Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 52.djvu/53

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THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION AT TORONTO.
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a somewhat impressive manner—the first two papers read were by an American—and a lady—Miss Alice C. Fletcher, whose enthusiastic labors in the field of Indian folklore and traditions are familiar to all American scientists. Her interesting account of the significance of the "scalp-lock" among the Omahas, and of the mystical rites connected with it, giving an insight, as it did, into much that is obscure and unintelligible in the thought and the culture of these peoples, was received with great appreciation. Sir William Turner expressed not only his interest in the paper itself, but his admiration of the manner in which it had been given, and held up Miss Fletcher's delivery as a model to those who should further address the section. Another of the British members, who followed in the discussion, said that one of the objects of interest that had led him to cross the ocean to this meeting was the hope of seeing and hearing Miss Fletcher. Prominent in this section were also Prof. F. W. Putnam, so long the efficient secretary and now chosen as the president of the American Association, and Prof. W J McGee, of the Bureau of Ethnology, Prof. Edward S. Morse, and Lieutenant Cushing, of Zuñi fame. Professor Putnam explained quite fully the great Jesup expedition, now partly in the field, for the ethnological study of the shores of the North Pacific, with the object of obtaining light on the origin of the North American races. This led to an exceedingly animated discussion on the question of Asiatic or other migrations, in which Professor Morse, at the request of the chairman, took a leading part. He presented very forcibly, from his long and familiar acquaintance with Japan and the east coast of Asia, the notable absence among the American coast peoples of many, or nearly all, of the habits and utensils that are most widely and commonly diffused on the Asiatic side. On the other hand, he was inclined to trace some curious art resemblances from the Mediterranean, by the Canary Islands, to South and Central America. Sir William Turner then called on Lieutenant Cushing, who dwelt upon the spontaneous origin of peculiar forms of utensils and decorations, and the need of caution in drawing conclusions from resemblances. Another most active and interesting discussion was that held on the last day, before a joint meeting of the departments of Anthropology and Geology, which was again opened by Professor Putnam, on the subject of the evidence of Glacial or Pre-glacial man in America. His remarks were principally an account of the argillite implements from the Trenton gravels, first discovered by Dr. C. C. Abbott, and now being systematically worked for by Professor Putnam's assistants. He was followed by Professor Claypole, of Ohio, describing a finely chipped flint implement obtained in a deep well, firmly imbedded in glacial drift. The