* 
1883. |. Anthropology. 8o01 
there was another pause of a couple of minutes, and then with 
another quick bound, he seized and swallowed a third frog, equal in 
size to the second; this accomplished there was another pause of 
about five minutes, and then another quick, savage bound for a 
fourth victim, this time for a frog two-thirds the size of himself. 
ch of the three was seized and swallowed head first, but the 
fourth effort was not so successful as the others, for this he only 
managed to get into his mouth as far as its hind legs, when there 
was a pause and a struggle. The unfortunate frog in the mouth of 
the large one persisted in holding its kind legs out sidewise, at right 
anglesto its body, as ifconscious that these tactics would prevent the 
other from swallowing it; and at the same time the large one used 
its front feet, at times one, and again both, to straighten out the 
hind legs of his victim so that he might be able to swallow it; 
and while this struggle was going on, he made frequent efforts to 
use the sides and bottom of the cage as an object against which 
to press the other frog, so as to aid his efforts to swallow it. The 
struggle, however, after lasting a number of minutes terminated 
in favor of the smaller frog, for by desperate efforts it managed to 
elude the grasp of its assailant; but while the battle did last it 
used both its muscular and vocal powers to their utmost to thwart 
the murderous designs of its enemy.—B. F. Koons, Mansfield. 
Conn., May 22d, 1883: : 
ACTIVITY OF THE SENSES IN NEW-BORN INFANTS.—In a récent in- 
augural dissertation, Dr. Genzmer discusses the activity of the 
senses in new-born infants. /néer alia, he says the sense of touch 
is developed from the earliest period, and reflex actions are readily 
excited by the slightest stimulation of the nerves of touch, espe- 
cially of the face, then of the hands, and soles of the feet. The 
feeling of pain is but slowly developed, and is only clearly shown 
after four or five weeks, before which time infants do not shed 
tears. Smell and taste are not distinguishable in infants. Hear- 
in is perceptible in the first, or at most, the second day of life. 
New-born infants are so sensitive to light that they will turn the 
head to follow a mild light; while, if a strong glare be suddenly 
thrown on the eye, squinting is induced, and even convulsive 
Closure of the lids. After a few days the child will follow the 
motion of various objects by movement of its head. Between the 
fourth and fifth weeks the convergence of the pupils and coordi- 
nation in vision are perceptible. A distinct perception of color 
does not exist under four or fivé months; before then it is quan- 
A rather than quality of light that is recognized —Eng. lish Me- 
chante, 
ANTHROPOLOGY. '* 
THE GROWTH OF CHILDREN.—Dr. George W. Peckham, pro- 
fessor of biology, Milwaukie, Wis., has been making inquiries 
concerning the growth of children in that city. Cards similar to 
l Edited by Professor Orts T. MASON, 1305 Q street, N. W., Washington, D. C. 
