4 Original Articles. On the Desirability of an English Translation of Aristotle's History of Animals. By Rev. W. Houghton, M.A., F.L.S.-The Atlantis Hypothesis in its botanical aspect. By Professor Oliver.-On the Anatomy of the Short Sun-fish (Orthragoriscus mola). By John Cleland, M.D., Demonstrator of Anatomy, University of Glasgow.-On the Structure and Composition of the Integument of the Orthragoriscus mola. By William Turner, M.B. (Lond) F.R.S.E., Senior Demonstrator of Anatomy, University of Edinburgh. Bibliography. Periodicals (Additions to former Lists). Zoological Bibliography: General and Mixed Works on Zoology, Geographical Distribution, etc.-Vertebrata.-Annulosa. No. VII.—JULY, 1862. (With Lithographic Plate). Reviews. Darwin on the Dimorphic Conditions in the Species of Primula, and on their remarkable Sexual Relations. Original Articles. On the Evidence of the Antiquity of Man, afforded by the Physical Structure of the Somme Valley. By John Lubbock, Esq., F.R.S.-On the Mammals, Birds, etc. of the Mackenzie River District. By Bernard Ross, Esq.-On the Distortions in the Crania of the Ancient Britons. By J. B. Davis, M.R.C.S. Engl. F.S.A. &c.-The Structure of the Stem in Dicotyledons; being References to the Literature of the Subject. By Professor Oliver, F.L.S.-On the Translation of the first chapter of Aristotle's History of Animals. By John Scouler, M.D., F.L.S. Bibliography. Zoological: Mollusca-Colenterata-Protozoa. Miscellanea. Note on the Co-existence of Man with the Dinornis in New Zealand.-Parthenogenesis in the Silk-worm Moth-Botanical Information.-Common Ling in Massachusetts. No. VIII.-OCTOBER, 1862. Zur Morphologie der Rassen-Schädel. Von Dr. J. C. G. Lucæ. The Mensuration of the Human Skull. By J. Aitkin Meigs, M.D. Philadelphia, 1861.-Thurnam and Davis, Crania Britannica, 1858-62, (with Plate VIII.) also of other Works, (French, German and Dutch) on Craniometry and Craniology.-Selecta Fungorum Carpologia, ea documenta et icones potissimum exhibens quæ varia fructuum et seminum genera in eodem fungo simul aut vicissim adesse demonstrent. - Junctis studiis ediderunt L. R. Tulasne et Carolus Tulasne. Tomus primus. Erysiphci. Parisiis, 1861, 4to.—Darwin on the Fertilization of Orchids. With Illustrations. Original Articles. Report on recent Researches into the Minute Anatomy of the Spinal Cord. By W. B. Kesteven, F.R.C.S, (with Plates IX. X. XI.)-On Distorted Human Skulls. By Professor Wyville Thomson.-On the Germination of Reticularia umbrina, Fr. By Frederick Currey, M.A., F.R.S. Sec. L.S.-Reply to the Remarks on the Translation of the First Chapter of Aristotle's History of Animals. By the Rev. W. Houghton, M.A., F.L S. Bibliography. BOTANICAL.-Phanerogamia-Cryptogamia. Miscellanea. The Pile Dwellings on Lake Prasias-On the Genus Cynips. WILLIAMS AND NORGATE, Publishers and Importers of Foreign Books, 1. ANCIENT MONUMENTS OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY, COMPRISING THE RESULTS OF EXTENSIVE ORIGINAL SURVEYS AND EXPLORATIONS. By E. G. Squier, A.M., and E. H. Davis, M.D. 2. ABORIGINAL MONUMENTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COMPRISING THE RESULTS OF ORIGINAL SURVEYS AND EXPLORATIONS; WITH AN ILLUSTRATIVE APPENDIX. By E. G. Squier, A. M. 3. THE ANTIQUITIES OF WISCONSIN, AS SURVEYED AND DESCRIBED BY J. A. Lapham. 4. THE ARCHEOLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES; OR SKETCHES, HISTORICAL AND BIBLIOGRAPHICAL, OF THE PROGRESS OF INFORMATION AND OPINION RESPECTING VESTIGES OF ANTIQUITY IN THE UNITED STATES. By Samuel F. Haven. 5. PREHISTORIC MAN: RESEARCHES INTO THE ORIGIN OF CIVILISATION IN THE OLD AND THE NEW WORLD. By Daniel Wilson, LL.D. THE first four works which we have placed at the head of this article form a part of the long series of scientific researches, which have been published, under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution. There are several other memoirs which we ought perhaps to have added to our list, and especially one by Mr. Caleb Atwater, who, according to Messrs. Squier and Davis, "deserves the credit of being the pioneer in this department." His researches form the first volume of the Archæologia Americana, which was published in 1819, and contains plans and descriptions of many ancient works. The memoir by Messrs. Squier and Davis, occupying more than three hundred pages, is chiefly descriptive of ancient fortifications, enclosures, temples and mounds, and of the different implements, ornaments, &c. which have been obtained from them. It is embelN. H. R.