THE ATLANTIC SLOPE NATURALIST 



65 



tion of both of these peoples was such 

 that they were not surrounded by 



savage neighbors and, therefore, the 

 methods of war did not to any very 

 great extent demand their attention 

 and they were consequently able to 

 direct their attention very largely to 

 the development of knowledge along 

 non-warlike lines. In Peru the Que- 

 chuas were the equals in many re- 

 spects of the Aztecs and the Mayas. 

 They devoted much attention to the 

 agricultural arts, raising maize, cot- 

 ton, cocoa, potatoes and tobacco; they 

 used fertilizers and recognized the im- 

 portance of the rotation of crops. 

 They domesticated the llama, the dog 

 and a few other animals. They were 

 skilled in the weaving and coloring of 

 fabrics. In the handling of stone for 

 the erection of buildings their work 

 in some instances was very remark- 

 able. They were familiar with cer- 

 tain methods for the working of 

 metals. In the making of beautiful 

 pottery they were quite skilled. They 

 were acquainted with certain methods 

 for the mummification of the dead and 

 the practice of it was at least some- 

 times given certain religious signifi- 

 cance. 



With all this, and more, knowledge 

 it is considered that they were not 

 familiar with an}- method of writing. 

 It being considered that the quipus, 

 which consisted of strings knotted in 

 certain ways and which had certain 

 significance, represented the only 

 method they knew for the recording of 

 ideas; although the Muj'scas of Col- 

 umbia and the Moxos of Western Bol- 

 ivia are said to have employed picto- 

 graphs. 



Taking into consideration the prac- 

 tical equality in mental capacity and 

 in a general way the similarity of 

 culture, although not identical environ- 

 ment of the Quechuas in comparison 

 with the Aztecs and the Mayas, does it 

 not seem doubtful that they were not 

 acquainted with any other method of 

 writing except by the necessarilj- un- 



satisfactory method of the quipus, 

 especially when they were apparently 



so well qualified to produce a native 

 literature. 



Had the few Maya manuscripts 

 which have escaped destruction been 

 destroyed it would probably have been 

 considered that they were unacquaint- 

 ed witli their method of writing. 



Could such a fate have befallen any 

 Peruvian manuscripts? Reasoning by 

 analogy is it not legitimate to suspect 

 that the existence of such manuscripts 

 might have been possible? 



The Wellington Field Naturalists' Club, 

 Guelph, Ontario, Canada. 



This organization is second to none 

 in America from the standpoint of the 

 activity and ability of its members 

 and also in the broad scope which it 

 utilizes in its investigations. It not 

 being in any sense restricted to one or 

 to even to a few lines of investigation. 

 It is a society old-fashioned enough to 

 consider that the study of the whole 

 domain of nature is of more interest 

 and importance than being restricted 

 to the study of a part. We have re- 

 ceived and take pleasure in publishing 

 the following report from the Secre- 

 tary, Mr. Klugh, which w T as received 

 just in time to be included in this 

 issue. 



At the meeting of the Club held on 

 Wednesday evening, Nov. 11, 1003, 

 the following papers were read : — 



"The genus Habcnaria in Welling- 

 ton County," by L. Beattie. 



"The Butterflies," by R. Redwin. 



"The Pine Grosbeak," by Pres. T. 

 D. Jar vis. 



"Some notes on Putorius novebor- 

 acensis," by Sec'y A. B. Klugh. 



"The Genus Picea, " by Dr. Mul- 

 drew. 



"The Genus Salix at Gait," by W. 

 Herriot. 



Each paper was followed by a dis- 

 cussion during which many valuable 

 points were brought out. 



