facts regarding the natives now so rapidly disappearing. By learning to speak their language, and living among them, his testimony is of special value, and he says that he was enabled to correct many erroneous impressions formed early in his visit to the country, by more careful and repeated observations and knowledge of their language. Of the Esquimo he made a special study, and cautiously remarks (on p. 154) that "it is impossible to doubt that among all American aborigines, much in their mode of life, customs, and ceremonials is of a local nature, and due to extraneous circumstances. Much is also due, unquestionably, to the similarity of thought and habit which must obtain among human beings of a low type, and who gain their living by similar means. Hence, a general similarity of many customs may naturally be expected between both Innuit and Indians, as well as for distant aborigines of different parts of the world, and this similarity can afford no basis for generalizations in regard to their origin."

As regards their affinities, he writes: "It should be thoroughly and definitely understood, in the first place, that they are not Indians; nor have they any known relation, physically, physiologically, or otherwise, to the Indian tribes of North America. Their grammar, appearance, habits, and even their anatomy, especially in the form of the skull, separate them widely from the Indian race. On the other hand, it is almost equally questionable whether they are even distinctly related to the Chukchees and other probable Mongolian races of the eastern part of Siberia" (p. 137). As to the origin of the word Eskimo we are told that "the Indians call the Innuit and Eskimo Uskeémi, or sorcerers. Kaguskeemi is the Innuit name for the Casines, in which their Shamáns perform their superstitious rites. From this root comes the word Eskimo."

In the chapter on the aboriginal inhabitants of Alaska, he begins by dividing the inhabitants into Indians and Orarians, the latter embracing the tribes of Innuit, Aleutians and Asiatic Eskimo. The author is inclined to reject the theory most in vogue that America has been peopled from Asia or Polynesia, and "proposes to attempt to show that some of the facts which have been used in support of this hypothesis are susceptible of quite another interpretation. I refer to the existence of tribes of Orarian stock on the coast of the Chukchee Peninsula," which were originally derived from America, their emigration having taken place within three hundred years. He adds beyond that "there is no doubt but that the Aleutians originally emigrated to the islands from the American continent, driven by hostile tribes. The Innuit formerly extended farther south than they do now, and in this connection we find the suggestive remark that "Dr. Otis. of the United States Army Medical Museum at Washington, who has handled as many aboriginal American crania as any northern ethnologist, says that the skulls found in the northern mounds have the same peculiarities which distinguish all Orarian crania, and that both are instantly distinguishable from any Indian skulls." The chapters on the climate and agricultural capabilities and geology, AMER. NATURALIST, VOL. IV.

55

and the whole tenor of the remarks on this subject leads the reader to the belief that the purchase of Alaska was wisely made by our govern

ment.

TROUT CULTURE.*- This is just the book that has been wanted by every one interested in the raising of fish by artificial propagation. It contains a statement of the experience of the most successful fish breeder in the country, presented in concise and forcible language; every word fully convincing the reader that the author is simply giving the results of his experience, with the earnest desire of furnishing others with all the information necessary for them to become as successful breeders of trout as himself. With this book in hand, and a proper location and supply of water, there is no reason why trout raising should not succeed in the hands of any careful and energetic person. In fact nothing but pure carelessness could make it fail, though, like all other stock raising operations there are many things that should be looked after before the eggs are placed in the hatching house; and as no sheep raiser would purchase five hundred sheep for his farm unless he had what he knew to be sufficient pasturage for so large a number, so no trout raiser should purchase his five hundred or more trout eggs unless he has plenty of good water. We have not space for the extended review of this little work which our interest in the subject would otherwise lead us to make, and can only say that every point is fairly and plainly presented, from the location of the pond, its best depth and shape, its bottom, its screens and water supply; to the transportation of eggs and live fish; and all the intermediate operations of procuring the eggs in different ways, the construction of the hatching house, handling the eggs and young fish; with observations on their diseases and enemies; careful statements regarding the amount of water required for each fish of different ages, etc., etc. In fact every information that long continued and successful operations enables the author to feel confident is just what beginners want, is here given. An improved spawning screen, invented by Mr. Collins (Mr. Green's partner), is described and figured. This screen or box is so designed as to secure the eggs of trout and other fishes that have been spawned in a natural way, and is a most convenient and labor saving contrivance for the trout breeder. We hope to give a communication on this subject in a future number.

