1016 Gencral Notes. [ December, 
the fact that none of them showed signs of wear at the point of 
support, rendered this supposition untenable. Mr. John Robin- 
son, of Salem, the author of a work on Ferns, has given the first 
suggestion as to the possible use of these objects. He has asked 
why they may not have been covers to incense burners. Curi- 
ously enough old incense burners are dug up which have the 
same oval shape that a section of the bell shows. The bell has 
openings at the base and also at the sides and top, so that the 
smoke of burning incense might escape. It is quite evident that 
these objects are neither bells nor pagoda ornaments, and this 
suggestion of Mr. Robinson’s may possibly lead to some clue 
regarding their origin. 
WorkeEp SHELLS In New ENGLAND SHELL-HEAPS, by Edw. S. 
Morse, /é¢d.—Mr. Morse called attention to the fact that hereto- 
fore no worked shells had been discovered in the New England 
shell-heaps. A similar absence of worked shells had been noticed 
in the Japanese shell-heaps. Worked shells were not uncommon 
in the shell heaps of Florida and California. Mr. Morse then ei 
hibited specimens of the large beach cockle (Lunatia) mnie 
showed unmistakable signs of having been worked. The ee 
consisted in cutting outa portion of the outer whorl near the 
suture. To show that this portion could not be artificially broken, 
he exhibited naturally broken specimens of the same spel 
both recent and ancient, in which the fractures were entirely 
unlike the worked shells. 
Concres ET Missions ETHNOGRAPHIQUES. — From sci 
John T. Short, of Columbus, Ohio, we are in receipt of a circu ai 
stating the programme and list of delegates for the second ge 
sion of this body to be held at Geneva, in 1882, on the 1ot 
April. The labors will be divided into seven sections: 
I, Ethnogeny: Origin and migrations of races. : 
J ‘ i ition. 
11, Ethnology: Development of nations by environment, geographic postion, | 
climate and aliment. 
ce MRA aoe Sale tions. 
it, Descriptive ethnography: Distribution and classification of peoples, nations 
nationalities over the earth. ee 
: ee i ities. 
Iv. Theoretic ethnography : The conditions of the development of nation 
_ V. Ethic. Manners and customs of nations. a 
—F : : ions rests: — 
Vi. Political ethnography: The bases on which the existence of pase ht or 
Motives which have induced them to group themselves into gre 
to subdivide to secure the advantages of centralization. 
| ctetol SNe ae 
vil. Ethnodicy. International law. The comparative study of legislations mn | 
an ethnographic point of view. 
Le 
___ The delegates for our country are Professor John Ty ener ae 
ee < olumbus, Ohio, and Dr. Francis Parkman, Boston, vafare 
__ Either of which gentlemen will be glad to furnish further 1n00"" 
mation respecting the congress. 
. 
Mass. 
