sunshine, although less than in preceding weeks, still exceeded the mean value in nearly all districts.

On

LAST week California was visited by the most severe earthquake which has been known in that region since 1868. April 19 shocks were felt over a distance of 200 miles, the intensity varying at different points. In San Francisco a number of large buildings trembled perceptibly, but only one was damaged an old church building until lately occupied by the Academy of Science. The front wall gave way, tearing away the balconies. The centre of the disturbance was Vacaville, where a number of brick buildings both in the town and in the vicinity were destroyed or damaged. Many walls also fell into the streets. At Winters and Dixon serious damage was done to buildings. On April 21 further shocks occurred at San Francisco, and were felt in the surrounding districts. A number of buildings were demolished at Winters, and several persons received injuries. Eight distinct vibrations were felt. At Biggs clocks stopped, and plaster fell from the ceilings of the houses. At Woodville several brick buildings were damaged, while at Vacaville some walls which had been cracked by the previous shocks were demolished, and the ceilings in most of the houses were cracked. At Sacramento also some damage was caused, but the place which seems to have suffered most severely was Dixon, where extensive damage had already been caused by the shocks of April 19.

66

DR. A. C. OUDEMANS, Director of the Zoological Gardens at the Hague, has for some years made the sea-serpent a subject of special study, and now he is about to issue a book in which he will present his conclusions. He states in a prospectus that he was attracted to the question by an account of the appearance of a sea-serpent published in NATURE of November 8, 1880." AS NATURE was not published on November 8, 1880, a good many people may be tempted to think that this reference (due, of course, to a slip of the pen or to a misprint) is very suitable to the nature of the animal to which it relates. Dr. Oudemans has placed side by side "all the accounts, tales, and reports of this great unknown animal," and has convinced himself that "through all the reports there runs only one red thread, that there must be one single animal species which has given rise to all the reports." The author has chosen to write in English, because it is a language "known to all navigators, as well as to all zoologists, and other men of education." The full title of the work will be The Great Sea-Serpent. An Historical and Critical Treatise. With the Reports of 166 Appearances, the Suppositions and Suggestions of Scientific and non-Scientific Persons, and the Author's Conclusions." There will be 82 illustrations.

THE programme of the first series of summer excursions of the Manchester Field Naturalists' Society has just been issued. Mr. Leo Grindon, the founder of the Society thirty-two years since, has been compelled, by advancing years and impaired health, to resign the presidential chair, which Mr. Chas. Bailey has undertaken to occupy. Mr. Grindon retains the office of botanical referee, with the assistance of Mr. W. Gee, who is engaged in teaching natural history subjects under the Science and Art Department. A special study, appropriate to the season and locality, is appointed for each meeting; and

a field card, directing observation in each of the seven sections of the Society, is in preparation. A course of lessons, treating in detail of the leading natural families of the Manchester Flora, is being given in the city.

AT the meeting of the Royal Statistical Society on Tuesday, Mr. R. Henry Rew read a valuable paper on the statistics of the production and consumption of milk and milk products in Great Britain. The subject, as he pointed out, is one of extreme complexity. The effective production of milk by a single cow ranges from nil (in the case of a cow which only rears her calf) to 1200 gallons or more. The number of cows and heifers returned in 1890, the year taken as a basis for calculation, was 3,956,220, of which it is reckoned that 3,544,575 are productive. Returns now collected from a large number of districts, together with other data, justified an estimate of 400 gallons per cow, making the total quantity of milk available for consumption in various forms in the United Kingdom 1417 million gallons. The number of cows has decreased in proportion to population. In Great Britain there were in the period 1866-70 82'1 cows per 1000 of population, while in 1886-90 there were only 77'9. The absolute number of cows had increased, but not sufficiently to keep pace with the growth of population. The latest return (for 1891) is more encouraging, showing as it does the largest number of cows on record. In Ireland the period 1886-90 showed a higher proportion (2908) of cows to population than in any of the four preceding quinquennial periods, but this was due not to an increase in the number of cattle, but to the decrease of population. The 1417 million gallons of milk produced in the United Kingdom is thus accounted for :-Consumed as milk 570 million gallons; butter, 617 million gallons (representing 105,000 tons of butter); cheese, 224 million gallons (representing 100,000 tons of cheese); miscellaneous (condensed milk, &c.), 6 million gallons. Mr. Rew admitted that the results arrived at were only tentative. He expressed a hope that before long some official help might be given in the solution of a problem which was of the deepest interest to statisticians, agriculturists, and social economists.

