[February, 
108 Analyses of Boohs. 
opinion that the brain of the parrot is not sufficiently developed 
to admit of its vocal powers being used significantly. We have 
personally witnessed decisive instances to the contrary. 
Mineral Resources of the United States. By Albert Williams, 
Jun. Washington : Government Printing-Office. 
One of the most interesting sections of this book is that on the 
Divining-Rod, by R. W. Raymond. 
Concerning this instrument and its value the most conflicting 
opinions prevail among its votaries. Not only are its shape, 
size, and mode of use matter of dispute, but on its range of 
efficacy there is no agreement. “ The immense literature of the 
divining-rod shows nothing more clearly than the boundless con- 
tradictions and confusions of its advocates and professors.” In 
antiquity the rod was used mainly for moral purposes, that is for 
the detection of criminals, the foreknowledge of future events, 
&c. In the middle ages its employment was restricted to the 
discovery of hidden treasures, of veins of ore, springs of water, 
&c., whilst its former function was condemned by the Church. 
Towards the end of the seventeenth century its moral efficacy was 
again asserted, and in the eighteenth it was once more relegated to 
the material sphere. That its advocates occasionally fell under 
the censure of the Church is very intelligible, though this does 
not seem to have occurred as long as they confined their oper- 
ations to the detection of material objedts. Its use was, indeed, 
sometimes accompanied by rites of a magical character. Others 
held it essential that the rod after being cut must be consecrated 
by being placed in a bed along with a newly baptised infant, 
whose name it received. The author quotes from Gaetschmann 
the following formula addressed to the rod : — “ In the name of 
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost I adjure thee, 
Augusta Carolina, that thou tell me, so pure and true as Mary 
the Virgin was, who bore our Lord Jesus Christ, how many 
fathoms it is from here to the ore ?” The rod was then expedted 
to dip as many times as the ore lay fathoms deep. 
It is undeniable that “ dowsers,” as they are called in Cornwall, 
have often been successful, especially in discovering deposits of 
ore, subterranean water-courses, &c., in districts with which they 
are familiar. But even in such districts their failures are many. 
When their power is put carefully to the test, it generally fails. 
“ The most distinguished expert in this art on the Pacific coast 
. . . was invited to inspedt a metallurgical laboratory containing 
a large amount of gold in coin and bullion. After this inspection 
he was brought again, blindfolded, into the laboratory, and re- 
