r 
1876.] Anthropology. . +0. 
but, to my regret, on unfolding the paper while on my way to the houss 
at which I was staying, I found the shrew had died. I have little doubt 
but that its death was caused by fřight,as I handled it most carefully 
so as not to hurt it. 
I found nothing of the unpleasant odor which is said to be secreted by 
certain glands with which this animal is provided, and which, in the 
form of a decided muskiness, is so apparent in the star-nosed mole. The 
shrew had, however. voided a slight quantity of excrement, which act, I 
believe, in articulo mortis, is common to all animals, including man. — 
Henry GILLMAN. 
ANTHROPOLOGY. 
Western Worked Frakes ann New Jersey Rupe IMPLE- 
‘MENTS. — Capt. Wm. A. Jones’s Reconnaissance of Northwestern Wy- 
oming having been received after the proof-sheets of my paper in the 
June NaruraLIst were corrected and returned, I could not avail, myself 
of the very interesting remarks of Professor Comstock on the archeol- 
ogy of that region, which in part refer to specimens such as I have de- 
scribed and figured in the article referred to. The implements described 
by Professor Comstock (Figures 40 and 41, p. 260) are evidently iden- 
tical with that figured on page 331 of the Naruraxist (vol. x.). Of 
these western specimens Professor Comstock remarks, “ It is scarcely to 
be supposed that these rude splinters have ever subserved the purpose of 
Weapons or other implements, although there are many of the flakes of 
more definite shapes which may have been so employed. It seems prob- 
able, however, that a large proportion of those which can be referred to 
no particular form are merely the rejected pieces which have been 
spoiled during the process of manufacturing more perfect implements, or, 
in some cases, perhaps they are pieces from which smaller arrow-heads 
have been chipped.” I cannot think that.these specimens, at least such 
as those figured, are rejected or spoiled implements. ‘The fact that the 
same forms occur in New Jersey, associated with others of scarcely more 
definite shape, and not associated with “smaller arrow-heads,” is evi- 
dence, I claim, of their being finished implements. Again, if “ failures,” 
is it probable that there would be that uniformity in shape and size, 
which obtains among them? Thirdly, their outline suggests no other 
form of implement, such as we know; as “ blocked-out” javelin heads, 
axes, and hatchets are well-known shapes to the collectors. : 
The similarity of the western specimens to fragments of rock, un- 
doubtedly naturally formed, has suggested the possibility of all being of 
natural and not artificial origin. That a fragment of rock, accidentally 
produced, should be nearly or quite identical in outline with certain well- 
wn forms of Indian relies, is quite natural, inasmuch as happily 
shaped pieces of flinty stone were the first tools used by primitive man, 
and suggested, in the course of centuries, the variations in shape which 
9 inereasing number and character of their wants demanded. The 