THE Bath and West of England Society decided some time ago to appoint a' research chemist to make investigations upon the making of cheddar cheese. Mr. Fred. Jas. Lloyd was chosen to fill this post, and he has recently presented his report of the work done in August, September, and October of last year. The results obtained, though by no means complete, are both valuable and interesting, and it is to be hoped that the Society will continue and extend the work. The experiments were made at the Society's Dairy School, near Frome, and it was found possible to make a cheese in such a way as to be guided in judging the condition of the curd by determinations of acidity alone. The product was a decided success in every respect. The average acidity of the mixed milk before adding rennet was 24 per cent., but on setting the whey only showed 16 per cent. of lactic acid. It was proved, by continued experiment, that when the whey showed a percentage of acidity slightly greater than that in the milk before renneting the pro

cess was sufficiently advanced to draw off the whey and pile the curd. Determinations of acidity in the later stages of manufacture have yielded similar results, and it appears to be certain that the careful development of definite amounts of lactic acid at definite steps in the process is essential to success. The bacteriological observations show that, although very many organisms are liable to get into the milk, the majority of them are not able to exist in an acid material, consequently by insuring a proper development of acidity in the curd we destroy their activity, which would otherwise spoil the cheese. Not only does the Bacillus acidi lactici play the most important part in the making of the cheese, but it is also the chief agent in the ripening process.

IT is well known that serious loss is caused in the various Australian colonies by the ravages of the rust fungus in wheat. An Intercolonial Conference met to consider the subject in 1890, and this body has since held two other meetings, the third having taken place at Melbourne last month. Many experiments have been made, and it has been clearly shown that there are several varieties of wheat which, except under very unusual circumstances, are never seriously attacked by rust. It has also been shown that in many districts early sown wheats of a rustliable kind generally escape damage by rust, when the same wheats sown late suffer seriously. In view of these facts the Conference has directed attention mainly to encouraging the growth of varieties less liable to be attacked by rust, and also to early sowing. At the March meeting it was recommended that a practical system for the production and distribution of rustresisting wheats suitable to different districts should be immediately established, and that this system should, subject to modifications needed by each colony, be conducted on the following lines :—A central station for each colony for the preliminary testing of new wheats introduced into the colony; for the production of new varieties by cross-fertilization and by selection; and for the distribution of suitable wheats thus obtained to representative districts of the colony, to be there subjected to a sufficient test, and, if necessary, fixed in their characters by farmers and others competent for the work; and that such wheats as pass satisfactorily this test should then be distributed to the farmers around in such a manner and by such agency as would be most suitable to the conditions of each colony. A committee was appointed to take steps for the proper naming of the different varieties of wheat.

THE U.S. Department of Agriculture has received information to the effect that Vedalia cardinalis has been successfully colonized at the Cape of Good Hope. Last autumn Mr. Thomas A. J. Louw, a special commissioner from the Legislative Assembly of the Cape, went to Washington charged with the task of collecting and taking back from America a supply of the useful little lady-bird mentioned. He was furnished with letters to the California agents of the Department, and took away from that State two parcels of Vedalia, one lot being shipped on ice and the other kept open and fed en route. Both were alive when he arrived at the Cape, and he writes that the experiment has been so successful that various parts of the colony have been supplied with the insect, which, no doubt, will be as useful in clearing off the Cottony Cushion Scale there as it has been in California and the Hawaiian Islands. Mr.

Louw's letter, dated Malmesbury, Cape of Good Hope, March 5, 1892, to the Hon. Edwin Willits, Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, says: "While thanking you again for the kindness displayed towards me, may I request you also to convey to Prof. C. V. Riley my extreme obligations for the service rendered by him to me, and which I assure him will ever be appreciated by me."

DR. HYADES, as we noted last week, was impressed, while in Tierra del Fuego, with the resemblance between the Yahgan and the Botocudos of Brazil. Of the latter people an interesting account appeared lately in the Washington Evening Star, and is reproduced in the April number of Goldthwaite's Geographical Magazine. The colour of the Botocudos is described as of a. light yellowish-brown. When brought into contact with Europeans they manifest not the slightest embarrassment on account of their lack of clothing. From certain seeds and fruits they obtain brilliant dyes, with which they adorn their bodies; and a common custom is to paint the face above the mouth a bright red, the upper half of the body being stained black, and a red stripe encircling the waist. A warrior thus decorated, with lip and ear ornaments, is said to present "a most demoniacal

