry were classi- 
fied and described. 
Professor Boas followed with an account 
of his summer’s work among the Kwakiutl 
Indians of the Northwest Coast, speaking 
particularly of their language. He com- 
mented upon the changes that are taking 
place through contact with the whites, also 
the change from the paternal to maternal 
descent in the social organization of the 
tribe. In the discussion which followed 
Dr. Fewkes pointed out the similarity be- 
tween the measurements in use among the 
Kwakiutls and those of the Hopi, and also 
spoke of the customs regarding property, 
especially the ownership of eagles. The 
different clans have traditions that they 
came from different quarters, and the eagles’ 
nests in those directions are not disturbed 
by the members of other clans. 
The paper upon ‘The Interpretation of 
Field Testimony, especially concerning Vil- 
SCIENCE. 
[N. 8S. Von. XIII. No. 317. 
lage Sites,’ by Mr. W. K. Moorehead, was 
read by Dr. Wilson. 
The Section meeting at 9 o’clock on 
Thursday morning in the Physical Labora- 
tory was presided over by Professor McGee. 
An illustrated paper was read by Mr. Geo. 
G. MacCurdy, on ‘ Folk-Religion in Brit- 
tany.’ The author described a ceremony 
at the church of Carnac dedicated to St. 
Cornély, patron of domestic animals, where 
live cattle are offered not only for thé 
Saint’s blessing, but also as gifts to him. 
At a chapel near Brussels, dedicated to St. 
Guidon, horses appear prominently on cer- 
tain. festival days. Figurines of horses 
and cattle used in Bohemia, Styria and 
Bavaria offer a striking parallelism with the 
Hopi figurines of domestic animals used at 
the winter-solstice ceremony. 
Mr. Harlan I. Smith presented an illus- 
trated’ paper, entitled, ‘ Notes upon the 
Archeology of the Sagwan Valley, Michi- 
gan.’ These notes were selected from those 
taken by the author in 1890 which are now 
being edited for the purpose of rendering 
them available to the State Survey which 
prominent educators of Michigan are ad- 
vocating. Notable among those who are 
endeavoring to establish an archeological 
survey of the State of Michigan are the 
University of Michigan and the Detroit 
Branch of the Archeological Institute of 
America. After discussing the paper and 
the desirability of extending such surveys, 
the Section appointed a committee consist- 
ing of Thomas Wilson, chairman, G. A. 
Dorsey and Frank Russell to transmit a 
suitable memorial to the people of Michigan 
expressive of its approval of the establish- 
ment of the survey. 
Dr. Frank Russell exhibited a series of 
lantern slides made from photographs which 
he had taken in Arizona during the summer 
of 1900. This communication was avowedly 
presented for the purpose of eliciting infor- 
mation concerning the present state of our 
