120 



SCIEJSrCE. 



[Vol. IX., No. 209 



first and second, the release being effected by 

 simply straightening the fingers ; in the Japanese 

 the string is drawn back by the bent thumb, the 

 forefinger aiding in holding the thumb down on 

 the string." 



Thus set upon inquiry, he has discovered that 

 there are, or have been, five different methods in 

 vogue in the use of the bow and arrow. The 

 simplest consists in "grasping the arrow between 

 the end of the straightened thumb and the first 

 and second joints of the bent forefinger. . . . With 

 a light bow, such a release is the simplest and 

 best ; and it makes but little difference upon 

 which side of the bow the arrow rests, provided 

 the bow is held vertically. This release, however, 

 prevents the drawing of a stiff bow, unless one 

 possesses enormous strength in the fingers." He 

 calls this the ' primary release ' 



Figs, l and 2. — Primary release. 



It appears to have been the method used by the 

 natives of this country, when first discovered, 

 according to William Wood's quaint description : 

 " For their shooting they be most desperate marks- 

 men for a point blancke object . , . they can 

 smite the swift-running Hinde and the nimble- 

 winged Pigeon without a standing pause or left- 

 eyed blinking ; they draw their Arrowes between 

 the fore finger and the thumbe ; their bowes be 

 quick, but not very strong, not killing above six 

 or seven score " {New England's prospect, part ii. 

 chap, xiv.. Prince soc. ed., p. 97). Several of the 

 American tribes still practise this method of re- 

 lease, and our readers have doubtless seen Indian 

 boys shooting in this manner. This is also the 

 habit followed by the Ainos, the primitive inhab- 

 itants of Japan. 



The second manner of release " consists in grasp- 

 ing the arrow with the straightened thumb and 



bent forefinger, while the ends of the second and 

 third fingers are brought to bear on the string to 

 assist in drawing." This is an advance upon the 

 first through the h-lp afforded by the other fln- 



FiGS. 3 and 4. — Secondary release. 



gers in drawing the string. This is designated as 

 the ' secondary release,' and is stated to be the 

 method employed by the Zunis, the semi-civilized 

 Pueblo tribe, living in the north-western part of 

 New Mexico. 



Figs. 5 and 6. — Tertiary release. 



The third method, which he styles the 'tertiary 

 release,' " differs in the position of the forefinger, 