expression." The colours employed are mixed in the upper shell of a turtle, and carried in joints of the bamboo. The arms of the Botocudos consist of the bow and arrow. For calling one another in the forest they have speaking trumpets made of the skin of the tail of the great armadillo. While travelling through the woods, they build for themselves temporary shelters of palm-leaves, sticking the stems into the ground in a halfcircle, so that the tips of the fronds arch together and form a sort of roof. When encamping for a considerable time in one place, they construct houses often big enough to hold several families. The fire is placed in the middle of the dwelling, and the beds are made of bark fibre. Gourds are used for drinking purposes and in the preparation of food. The Botocudos have been harshly dealt with by the Portuguese, and are rapidly dying

out.

CAPTAIN BOWER, of the Indian Staff Corps, has arrived at Simla from China, after a very remarkable journey across the Tibet tableland. He had with him Dr. Thorold, a sub-surveyor, one Pathan orderly, a Hindustani cook, six caravan drivers, and forty-seven ponies and mules. The Calcutta correspondent of the Times, who gives an account of the journey, says that Captain Bower, leaving Leh on June 14, crossed the Lanakma Pass on July 3, avoiding the Tibetan outpost placed further south. Journeying due east, he passed a chain of salt lakes, one of which, called Hor-Ba-Too, is probably the highest lake in the world, being 17,930 feet above the sea. Gradually working to the south-east, the explorer saw to the north a magnificent snowy range, with a lofty peak in longitude 83° and latitude 35°. After many weeks' travel over uplands exceeding 15,000 feet in height, where water was scarce and no inhabitants were to be seen, the party on September 3 reached GyaKin-Linchin, on the northern shore of Tengri Nor Lake, in longitude 91° and latitude 31°. This is within a few marches of Lhassa, and two officials from the Devi Jong, or temporal governor of Lhassa, met him here and peremptorily ordered him to go back. But he refused to return, and a compromise was effected, guides and ponies being provided on his agreeing to make a detour to the north in order to reach the frontier of

Western China. He reached Chiamdo on December 31, only just succeeding in getting off the tableland before winter set in. He struck Bonvalot's route for a few miles when marching to Chiamdo. The country about this town is very fertile and well wooded. Three thousand of the monks of Chiamdo, who lived in fine monasteries, threatened to attack the party, but were deterred on learning that they carried breechloaders. Captain Bower arrived at Tarchindo, an outpost on the Chinese frontier, on February 10. The distance covered from Lanakma to Tarchindo was over 2000 miles, all of which, save a few miles, has now been explored for the first time. The route for thirteen consecutive days lay over a tableland 17,000 feet high. Captain Bower is engaged in writing a report and completing his maps.

SPLENDID specimens of mica are to be sent to the Chicago Exhibition from Idaho, where the supply is said to be practically inexhaustible. Mica is to be used in the Idaho building as a substitute for glass in the windows. The Photographic News suggests that, if the reports as to the quality of the material prove to be accurate, it may become a rival to glass in photographic plate-making.

Ar the meeting of the Paris Geographical Society on April 1, Lieutenant Vedel read an interesting paper on the Polynesians, whom he has had constant opportunities of studying during the last seven years. Referring to the Maoris, he said it was impossible not to be struck with the extraordinary resemblance which exists between their myths and those of the ancient Greeks.

THE Southport Society of Natural Science has issued its first report, from which we learn that the Society, although still very young, is doing good work as a local centre of scientific inquiry. The report includes a presidential address by Dr. H. H. Vernon, on the material and educational utility of natural science.

MR. EDWARD STANFORD has issued "The Hand-book of Jamaica for 1892." This is the twelfth year of publication. The work has been compiled from official and other trustworthy sources by S. P. Musson and T. Laurence Roxburgh. It comprises all necessary historical, statistical, and general information relating to the island.

THE latest instalment of the Transactions of the Royal Society of Victoria (vol. ii. part 2) opens with a paper on the occurrence of the genus Belonostomus in the rolling downs formation (Cretaceous) of Central Queensland, by R. Etheridge, Jun., and A. S. Woodward. There are also papers on the structure of Ceratella fusca (Gray), by Prof. W. Baldwin Spencer; additional observations on the Victorian land planarians, by Dr. A. Dendy; and land planarians from Lord Howe

Island, by Prof. W. Balwin Spencer. Each of the papers is

illustrated.

