996 General Notes. [November, . 
in the Japanese, loosely. In both cases it is held vertically, bt 
in the English method the arrow rests on the left of the bow, 
while in the Japanese it is placed on the right. The English 
wristguard is worn on the inner and lower part of the arm ; the 
Japanese need none, as they fling the bow half round at the mo- 
ment of release, The English archer grasps his bow in the mid- 
dle; the Japanese near its lower third. In the English method 
the string is drawn with the tips of the first three fingers; in the 
Japanese the string is drawn back by the bent thumb. 
The methods of release characterized are as follows: 
1. Primary.—The nock of the arrow is grasped between the end 
of the straightened thumb and the first and second joints of the 
bent forefinger. It is practiced by children universally, and by 
the Ainos, Demeraras, Utes, Navajos, Chippewas, Micmacs, Pe- 
nobscots. 
2. Secondary—The nock of the arrow is grasped with the 
straightened thumb and bent forefinger, while the ends of the sec- 
ond and third fingers are brought to bear on the string to assist 
in drawing. It is practiced by Zufiis, Chippewas of Wisconsin, 
Ottowas. 
3. Tertiary —In this release the forefinger, instead of being bent, 
is nearly straight, with its tip, as well as the tips of the second 
and third fingers, pressing or pulling on the string, the thumb, as 
in the primary and secondary release, active in assisting in pinch- 
ing the arrow and pulling it back. It is practiced by Sioux, Arapa- 
hos, Cheyennes, Assiniboins, Comanches, Crows, Blackfeet, Nava- 
jos, Siamese, Great Andamanese. : 
4. Mediterranean—tThe string is drawn back with the tips of 
the first, second and third fingers, the balls of the fingers clinging 
to the string, with the terminal joints of the fingers slightly flexed. 
The arrow is lightly held between the first and second fingers, the 
thumb straight and inactive. Practiced by nations around the 
Mediterranean by modern archers, Flemish (using first and second 
finger only), Eskimos, Little Andamanese. 
5. Mongolian —In this release the string is drawn by the flexed 
thumb bent over the string, the end of the forefinger assisting ' 
holding the thumb in position. The thumb is protected by a 
_ guard of some kind.. It is practiced by Manchus, Chinese, Ko 
reans, Japanese, Turks, Persians. 
_ The latter half of Professor Morse’s pamphlet is devoted to the 
_ €xamination of ancient monuments, etc., in order to ascertain t 
methods of release practiced in Assyria, Egypt, Greece and other 
- states. This portion of the paper has yielded to the author re- 
"sults by no means commensurate with his pains, becauie 2 
ancient sculptors were not aware that their accuracy woul’. 
nized thousands of years hence. | 