There are several facts very interesting to the naturalist alluded to by Mr. Green. The average age of a trout he thinks to be about twelve or fourteen years, and that trout are in their prime during the age of from three to ten years. Mr. Green also states that trout will not live in water the temperature of which is above 68°, and do best at a temperature of 48°.

On the last page of the book Mr. Green calls attention to a "worm”

* Trout Culture. By Seth Green. 12mo pamph., pp. 92. Green and Collins, Caledonia, New York. [For sale at the Naturalists' Agency, Salem. Price $1.00.]

which is very destructive to young trout and other fish, by catching them in webs which are spun under water.

"The web is as perfect as that of the spider, and as much mechanical ingenuity is displayed in its construction. It is made as quickly and in the same way as a spider's, by fastening the threads at different points and going back and forth until the web is finished. The threads are not strong enough to hold the young trout after the umbilical sac is absorbed, but the web will stick to the fins and get wound around the head and gills and soon kills the fish."

This "worm" is, according to an article in the June number of the "American Entomologist and Botanist," the larva of the notorious Black-fly, or at least of a species of the same genus, Simulium, and is figured in the "Entomologist," where also there is an important article on the transformations of this pest to fishermen, and as it now turns out to fishes also.

Messrs. Green and Collins are ready to supply persons with trout eggs at $10 for a single thousand, or young trout at $30 a thousand, to any extent required, from their farm at Caledonia, and as both eggs and young can be, and have been, sent in perfect safety to various parts of the country, and even to France and England, there is now no reason why every northern stream should not have its supply of "spotted beauties."

RECORD OF AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGY FOR 1869.*- After a greater delay than was anticipated this "Record" has at length appeared. The editor states in the introductory that "the number of American entomologists whose articles or notes are referred to in the "Record" is fifty-two; while three hundred and thirty-five new species of North and Central American insects have been described in American journals during the year 1869." We are glad to notice that our American entomological literature has assumed a highly practical character, and comprises much regarding the habits of insects, a never failing source of interest. The remarks by Baron Osten Sacken should be carefully read by every entomologist, especially the beginner, and are well worth the price of the whole pamphlet.

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BRAZILIAN CRUSTACEA.† — In this carefully prepared essay Mr. Smith remarks that the collection, although quite small in number of specimens and representing only the higher groups of the class, is interesting from the large proportion which it contains of species heretofore known only from the West Indies or Florida. This is, perhaps, due chiefly to the fact that most of the collections brought from Brazil have been made at Rio Janeiro, where there are no coral reefs, while Professor Hartt's collection was made principally on the rocky and reef-bearing parts of the coast." Five new species are described, and a new genus, Xiphopeneus (X. Hartii). The plate is lithographed from photographs and is of unusual excellence.

*For sale by the Naturalist's Book Agency, Salem. July, 1870. 8vo, pp. 62. Price $1.00. Notice of the Crustacea collected by Professor C. F. Hartt on the coast of Brazil in 1867, together with a List of the described species of Brazilian Podophthalmia. By Sidney I. Smith. (From the Transactions of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences. Vol. 2, 1870. 8vo, pp. 41.)

THE POPULATION OF AN OLD PEAR TREE.*-The author in these charming stories of insect life relates his experience with various forms of insects which visited an old pear tree in his garden, weaving in many satires on human life, and an occasional sly thrust at professional entomologists who look on bugs simply as bugs and not as part and parcel of nature. It is an admirable book to place in the hands of boys and girls. The illustrations are capital, reminding us of the grotesqueness and strong effects seen in Doré's drawings on wood, and form a marked feature and attraction of the book.

THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY.† - Under this title there has been established in the city of New York a museum in whose list of trustees we recognize many names well known to the citizens of the metropolis. While we honor these gentlemen for their public spirit we do not see even from their report how it was that they thus suddenly became possessed of such a determined desire to found a museum.

We believe that New York will eventually possess the finest and largest museum in the country, just as they now have the most beautiful park. There is, however, one mistake which we might notice, the futility of amassing fragile collections, building cases, having zoological gardens, etc., without at the same time appointing men who are competent to use them for the benefit of the public. From what we have seen of the efforts of the directors, or whoever has in charge the large collections in the third story of the arsenal building, we should say that they do not seem to possess even that slight knowledge which five minutes criticism from any competent scientific man would have given them. We have never in our experience of the unscientific attempts to build museums seen anything so entirely unfit for its purpose as the large two-storied case which occupies the centre of the arsenal hall. No one but a physician, or a committee of such, well acquainted with hospital practice and hygiene, would presume to attempt the erection of a hospital. Engineers are generally called upon to build railroads and steam engines, but in natural history all this is reversed, and we do not seem to have yet learned that it requires a naturalist to plan a natural history building. We understand, however, that efforts are being made to place some well qualified naturalists in charge of the executive department, and we hope to see a change in this respect before the next report is published.‡

The menagarie will afford materials for the formation of a collection of comparative anatomy which would be both amusing and instructive to visitors, but this does not seem to have been thought of. The board of management, also, appear to be drifting to stuffed skins of birds and

*The Population of an old Pear Tree: or Stories of Insect Life. From the French of E. van Bruyssel. Edited by the author of the "Heir of Redclyffe." With numerous illustrations by Becker. 12mo, pp. 221. New York. Macmillan & Co. 1870.

First Report of the Trustees.

Since the above was written, we have become aware, also, that the Commissioners have taken professional advice as regards the construction of their cases.

mammals. The accumulation of the latter would most certainly be of great benefit, but a large collection of the former would simply duplicate the museums of Philadelphia and Boston.

Our strictures are wholly due to a desire to awaken the directors of this museum to the importance of avoiding the errors of their predecessors. There is no reasonable excuse for a board of management which, at the present day, repeats the mistakes which have characterized the past history of all the museums with which we are acquainted, either in this country or Europe. We recommend especially to their perusal a short article upon the "Scientific Institutions of North America,” by George Bentham in his Annual Address to the Linnæan Society, for 1867, and the various articles frequently published upon the proper management of museums and kindred topics in "Scientific Opinion" and "Nature.”

Efforts are, however, being made to change this state of affairs, and we hope to report in our next notice that the American Museum is, in all respects, worthy of the name that it has taken, and of the city that should have a museum unequalled by any in the country.

NATURAL HISTORY MISCELLANY.

FRAGARIA GILLMANI.

BOTANY.

In a note on this plant by Mr. Gillman, page 312, it is stated that Dr. Asa Gray considers that the "well developed leaf on the scape, proves to be the distinguishing character of the species." It is not clear whether this refers to F. "Mexicana," or F. "Gillmani;" but to show that neither can lay claim to this character exclusively I enclose a leaf of F. vesca, in which are not only well developed leaves on the scape, but better developed leaves than I have yet seen on F. "Gillmani."

In my note on F. “Gillmani” last year I stated that leaves on the scape, or flowers on the runners were poor characters to found species on, because a flower scape is nothing but an erect runner, and a runner but a viviparous scape. In this specimen, now sent, you will see this illustrated by the rudiments of roots, as well as leaves on the scape. - THOMAS MEEHAN.

[We understand Dr. Gray to have remarked that all the specimens he has seen of Schlechtendal's F. Mexicana have leaf-bearing scapes, and that F. Gillmani is the same thing; and that he has no decided conviction as to whether it be the European F. vesca which has assumed this condition and habit in Mexico, or an aboriginal form, - which in either case is curious. EDS.]