PROF. S. H. GAGE, of the Cornell University, has reprinted an interesting paper contributed by him to the American Naturalist on the life-history of the vermilion-spotted newt (Diemyctylus viridescens, Raf.). He has added to it a valuable annotated bibliography.

A REPORT on the geology and mineral resources of the central mineral region of Texas, by T. B. Comstock, was included in the second Annual Report of the Geological Survey of that State, and has now been issued separately. It ought to be of good service to practical men as well as to students of science. The author has a valuable note in which he shows how the prospector, the capitalist, or the property-holder may most advantageously use the report.

AN excellent essay on aboriginal skin dressing, by Otis T. Mason, has been reprinted from the Report of the U.S. National Museum for 1888-89. It is based on material collected in the Museum, and includes an account of skin-dressing among the Eskimo and the Indians. There are many illustrations.

THE following science lectures will be given at the Royal Victoria Hall during May :-May 3, "Flying Bullets," by C. Vernon Boys; May 10, "Travels in Java and Sumatra," by Wm. Hancock; May 17, "The Wonders of the Rocky Mountains," by Wm. Carruthers; May 24, "Mines and Mining," by Bennett H. Brough; May 31, 'The Alps in Winter," by C. T. Dent.

THE results of an investigation, concerning the conditions of silent combination of the hydrogen and oxygen contained in the detonating mixture of these gases obtained by the electrolysis of water, are communicated to the current number of Liebig's Annalen by Prof. Victor Meyer and Herr Askenasy. The object of the experiments was to ascertain whether any regular connection existed between the duration of time, during which such a mixture of the two gases is maintained at a temperature at which silent combination slowly proceeds, and the amount of water produced. The main result of the experiments has been to afford a direct negative to this question, the amount of combination under precisely the same conditions of temperature, pressure, and time varying most irregularly. Although this is the case, however, some interesting phenomena have been observed during the course of the experiments. It was found that, when a quantity of the pure dry mixture of two volumes of hydrogen and one volume of oxygen was sealed up in a glass

bulb and heated in a bath of the vapour of phosphorus pentasulphide, the temperature of which (518°) is such that the bulb becomes faintly luminous, no explosion occurred, but a small proportion of the gases silently combined, with production of water. Upon immersing the bulb, however, in a bath of boiling stannous chloride (606°), explosive combination instantly occurred. It was surmised, therefore, that the temperature at which explosion occurs lies somewhere between 518° and 606°. But upon modifying the experiment in such a manner that the bulb was open, a slow stream of the gaseous mixture being allowed to pass continuously through, it was found that no explosion ensued under these conditions at the temperature of boiling stannous chloride, although at this temperature the bulb glows with a cherry red heat, and the glass is quite soft. It appears likely, therefore, that the extra pressure of the gases in the closed vessel determines the explosion at a lower temperature. The irregularity in the rate of silent combination would appear to be due to the different condition of the inner surfaces of the vessels containing the gaseous mixture; probably largely owing to the different amount of etching action by the water vapour at these high temperatures. In order to eliminate this disturbing element, the experiments have been repeated with bulbs whose inner surfaces have been equally etched beforehand and with bulbs whose interior walls have been silvered, the results, however, showing in both cases the same irregularity. In connection, however, with the experiments with silvered bulbs, another striking fact has been brought to light. It was found that in these bulbs the silent formation of water occurs at temperatures several hundred degrees lower than in unsilvered glass bulbs. Complete combination had occurred in two hours' time at the temperatures of boiling phosphorus pentasulphide (518°), sulphur (448°), diphenylamine (310°), and naphthalene (218°); 70 per cent. of the mixed gases had combined at the temperature of boiling aniline (183°), and a small amount of combination had occurred even at 155°. Finally, it was found that bright July sunshine is incapable of inducing the combination of hydrogen and oxygen, even when it is concentrated upon a bulb traversed by the gaseous mixture and heated to 606° in a bath of boiling stannous chloride.

THE additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens during the past week include a Patas Monkey (Cercopithecus patas) from West Africa, presented by Mr. W. S. Hewby; two Orinoco Geese (Chenalopex jubata) from South America, presented by Mr. Everard F. im Thurn, C. M.Z.S.; two Mute Swans (Cygnus olor), European, presented by Mrs. Melville; a Herring Gull (Larus argentatus), British, presented by Miss Lota Bower; two Chinese White-eyes (Zosterops simplex) from China; an Egyptian Goose (Chenalopex ægyptiaca) from Africa, deposited; a Cheer Pheasant (Phasianus wallichii 8) from Northern India, a Swinhoe's Pheasant (Euplocamus swinhoii ) from Formosa, a Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus 9), British, six Wigeon (Mareca penelope, females), twelve Common Teal (Querquedula crecca 6 8 6 9), European, purchased; a Crested Porcupine (Hystrix cristata), born in the Gardens.

