Septembee 18, 1896.] 



SCIENCE. 



389 



represents is as fully entitled to recognition 

 as a man. Years ago it elected a woman 

 as its Secretary, and this year it honored 

 itself in honoring Miss Fletcher by confer- 

 ring upon her the position of presiding offi- 

 cer. And surely well deserved recognition 

 of long and most important service in be- 

 half of anthropology was never more satis- 

 factorily bestowed than in this case. It is 

 not flattery to say that no one could have 

 presided over the meetings or attended to 

 all the various duties which come to such 

 a position with greater grace, fidelity or 

 dignity, and it was well fitting that at the 

 closing session a very hearty expression of 

 appreciation of the delightful and efficient 

 manner in which Miss Fletcher had filled 

 her office should have been given by a ris- 

 ing vote. 



Before the regular reading of papers a 

 time had been set apart for the presenta- 

 tion of a resolution and a memorial con- 

 cerning the late Capt. J. G. Bourke. On 

 behalf of the Sectional Committee, W J 

 McGee offered the following: 



Wheeeas, This Section, the Association, the Na- 

 tion and the scientific world have sustained an im- 

 measurable loss in the death of John G. Bourke, 

 scientist and soldier, and, 



"Whereas, The loss is peculiarly painful in the 

 Section of Anthropology, to which he brought honor, 

 long as a working member and later as Secretary; 

 therefore, 



Resolved, That this Section here assembled join 

 in an expression of grief for the death, and of rever- 

 ence for the memory of our associate and friend. 



After the above had been read, Dr. D. G. 

 Brinton read, in the absence of the author, 

 a very appreciative and sympathetic memo- 

 rial of Capt. Bourke, by his friend and 

 fellow-laborer. Dr. "Washington Matthews. 

 Eemarks expressing esteem for the work and 

 character of our associate were made by 

 Prof. Putnam, Prof. Perkins and Miss 

 Fletcher, and the resolution was adopted 

 by a rising vote. 



The first paper on the programme was then 



read by Dr. H. C. Hovey, on 'Symbolic Eocks 

 of By field and Newbury, Mass. ' The author 

 called attention to certain old monuments 

 in colonial graveyards, and also to some 

 milestones and stones in the foundations of 

 some old houses which were carved in a 

 manner wholly unlike that of Puritan mon- 

 uments. The symbols upon these stones 

 are pagan rather than Christian, being sun- 

 disks, whorls, fleur-de-lis and rarely phallic 

 signs. The masterpiece shows the sun 

 god's bride, surrounded by sj^mbolic invo- 

 cations, and over all is delineated a rude 

 sun-burst. Photographs were shown and 

 reference was made to similar rocks in Ire- 

 land, Denmark and elsewhere. 



The Secretary read for the author a brief 

 paper by Mr. J. E. Chandler describing 

 certain important ruins of Tzac Pokoma, 

 Guatemala. These little known ruins are 

 of very considerable importance and extent. 

 " JSTumberless ruined temples, palaces, 

 houses and walls are now visible." The 

 ruins seem to be very ancient, and no 

 sculptures or hieroglyphics have been found 

 and very few implements. 



Prof. Putnam read for Mr. C. C. Wil- 

 loughby a very interesting 'Analysis of 

 Decoration upon Pottery from the Missis- 

 sippi Valley,' illustrated by numerous 

 beautifully executed drawings. The author 

 sought to show that much of the decora- 

 tion was symbolic, the ornaments being 

 religious in their nature. 



Prof. G. F. Wright read a brief paper, in 

 which he described a visit to the Lalor 

 farm, near Trenton, IST. J., where careful 

 investigation revealed ' Fresh Geological 

 Evidence of Glacial Man,' which was the 

 title of his paper. 



Prof. Putnam followed this paper with 

 verbal statements as to the locality, meth- 

 ods of investigation and specimens found, 

 many of which were exhibited, all going to 

 corroborate the testimony given by Prof. 

 Wright. 



