102 Canadian Record of Science. 



Evolution of Function. — The experiments on the sea turtle 

 have shown that where the cardiac nutrition suffers consid- 

 erably, the left auricle may even he quiescent when the right 

 is still beating well ; also that the ventricle dies in a certain 

 segmental order, the last part to get rigid being on its right 

 side. Thus for some time before death an earlier condition 

 (from a developmental point of view) is established, viz., 

 reduction to sinus, one auricle, and a simplified ventricle. It 

 is thus seen that the order of death for the different parts of 

 the heart indicates its history, the oldest parts have greatest 

 vitality. Further, the greater size and importance of the 

 right (part of the) sinus, of the right auricle, etc., have also 

 a relation to the order of acquisition. In the only fishes 

 having a left auricle, the Dipnoi, this part is very small and 

 insignificant as compared with the right. 



Anomalous Results. — Stimulation of the liver in certain 



cases in the sea turtle, when reflex inhibition was being 



studied, has given results analagous to those obtained in the 



alligator, and especially in the fish, i.e., the effect has not 



been pure inhibition, but preliminary acceleration with or 



without after-retardation. The subject is of great interest, 



though very puzzling in the present state of knowledge. It 



is further considered in the account of the investigation on 



the alligator. 



(To be continued.) 



Aboriginal Trade of the Canadian Northwest. 



By Chaklbs N. Bell. 



Articles of beaten native copper such as knives, chisels, 

 awls, scrapers, bracelets, etc., have been taken from mounds 

 situated on the banks of Eainy Eiver. The metal in all 

 probability was mined at Lake Superior ; perhaps at Isle 

 Royal, which is opposite the eastern terminus of a canoe 

 route leading from Eainy Eiver. On this island many 

 mines, first worked by a prehistoric people, have been dis- 

 covered during the past few years. 



Sea shells of the genera Natica and Marginella (?) have been 



