390 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. IV. No. 90. 



Prof. E. "W. Claypole brought forward 

 similar evidence from Ohio, with the ex- 

 hibition of specimens, found in one case at a 

 depth of 22 feet in gravel that apparently 

 could not have been disturbed since glacial 

 times. 



With this closed the day assigned to 

 Archseology, though other papers properly 

 set for this time came later, through un- 

 avoidable conditions. On Wednesday, by 

 recommendation of the Sectional Commit- 

 tee, a committee was appointed '' For the pur- 

 pose of advancing an acquaintance with the 

 objects of Section H among both members 

 and non-members." This committee con- 

 sists of J. McK. Cattell, D. G. Brinton, 

 Franz Boas. 



Dr. D. Gr. Brinton presented the follow- 

 ing : 



Whekeas, The influence whicli the environment of 

 the New World has exerted upon the physical and 

 mental development of the White Eace is a question 

 of the utmost scientific and practical importance, and, 



Whereas, There appears to be no governmental 

 or scientific bureau -which is giving the subject atten- 

 tion at the present time ; therefore. 



Resolved, That the American Association for the Ad- 

 vancement of Science appoint a committee to organ- 

 ize an Ethnological Investigation of the White Eace 

 in the United States, with special reference to the in- 

 fluence exerted upon it in its new surroundings, said 

 Committee to report annually. 



According to rule this was, after adoption 

 by the Section, referred to the Council by 

 whom it was passed and the Section re- 

 quested to nominate said committee. The 

 Section did so, and by vote of the Council 

 the following were appointed as such com- 

 mittee : D. a. Brinton, J. McK. Cattell, 

 W. W. Newell, W J McGee, Franz Boas. 



The programme of this day was especially 

 given to Ethnology. Dr. McGee gave a 

 very interesting account of a tribe of In- 

 dians, the Seri, living on Tiburon Island, in 

 the Gulf of California, and exhibited speci- 

 mens of their stone implements. He showed 

 how very rude these people are in all their 



arts and conditions. His title was 'Seri 

 Stone Art.' 



This was followed by a carefully prepared 

 paper by Horatio Hale on ' Indian Wampum 

 Eecords.' The author referred to the use of 

 wampum as money and as a method of re- 

 cording events or transcribing messages. 

 Wampum was used in very early times and 

 by many peoples. This was an interesting 

 and valuable paper. 



Dr. Brinton read a paper on ' The Psychic 

 Source of Myths,' which would have come 

 on the following day, but the author being 

 obliged to leave town it was read at this time. 

 The author called attention to a common 

 idea that by comparing numerous elements 

 in different myths, and thus discovering 

 that many are identical, a common origin 

 is proved. But this method does not take 

 into account the essential unity of the 

 human mind, wherever it may be, and the 

 laws which govern its activity. Because of 

 the tendency of mind everywhere and in all 

 conditions to act in the same manner we 

 find myths of very similar sort in all parts 

 of the world. Numerous examples illustra- 

 ting this were given. Myths may, there- 

 fore, be very similar and yet very diverse 

 in origin. 



Dr. Boas then read a paper on ' The Lim- 

 itations of the Comparative Method in An- 

 thropology,' which will appear in full in 

 Science. 



Judge G. P. Thurston followed with a 

 paper on '■ Ceremonial Flint Implements and 

 Shell Gorgets from Tennessee.' Most su- 

 perb specimens of both classes of the objects 

 named in the title were exhibited. No 

 finer examples of aboriginal work have ever 

 been found than these, both as to size and 

 elegance of workmanship. On one of the 

 circular gorgets was engraved a human 

 figure, holding in one hand a head and in 

 the other as a scepter or emblem a stone 

 object, the duplicate of one exhibited. 



Dr. W. M. Beauchamp gave a very care- 