-1863. B lished with forty-eight plates, and no less than two hundred and seven woodcuts. In his second work, Mr. Squier confines himself to the antiquities of the State of New York. Within these limits, however, he describes many ancient monuments of various kinds, and he feels "warranted in estimating the number which originally existed in "the State at from two hundred to two hundred and fifty." He comes to the conclusion, "little anticipated," he says, "when I started upon my trip of exploration, that the earthworks of Western New "York were erected by the Iroquois, or their western neighbours, "and do not possess an antiquity going very far back of the dis"covery." (sic.) The systematic exploration of the ancient remains in Wisconsin, of which the memoir by Mr. Lapham is the result, was undertaken by him on behalf of the American Antiquarian Society, from whose funds the necessary expenses were provided. The cost of the publishing, however, which from the great number of engravings (fifty-five plates, besides sixty-one wood engravings) was considerable, was defrayed by the Smithsonian Institution, and the work is included in the Seventh Volume of “Contributions." As our account of the "Animal Mounds" will be almost entirely derived from the data furnished by Mr. Lapham, we will for the moment say no more on the subject. Mr. Haven's work is well described in the title, and forms an interesting introduction to the study of North American Archæology. He gives us comparatively few observations or opinions of his own; but after a careful examination of what others have written, he comes to the conclusion that the ancient earthworks of the United States "differ less in kind than in degree from other remains concerning "which history has not been entirely silent. They are more numerous, more concentrated, and in some particulars on a larger scale "of labour, than the works which approach them on their several borders, and with whose various characters they are blended. Their "numbers may be the result of frequent changes of residence by a comparatively limited population, in accordance with a supersti"tious trait of the Indian nature, leading to the abandonment of places where any great calamity has been suffered; but they appear "rather to indicate a country thickly inhabited for a period long "enough to admit of the progressive enlargement and extension of "its movements." The last work on our list is of a very different nature. It is more general and more ambitious. At the same time, it scarcely fulfils the promise of its title; for though some portions are sufficiently general, by far the larger part is purely North American. It will form the subject of a separate notice in this Review. The antiquities themselves fall into two great divisions: Implements (including ornaments) and Earthworks. The Earthworks have been divided by the American Archæologists into seven classes: 1. Defensive enclosures; 2. Sacred and Miscellaneous enclosures; 3. Sepulchral mounds; 4. Sacrificial mounds; 5. Temple mounds; 6. “Animal” mounds; and 7. Miscellaneous mounds. These classes we shall treat separately, and we can then better consider the "moundbuilders" themselves. IMPLEMENTS. The simple weapons of bone and stone which are found in America closely resemble those which occur in other countries. The flakes, hatchets, axes, arrow-heads, and bone implements are, for instance, very similar to those which occur in the Swiss lakes, if only we make allowance for the differences of material. In addition to the simple forms, which may almost be said to be ubiquitous, there are some, however, which are more complicated. In many cases they are perforated, as for instance those figured by Messrs. Squier and Davis (1. c. p. 218). These perforated axes are generally considered in Europe to belong to the metallic age, as also was probably the case in the New World. At the time of the discovery of America, iron was absolutely unknown to the natives, with the exception perhaps of a tribe near the mouth of the La Plata, who had arrows tipped with this metal, which they are supposed to have obtained from masses of native iron. The powerful nations of Central America were, however, in the age of Bronze, while the North Americans were in a condition of which we find in Europe but scanty