REVIEWS. 
81 
volume on the Rodents of North America, is Dr. Elliott Coues’ account of the 
Fur-hearing Animals of that continent * — a group of mammals whose history- 
may perhaps he considered to appeal more strongly to our general interests 
than any others, except those directly serving as food for man. The Fur-hear- 
ing Animals are restricted in this volume to the family Mustelidae, of which 
North America appears to possess nine — the Wolverine, Martens, Weasels, 
Skunk, Badger, Otter, and Sea Otter. These animals are all described in 
scientific form, and the descriptions are accompanied hy a complete resume 
of all the particulars relating to the natural history of the animals, which 
have been accumulated hy a long series of observations on the part of the 
zoologists of the United States upon the species living within their range, 
and hy the, perhaps, somewhat interested remarks of the hunters and trappers, 
who are, to a considerable extent, dependent on their knowledge of the 
habits of the animals for the successful prosecution of their trade. In fact, 
the volume furnishes an admirable monograph of the North American species 
of the carnivorous family of which it treats. The osteological characters, 
and especially the cranial peculiarities, which appear to be of special impor- 
tance, are fully described, and the latter are illustrated by good figures, 
occupying about 20 plates. 
The Ethnography and Philology of the Hidatsa Indians, better known, 
perhaps, as the Q-ros ventres, constitute the subject of another volume of the 
miscellaneous publications of Dr. Hayden’s Survey. t Mr. Washington 
Matthews, the author, gives an elaborate account of this tribe of Indians — 
the remnants of which at present live in the village at Fort Berthold, in 
Dakota, — which he follows up with a grammar and a dictionary of the 
principal words of their language. The Ethnographical section commences 
with an interesting account of the village at Fort Berthold, which is in- 
habited by members of three distinct tribes of Indians — the Hidatsa, the 
Mandans, and the Arickarees, — and it is a remarkable fact that, according to 
Mr. Matthews, these Indians, although living in close juxtaposition, and often 
intermarrying, still retain their respective languages quite uncorrupted, 
although they generally possess a knowledge of those of the other tribes ; 
and, in fact, it is not uncommon among them to find persons who can speak 
four or five languages fluently. The Hidatsa, or Minnetarees, with whom 
the Crows appear to have been united, were, even in former days, a com- 
paratively cultivated tribe, practising agriculture to a sufficient extent to 
enable them to dispose of corn to their neighbours; and the general testimony 
of travellers, which is fully endorsed by our author, is highly in their favour. 
Mr. Matthews gives an account of their habits, customs, and superstitions, 
which may interest the general reader as much as the philological treatise 
will gratify the student of the American Indian languages. 
* c: Fur-bearing Animals : A Monograph of North American Mustelidae,” 
&c. By Elliott Coues, U.S. Geological and Geographical Survey of 
the Territories, Miscellaneous Publications, No. 8. 8vo. Washington : 
Government Printing Office. 1877. 
t “ Ethnography and Philology of the Hidatsa Indians.” By Washington 
Matthews, U.S. Geological and Geographical Survey, Miscel. Publ., No. 7. 
8vo. Washington. 1877. 
NEW SERIES, VOL. II. — NO. V. G 