OUR ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN. SPECTRUM OF NOVA AURIGE.-On February 22, Mr. E. W. Maunder obtained a photograph of the spectrum of Nova Auriga with an exposure of seventy minutes. The photographic magnitude of the star was then 4'78, and its visual magnitude was about 5'7. Bright lines were observed upon the plate at the following wave-lengths:-4919, 4860 (F), 4629, 4580, 4547, 4510, 4472, 4340 (G), 4229, 4174, 4101 (4), 3968 (H), 3933 (K), 3887'5 (a), 3834 (B). And dark lines had their positions located as follows:-4316 (G), 4212, 4155, 4085 (), 3953 (H), 3913 (K). Measures of the displacement

of the dark lines relatively to the corresponding bright ones gave a mean of 18.3 tenth-metres. According to this, the relative motion of the two bodies engaged was about 820 miles a second. Mr. Maunder also observed the visual spectrum of the Nova. Three bright lines were seen, and estimated to be in the positions of C, D, and F of the solar spectrum. A line was detected "not far from E," another “near 6, but further towards the blue," and another " very near the chief nebular line." The line measured on the photograph as at λ 4919 was also made out.

PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE REGION OF NOVA CYGNI.-At the March meeting of the Royal Astronomical Society, Mr. Roberts stated the results of a comparison of Drs. Copeland and Lohse's catalogue and chart of the region of Nova Cygni with two photographs of the same part of the heavens taken in September 1891. It appears that the brightness of some of the stars has undergone changes since 1878, when the chart was made. Changes of this character may, of course, be due to the well known difference between visual and photographic magnitudes; but there are other differences, which are not so easily explained. Several stars, single on the chart, are seen to be double on the photographs, and some changes in relative position seem to have occurred. Although the Nova is not given on the chart, it appears on the photographs as a star of about magnitude 13. It will be interesting to compare Mr. Roberts's pictures with others taken under similar conditions at some future date, in order to determine definitely whether the changes are real, or due to errors in observation or cataloguing.

WINNECKE'S COMET.-Dr. G. F. Haerdtl gives the following ephemeris in Astronomische Nachrichten, No. 3083 :

and ear method, the clock beats have to be taken into account simultaneously with the relative positions of the star and certain wires. In the April number of the Bulletin Astronomique, an account is given of some experimental researches on such transit determinations in which both methods, the eye and ear and the chronograph, were used. The observations were made with an apparatus similar to that designed by Wolf, who, to obtain artificial transits, employed a small truck to carry the plates, on which punctures of different sizes were made. From 115 observations made with both methods, it was found that equally accurate results were obtained, the eye and ear method, if any, proving a little inferior, while the degree of lighting of the field made no appreciable variation on the personal equation. For planets the electrical method showed that personality varied considerably, according to whether the preceding or following side was observed: the resulting personal equation for the centre of a planet turned out to be -0046s., while that for a star under the same conditions was +0*0235. It would be interesting to find out whether this occurs when the eye and ear method is employed. The tendency of an observer, adopting the eye and ear method, to choose certain tenths of a second in preference to others, seems to have its analogy in the chronograph method, in the linear measurement from the second impressions. A comparison given here shows that the most favourable tenth is the zero, while the nine is very considerably left out in the cold. Another very curious fact is that the tenths, one, two, three, four, chosen in the chronograph methods, are all less than the corresponding ones in the other methods, while the opposite occurs for the tenths five to nine.

