REVIEWS. 
183 
minerals ascertained to exist in Colorado. The mining capabilities of the 
districts surveyed are mentioned in the geological reports. 
The topographical section contains the report of Mr. A. D. Wilson, the 
chief topographer, on the primary triangulation of Colorado, giving many 
interesting particulars as to the methods adopted ; special topographical 
reports on the White River and Yampa River divisions of the country ; and 
Mr. Henry Gannett’s report on the arable and pasture lands of Colorado, 
which includes a general description of the physical geography and climate 
of the region, besides the account of the capabilities of different parts of the 
country for agricultural and pastoral pursuits. 
As illustrations of these two sections three of the large maps of the Colo- 
rado Atlas have been printed on thin paper, so as to be capable of folding 
into octavo size, and appended to the volume — namely, the general geological 
map of Colorado, the economic map, and the drainage map; and the addition 
of these adds greatly to the value of the book. In fact, so conscious are the 
people of Colorado of the importance of the labours of Dr. Hayden and his 
assistants that on January 14 last the General Assembly of that new state 
passed a vote of thanks to them for their co-operation in the completion of 
this great work, on the ground that “ the publication of the reports, views, 
and maps of this survey form a collection invaluable alike for the advance- 
ment of science and the development of the mining and agricultural interests 
of the state.” Those who are acquainted with the publications here referred 
to will agree that this expression of gratitude is well deserved. 
The third section of the volume, which is devoted to the archaeology and 
ethnology of the region, will be studied with much interest. It includes 
descriptions by Mr. W. M. Holmes and Mr. W. H. Jackson of a great 
number of those extraordinary ruins, towers, and cave-dwellings which have 
been lately discovered in such abundance in the far West, with details of 
pottery, picture-writings, stone implements, and other objects, manufactured 
by the former inhabitants of these valleys. These traces and relics of a race 
that has passed away are exceedingly interesting ; and the reader is assisted 
in forming a clear idea of them by a most liberal allowance of illustrations, 
including maps, ground-plans, views, and figures of manufactured articles. 
Many pieces of the pottery are of very elegant form or beautifully orna- 
mented ; others are ruder, or exceedingly grotesque, such as the vessels in the 
form of birds which figure upon three or four of Mr. Jackson’s plates. 
In Chaco Canon, North-western New Mexico, a human skull was dis- 
covered " at a depth of 14 feet beneath the surface, lying upon a stratum of 
broken pottery.” The soil overlying the skull is described as alluvial drift. 
Dr. W. J. Hoffman describes and figures this cranium, which he regards as 
having belonged to a “ cliff-dweller ” ; it presents a very great flattening of the 
hinder part of the skull. Dr. Hoffman also communicates some ethno- 
graphic observations on Indians inhabiting Nevada, California, and Arigona ? 
giving some interesting particulars as to the manners and customs of the 
various tribes. 
Still referring to Colorado, we have to notice the commencement of Dr. 
Elliott Coues’ “ Birds of the Colorado Valley,”* forming the eleventh volume 
* “ Miscellaneous Publications, No. 11. Birds of the Colorado Valley, a 
repository of scientific and popular information concerning North American 
