traditional element of our national life which penetrates beneath the mighty stream of Christ's religion, which touches prehistoric times through the early notices of our savage ancestors, which is comparable to savage practices at present the property only of savage peoples, is made up of myth, usage, belief, and institutions; and it is only by getting fast hold of this mosaic that we can adequately interpret the story of our race which it has to tell.
I have left myself but little time to consider our work during the past session, and yet there is much to consider. We have had papers before us on—
1. Descriptive Folk-lore:
"Folk-lore of Malagasy Birds," by the Rev. James Sibree.
2. Contributive Folk-lore:
It will be seen that the section of what I have termed Descriptive Folk-lore is the fullest in point of results; and I am glad it is so. Mr. Sibree has always been a generous contributor to our archives from a land which is particularly interesting, and the minute details he was able to throw upon Malagasy totemism is a really important contribution to knowledge, as I think it takes the Malagasy peoples out of the category of the non-totem races. Of Professor Rhys's Manx researches it would be impertinent for me to say anything beyond putting on record my
