224 On the Peopling of America. [ April, 
tific service for the observation of astronomical, meteorological, 
geological, and zodlogical phenomena commends itself at the 
present time to the more civilized powers. The different gov- 
ernments established by the white races should contribute their 
quota of the expenses for the establishment and maintenance 
of posts of observation in different localities over the globe, to be 
decided upon by commissions of specialists. In time of war 
such posts should be held neutral, as well as their service, under 
a flag and protected by the operation of international law. In 
the case of the Arctic regions, Great Britain, the United States, 
Russia, and Scandinavia are the more interested from their geo- 
graphical position ; yet other powers are directly interested in 
the solution of the different problems which will be offered 
though the knowledge of those parts of the earth’s surface. In 
Madagascar we must also expect some evidence to be forthcom- 
ing with reference to the origin of man. A definite settlement 
of the latter question can be arrived at if evolution be true. Is 
not this a question to call for the active interest of the cultivated 
races? Its settlement would greatly advance our material in- 
terests as a species by giving us a mental habit in accordance 
with the facts in the case. I think that the prospect alone of 
arriving at a solution of this question should prompt concerted 
action, either by a scientific service or such other means as ex- 
perience may prefer. 
When we examine into the question of the stone implements, 
which prove the fact of the presence of man, we must see that 
the earlier man must have first used a stone as he found it. 
“There must have been a time when men picked up such 
stones as came in their way at the moment with which to throw 
at animals, to break their food, to injure their fellow men. Such 
stones, unaltered by use, can no longer be identified.” There 
will be an imperfection here in the record from implements. 
The difficulty of supposing man to have been first introduced 
into America during the Quarternary period lies in the fact that 
he must have been in the Stone age when the migration was made. 
This difficulty vanishes if, as I suppose, man entered upon poS- 
session of this continent during the Pliocene and before the Ice 
period had interfered with a warm climate in the north. This 
will leave us free to consider American civilizations indigenous. 
The idea is here suggested that the Ice period acted as a barrier 
to inter-communication between Asia and North America. The 
part allowed hitherto by anthropologists to accidental migration 
