July 4, 1884.] 



SCIENCE. 



11 



ogeneous collection of ornaments and trophies 

 with which it is bedecked. 



The head is of heroic size, the face only 

 being made of wood. This is strongly carved, 

 having a promi- 

 nent nose, and 

 wide, firm mouth. 

 The e } T e s are 

 formed hy exca- 

 vating oval de- 

 pressions, and 

 setting in pieces 

 of shell. First, 

 oval pieces of 

 white clam-shell »«« , 

 are inserted, 

 which represent 

 the whites of the 

 eyes : upon these, 

 small circular 

 bits of dark shell 

 are cemented, forming 

 the pupils. Locks of 

 hair have been set in 

 beneath the shell, the 

 ends of which project, 

 representing the lashes 

 of the e3'e. The wood- 

 en part of the mask is 

 flat behind ; but the 

 head has been neatly 

 rounded out b}^ a hemi- 

 spherical bundle of 

 dried leaves, which is 

 held in place by an 

 open net of twisted 

 cords. 



Besides this, a great 

 variety of articles have 

 been attached to the 

 margin of the mask by 

 means of five pairs of 

 perforations. Upon the 



crown a large bunch of brilliantly colored 

 feathers had been fixed : behind this, extending 

 across the top of the head, is a long pouch of 

 coarse white cloth, in which a great number 

 of articles had been placed, — little packages 

 of beans and seeds, rolls of cloth of different 

 colors and textures, minute bundles of wool 

 and flax, bits of copper and earth carefully 

 wrapped in husks, bundles .of feathers, etc. 

 Encircling the forehead are long, narrow bands 

 or sashes, one of which is white, the others 

 having figures woven in brilliant colors. The 

 ends of these hang down at the sides of the 

 face. 



Attached to the left side of the mask by long 



stout cords is a pouch resembling a tobacco- 

 bag, about six inches square, the fabric of 

 which resembles a coarse sail-cloth : attached 

 to the lower part of this is a fringe of long, 



heavy cords. From 

 the opposite side 

 of the head, a net 

 was suspended in 

 which had been 

 placed a variety of 

 objects, — a sling 

 made of cords very 

 skilfully construct- 

 ed; bundles of 

 flax and cords ; 

 small nets contain- 

 ing beans, gourd- 

 seeds, and other 

 articles; copper 

 fish-hooks still at- 

 tached to the lines, 

 which are wound 

 about a bit of corn- 

 stalk or cane ; neat- 

 ly made sinkers of 

 dark slate wrapped 

 in corn-husks : to- 

 gether with many 

 other curious rel- 

 ics. 



These articles 

 were doubtless the 

 property of the de- 

 parted, so placed in 

 accordance with the 

 established customs 

 of the race to which 

 he belonged. The 

 mask-head was 

 probably in itself 

 an object of much 

 consideration : al- 

 though we are at a 

 loss to determine 

 its exact use by 

 the living, or its 

 significance as a 

 companion of the 

 dead. 



W. H. Holmes. 



MEETING OF THE CIVIL ENGINEERS 

 AT BUFFALO. 



The annual convention of the American society of 

 civil engineers was held in Buffalo, June 10-13, and 

 will be remembered by all who attended as one of the 

 most successful in the history of the society. A spe- 



