534 General Notes. [July, 
is the first to bring out prominently the existence and construc- 
tion of barrows, or chambered mounds, in Missouri. The Big 
Mound, referred to above, contained a chambered tomb whose 
dimensions were from eight to twelve feet wide, seventy feet long 
and from eight to ten feet in height. This structure formerly 
stood at the corner of Mound street and Broadway, in St. Louis, 
and was entirely removed in 1869. It was one hundred and thirty 
feet long and thirty feet high. Its demolition drew crowds o 
spectators to the spot during the many weeks occupied in its 
removal. Mr. Conant made personal and careful examinations of 
the work during the whole process of destruction. His enthusi- 
asm may be inferred from the following paragraph: “ Being 
desirous of procuring a perfect skull, I began a careful excavation 
with a common kitchen knife near the feet of a skeleton, follow- 
ing the spinal column to the head. My work, however, was soon 
interrupted by the crowd of eager boys from the neighboring 
schools, who scrambied for the beads thrown out with each handful 
of earth, with such energy, that I was lifted from my feet and borne 
away. By the aid of a policeman I was able to finish my exca- 
vation, but without having the fortune to secure what was so much 
desired.” Mr. Conant has devoted the leisure of fifteen years to 
archeology, and upon those subjects with which he is familiar, 1s 
a valued contributor to the increase of knowledge. 
SPENCER’s CEREMONIAL INSTITUTIONS.—Messrs. D. Appleton & 
Co. have just issued a volume by Mr. Herbert Spencer, entitled, 
Part 11. The Domestic Relations. A portion of this volume 1$ 
familiar to students through the Fortnightly Review; but five chap- 
ters are entirely new. In their present form, the twelve chapters 
treat consecutively of Ceremony in general, Trophies, Mutilations, 
Presents, Visits, Obeisances, Forms of Address, Titles, Badges 
and Costumes, Further Class Distinctions, Fashion, Ceremonial 
Retrospect and Prospect. 
ead of marring his pages with an excess of foot-notes, the 
author has adopted the fashion of our best modern classical text 
books, in which the notes follow the text, and are referred to DY 
paragraphs. A list of the titles of works consulted comes after the 
- chapter of notes. Perhaps no living writer has done so much sys- 
tematic reading as Mr. Spencer, and yet we miss from the list of 
authors a few names of those who, like Mr. Morgan, have done 
most to make us acquainted with the true inwardness of savage 
life. The task which the author sets before hiinself is to prove 
that ceremonial government is the earliest, the most generally 
diffused, and most constantly active form of control. At the same 
time, the idea of spontaneity is kept before the mind in oppositio? _ 
