May 11, 1883 



SCIENCE. 



407 



an empty ruptured zona. This is an important and 

 interesting observation, because the fate of the zona 

 pellucidahas not been hitherto determined. Spee 

 adds the suggestion that possibly the same protoplas- 

 mic pi'ocesses which serve to free the egg, also act to 

 fasten it to the wall of the uterus. 



As a continuation of Spec's paper. Hen sen de- 

 scribes an ovum, soon after attachment to the uterhie 

 wall, found six days and twenty-three hours after 

 copulation. The egg (0.13X0.08. mm. in diam.) lay 

 in an open pit of the mucosa. It consists of a vesicle, 

 with a mass of cells on one side, therefore agreeing 

 in structure with the latest stage of the free ovum 

 seen by Spee. Formerly Hensen considered the mass 

 of cells to represent the ovum, and the wall of the 

 vesicle to be an outgrowth of the epithelium of the 

 uterus; but he now withdraws that interpretation, and 

 accepts Schafer's view that the whole is ovic. '■ The 

 vesicle is therefore the single-layered primary chorion, 

 which is derived from the ectoderm, and is separated 

 very early from the embryo proper. In other mam- 

 mals this separation does not occur until after the 

 formation of the amnion." The ectodermal cells of 

 the germ-mass of the embryo come to form a hollow, 

 and this hollow Hensen homologizes witli the amniotic 

 cavily of other mammals. Of course, tlierefore, it is 

 bounded by the ectoderm, and, beyond that, by the 

 entoderm. The apparent reversal of the layers is 

 therefore due to the early development and peculiar 

 position o£ the amniotic cavity, in!>ide the ovum. In 

 conclusion, Hensen insists upon the importance of 

 showing that the histological value of the germ- 

 layers is really preserved, even in so unusual a form 

 of development as that of the guinea-pig. — (Arch, 

 anat. pTiysiol., anat. abih., 1883, 44, (il.) c. s. M. 



[849 



Germ-layers and gastrula of the mouse. — In 

 some rodents the germ-layers have apparently a posi- 

 tion the reverse of that in other animals. This fact 

 has led Selenka to investigate the early stages of 

 white mice in the search for the explanation of the 

 reversal. He has published a preliminary notice of 

 his results. There is a special envelope of covering 

 cells within which the cells of the embryo proper 

 undergo their development. (This is perhaps the 

 stage described by Spee — see 849 — in the guinea-pig, 

 as a vesicle with a clump of cells at one end.) The 

 embryo-cells lie at one end, separate into the two 

 primitive layers, and become united with a support 

 formed by a knob of cells attached to the uterine 

 wall. This knob is not used in the construction of 

 the embryo. The mass of ectoderm-cells becomes hol- 

 low, and the cavity increases in size. In the ectoder- 

 mal cells limiting it, the ectodermal organs of the 

 embryo are developed according to the typical pro- 

 ces-ses in other mammalia. A more detailed report of 

 this interesting research will be given when the full 

 memoir is published. — (Biol, centraibl., ii. 550.) 

 c. s. M. [850 



Embryology of mice. — The observations of 

 Selenka and Kupffer on the development of mice 

 have been critically reviewed by Hensen. He does 

 not accept their views as to the gastrulation, or that 

 the formation of the cavity bounded by the ectoderm 

 is the gastrula development. Selenka attributes the 

 reversal of the germ-layers to the proliferation of the 

 ectoderm-cells; but Hensen maintains it to be due to 

 the invagination of the mass of cells forming the 

 embryo-germ. The ectodermal cavity in Arvicula 

 does not correspond, as would seem natural, to the 

 amniotic cavity of the guinea-pig; for an amnion is 

 subsequently developed in its interior. (Does not 

 this rather indicate that Hensen's homologizing the 



ectodermal cavity in the guinea-pig with the amniotic 

 cavity is erroneous, and that it is really the same as 

 the ectodermal cavity described by Selenka and Kupf- 

 fer P) Finally Hensen discusses briefly the position 

 of the germinal disk in guinea-pigs, and compares it 

 with that of rabbits. — (Arch. anat. plu/siol., anat. 

 abth., 1883, 71.) c. s. m. [851 



ANTHROPOLOGY. 



The Onondaga Indians. — In lf<S'2 the legisla- 

 ture of New York appointed three coramissioneis to 

 inquire concerning the condition of the Onondaga 

 Indians; and their report has been published. With 

 the feud between the the cliristian and the pagan par- 

 ties, we have nothing here to do; but much interest- 

 ing ethnologic matter appears throughout the pam- 

 plilet. On the reservation in Onondaga County are 

 319 souls, who, with others of their tribe scattered 

 through the state, amounting in all to 500, constitute 

 a nation, recognized as such in treaties and by the 

 courts, holding their lands in perpetuity, not to be sold 

 or in any manner disposed of, and regulating them 

 entirely after their own fashion. The origination of 

 the union of the Six Nations is detailed in Morgan's 

 League of the Iroquois, and a brief sketch of their 

 history is given in the pamphlet now under review. 

 The Onondagas hold their land in common; but 

 certain portions are held by individuals, and these 

 possessions are bought and sold and leased to one 

 another. Some of them are thrifty farmers, owning 

 cattle, oxen, and horses, and they frequently monop- 

 olize the best lands. The old custom of frequent 

 divorces has been partly broken up by the new con- 

 stitution of the tribe; and the law now conforms to 

 that of Xew York respecting the Indians, — that those 

 who contract marriage shall be considered as lawful 

 husband and wife, and their children shall be legiti- 

 inate. In practice, however, there is just ground 

 of complaint. The evidence before the commission 

 shows that old practices are kept up in some of the 

 Indian dances that are incompatible with civilization. 

 To the report of the commission are appended the 

 new constitution, and the complaints and charges of 

 the two factions in the tribe. — j. w. p. ■ [852 



Philologic science. — Dr. Frederick iliiller, of 

 Vienna, published, during the past year, parts 1 and 

 2 of vol. ii. of his Gnuulriss der sprachwi.-<sensc!iaft, 

 devoted to the languages of the smootji-h aired races. 

 Part 1 is devoted to the Australians, the Hyperbo- 

 reans, and the Americans; part 2, to the Malays and 

 the northern Asiatic (Mongolian) races. Of the sub- 

 divisions of the Australian race, it is impossible here 

 to speak. The Hyperboreans are made to embrace 

 the Yenisei -Ostjaks, Yukagirs, Chukchis, Ainos, 

 Aleuts, and Innuits. The American languages dis- 

 cussed are the Athapaskan, Algonkin, Iroquois, Da- 

 kotan, Cherokee, Chahta, Kolosh, Selish, Sahaptin, 

 Chinuk, Mutsun, Nahuatl, Sonorau, ptomi, Taras- 

 kan, Tototen, Matlatsinka, Mixtek, Zapotek, Maya, 

 Mosquito, Bribri, Arowak, and Carilj, in Korth 

 America; and the Moxos, Muisca. Paeses, Yaruros, 

 Chimu, Inca, Guarani, Kiriri, Chi<iuitos, Lules, Abi- 

 pones, Moluches, and Tehuelche, in South America. 



Under tlie high Asian languages in part 2, Prof. 

 Midler includes the Samoyede, Ural-AUaic, Japan- 

 ese, Corean, Tibetan, Burman, Siamese, Khasian, 

 Anamese, and Chinese. 



In no case does the list of languages claim to be ex- 

 haustive; and especially is this true of North America. 

 The plan with each tongue is to commence with the 

 sound system, and, proceeding from a discussion of 

 root-forms, to progress through the differentiation 