Tenths O Eve and Ear 157 97 134 Chronograph 164 79 96

I

2

3

4

measures

5 6 7 8 9 Total 134 100 94 82 81 74 57 1000 90 94 129 104 94 81 69 1000 THE SIRIUS SYSTEM.-Dr. A. Auwers contributes to the Astronomische Nachrichten, Nos. 3084 and 3085, a long discussion with reference to our 66 Knowledge of the Sirius System." The problem which he undertook was to investigate whether the of the companion obtained during the period extending from 1862 to 1890 would satisfy an ellipse with a 49'4 year revolution; to determine the most probable value of the place elements for every measurement on the assumption of the revolution; and to inquire whether the observations of the principal star could be represented by means of the so determined elements. The author divides the discussion into the following three parts :—(1) A summation and sifting of all the measures that have been made of this companion for the above mentioned period. (2) The derivation of the normal places, and the correction of the elements. (3) A comparison of the meridian observations of Sirius with the elements derived from the measurements of the companion. The result of the discussion is that a slight correction is necessary to reduce the right ascension and declination of the bright star to the centre of gravity of the two bodies (the masses of the chief star and of the companion being taken as 2:20 and 1'04). The table showing these corrections indicates that the right ascension between the years 1850 and 1890 has to be increased by a quantity which reaches to o 2325., while between 1890 and 1896 5 a diminution takes place. The greatest correction for the declination is + 2" 268, which occurs in 1882 0, and this correction becomes negative also about 1893.5.

53 13.21

44 O 0'3

43 54 55'3

49 33'4 43.55'I 38 0'7

31 509 25 25 2

7'04

31 PERSONAL EQUATIONS IN TRANSIT OBSERVATIONS.-An accurate determination of an observer's personal equation is to-day of as much importance as an observation itself, when such small quantities, as we now deal with, have to be measured. The variation in the latitude, of which we have heard so much of late, amounts to a quantity only a few times larger than that of a moderate personal equation, showing that no small regard must be paid to its estimation. In observing an N. P. D., the star has to be bisected by the horizontal wire, while the nadir point has also to be observed in both these cases an error can arise from personality, for the best observers cannot make a really true bisection. In the taking of transits another personality exists, but this is rather of a different kind, for, using the eye

IN

THE ANCIENT CIVILIZATION OF
CENTRAL AMERICA.

Central America there are abundant traces of the existence of a great race which must at one time have attained to a comparatively high state of culture. It was undoubtedly a race of American Indians, and as undoubtedly closely connected with the present Indian inhabitants of the country.

No trace, however, of the ancient culture and knowledge can be found amongst the Indians of to-day, and the numerous ruins which lie scattered over the country are the remains of towns which have neither names nor history attached to them.

Very little information can be gathered from the published writings of the Spaniards who overran the country at the close of the fifteenth and beginning of the sixteenth centuries; but, apart from their bearings on Spanish history and biography, these writings have received very imperfect examination and criticism. The Spaniards have been severely censured for their remiss

618

ness in omitting to record the wonders of the Indian civilization which they are supposed to have met with, and especially for having failed to tell us about the towns and highly decorated buildings the ruins of which have been frequently described by modern travellers; but this censure appears to be to a great extent unmerited, for their writings, if carefully searched, do reveal a considerable amount of information about the Indians as they found them, and they failed to describe the ancient buildings because, as I hope to prove later, in many cases these buildings were even then as deeply buried in the recesses of the forests as they are at the present day.

We naturally want to know more about this lost civilization, and there are many ways of attacking the problem. First of all, there is a large amount of correspondence, and a great number of reports written by the soldiers, officials, ecclesiastics, and other early settlers in the New World, which, not bearing on the main historical events of the conquest, have escaped publication, but which, if carefully examined, may afford valu

well as some original stone carvings, are now exhibited in the Maps, plans, photographs, Architectural Court of the Museum. and drawings, are in course of publication in the archæologi a section of the "Biologia Centrali-Americana."

The Editor of this journal has asked me to give some general account of the work on which I have been engaged, and its results, and this I will now attempt to do; but I must ask the reader to bear in mind that I started on the work almost by chance, and without any previous training or archæological knowledge, that I am but little acquainted with the literature of the subject, and have almost entirely confined my efforts to the collection of accurate copies of sculptures and inscriptions, in hope that some students may be found willing to make use of them. The following notes must therefore not be looked on as anything more than an attempt to clear the ground before an attack which I hope some day to see made on a difficult problem. The remains of the more civilized races of North America

can be traced from the Isthmus of Panama as far north as the ruined Pueblos in the Cañons of Colorado. This great extent of country can again be roughly divided into three portionsone extending from Colorado to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, a second from Tehuantepec to a line running nearly along the western frontiers of Honduras and Salvador, which may be called the Maya district, and a third from this line to the Isthmus of Panama.

So far as I know, no remains of stone buildings have been found in this last district, but much pottery is found-some of which is distinguished by great beauty of form, as well as excellence of decoration.

It is in the centre province, which includes Guatemala, Chiapas, Tabasco, and Yucatan, that my collections have been made, and the accompanying map shows the most important ruins visited.

It is impossible within the compass of an article, and