Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 46.djvu/571

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LITERARY NOTICES.
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velop her faculties as an artist; and examples are given of the patterns that savage women in America have worked out, which for beauty and harmony of design are not more than equaled by the most exquisite specimens of Grecian work in the same lines. American Indian costumes are shown which may be compared with the most picturesque. While there were burden-bearers among the animals before, "the idea of modifying a natural object for the purpose of creating a carrying tool seems first to have occurred to the human female." It is not enough, in speaking of savage women, says the author, "to say that they, as a class, do this or that. It should be also asked how many of these are performed by one woman—in short, by every woman." This thought is introductory to a consideration of the diversity of occupations in which they must be proficient—to a chapter on "The Jack-at-all trades." Woman is further presented as "The Founder of Society," by virtue of her motherhood and what it implies, and as "The Patron of Religion." Finally, "in whatever actions the primitive women excelled—and the number is not small—they surely deserve the apotheosis they have received for their development of the maternal side of life. . . . For the highest ideals in civilization, in humanitarianism, in education, and government, the way was prepared in savagery by mothers and by the female clan groups, and the most commanding positions are at this moment in their possession." The book is good reading, and is abundantly and handsomely illustrated.

Hoofs, Claws, and Antlers of the Rocky Mountains by the Camera. With an Introduction by the Hon. Theodore Roosevelt. Denver, Col.: Frank S. Travis. Pp. 7, with 32 Plates.

This is a book of photographic reproductions from life of wild game—deer, antelope. Rocky Mountain goat, bighorn, puma, bison, bear, etc.—of the Rocky Mountains. Most of the pictures were taken by Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Wallihan, settlers in northwestern Colorado, accomplished sportsmen both, naturalists, and photographers. They were necessarily taken under great disadvantages; for a suitable position had to be secured of animals which would vanish at the least alarm, with favorable light-exposures. It is not wonderful, therefore, that the failures vastly outnumbered the successes. Only successes are given. In order to make the collection of wild animals found in the Rocky Mountains complete, a few photographs taken by others than Mr. and Mrs. Wallihan are used. The text gives sketches of the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Wallihan, by themselves, stories of their adventures among the animals, and incidents of the circumstances under which the several photographs were taken. There is no posing for positions in these pictures; the animals are represented truly as they were found, unwitting that anything was going on, or at the instant when they were startled by the first perception of the novel proceeding. Among them are a buck which has just noticed the photographic apparatus, with his doe still unconscious; a group of deer at the ford on a winter morning; two startled bucks just ready to jump; a doe swimming Bear River; a buck standing alone in his glen; a pair crossing a stream; three alarmed antelopes; herds and groups of antelopes in different attitudes; Rocky Mountain goats on their cliff; elks single and in groups; a puma on the lookout from a tree top, and a puma treed; bighorns startled, a wild cat, and buffalo; bears in the berry patch; beavers at work; sage hens, a wolf in search of breakfast, a jack-rabbit, a prairie-dog colony, listening deer, a rattlesnake coiled to strike, and game pictures. Mr. Roosevelt, who is acquainted with the game, speaks admiringly of the naturalness and accuracy of the attitudes, and believes that the book is "unique and of the utmost value." We think naturalists and artists will agree with him.

Tertiary Rhynchophorous Coleoptera of the United States. By Samuel Hubbard Scudder. Washington: Government Printing Office. Pp. 206, with Twelve Plates.

This work is published as Monograph XXI, of the United States Geological Survey. The author published in 1890 an account of all the Tertiary insects of the country known up to a few years, as far as regarded the lower orders; but the higher orders were nearly untouched. These furnished an immense amount of material, the elaboration of which was begun at once. The