traces-namely, in the age of Copper. Silver is the only other metal which has been found in the ancient tumuli, and that but in very small quantities. It occurs sparingly in a native form with the copper of Lake Superior, whence, in all probability, it was derived. It does not appear to have been ever smelted. From the large quantity of galena which is found in the mounds, Messrs. Squier and Davis are disposed to think that lead must have been used to a certain extent by the North American tribes: the metal itself, however, has not, I believe, yet been found. Copper, on the other hand, occurs frequently in the tumuli, both wrought and unwrought. The axes have a striking resemblance to the simple axes of Europe, which contain the minimum quantity of tin; and some of the Mexican paintings give us interesting evidence as to the manner in which they were handled and used. These, however, were of bronze, and had therefore been fused; but the Indian axes, which are of pure copper, appear in all cases to have been worked in a cold state, which is the more remarkable, because, as Messrs. Squier and Davis have well observed, "the fires upon the "altar were sufficiently intense to melt down the copper implements " and ornaments deposited upon them. The hint thus afforded does not seem to have been seized upon." * One "cast" copper axe is however recorded as having been found in the State of New York, but there is no evidence to show by whom it was made. This is less surprising than it at first appears, if we remember that round Lake Superior, and in some other still more northern localities, copper is found native in large quantities, and the Indians had therefore nothing to do but to break off pieces and hammer them into the required shape. Hearne's celebrated Journey to the mouth of the Coppermine River was undertaken in order to examine the locality whence the natives of that district obtained the metal. In this case it occurred in lumps actually on the surface, and the Indians seem to have picked up what they could, without attempting anything that could be called mining. Round Lake Superior, however, the case is very different. A short account of the ancient coppermines is given by Messrs. Squier and Davis in the work already so often cited, by Mr. Squier in "The Aboriginal Monuments of the State of New York," and by Mr. Lapham,* while the same subject is treated at considerable length by Prof. Wilson. The works appear to have been first discovered in 1817 by the agent of the Minnesota Mining Company. "Following up the indications of a continuous depression in the "soil, he came at length to a cavern where he found several porcupines "had fixed their quarters for hybernation; but detecting evidences "of artificial excavation, he proceeded to clear out the accumulated "soil, and not only exposed to view a vein of copper, but found in the "rubbish numerous stone mauls and hammers of the ancient workmen. Subsequent observations brought to light ancient excavations "of great extent, frequently from twenty-five to thirty feet deep, and "scattered over an area of several miles. The rubbish taken from "these is piled up in mounds alongside; while the trenches have "been gradually refilled with the soil and decaying vegetable-matter "gathered through the long centuries since their desertion; and over "all, the giants of the forest have grown, and withered, and fallen to decay. Mr. Knapp, the agent of the Minnesota Mining Company, "counted 395 annular rings on a hemlock-tree, which grew on one "of the mounds of earth thrown out of an ancient mine. Mr. Foster "also notes the great size and age of a pine stump, which must have grown, flourished and died since the works were deserted; and "Mr. C. Whittlesley not only refers to living trees now flourishing "in the gathered soil of the abandoned trenches, upwards of three hundred years old, but he adds, 'On the same spot there are the "decayed trunks of a preceding generation or generations of trees "that have arrived at maturity, and fallen down from old age.' "According to the same writer, in a communication made to the "American Association, at the Montreal meeting in 1857, these "ancient works extend over a track from 100 to 150 miles in length, along the southern shore of the lake." In another excavation was found a detached mass of native copper, weighing upwards of six tons. It rested on an artificial cradle of Loc. cit. p. 74. |