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 use of sign language,—the raising of the fingers, one, two, or three, to denote the number of tickets wanted when a transfer is to be made the raising of the hand and pointing forward, to tell the conductor to stop at the next corner."

The following topics are given as to be discussed at the monthly meeting 1899-1900: October meeting, Harvest customs and crop superstitions; November meeting, Personal superstitions respecting families and individuals; December meeting. Games, rhymes, and riddles; January meeting. Cross-roads, running water, and holy wells; February meeting, Sailors; and soldiers' superstitions; March meeting, Easter superstitions; April meeting, Maryland day. Aside from this, it is proposed to take up certain studies in "groups" or committees; and it is hoped that every member of the Society will join one of these groups, and notify the secretary of his or her desire to do so. The group subjects already planned for are as follows: "Sign language amongst all peoples and through all time;" "Folk-lore of animals;" "The evil eye" Other "group subjects" may be added at any time.

The officers of the Society for the year are as follows: President, Professor Henry Wood. Vice-President, Mrs. John C. Wrenshall. Secretary, Miss Anne Weston Whitney. Treasurer, Dr. Henry M. Hurd. Members of the Council, Mrs. Waller R. Bullock, Mrs. John D. Early, Miss Mary Willis Minor, Prof. Maurice Bloomfield, Prof. Kirby F. Smith, Dr. Charles C. Marden, Miss Mary Worthington Milnor.

—The programme for the year 1S99-1900 is as follows, the general subject being "The Folk-lore of Different Nations:" November 8. "Mexico," paper by Prof. P. F. Walker; December 13, "Japan," Mrs. Etsu Sugimoto; January 10, open meeting at the Woman's Club, "The Relation between Indian Story and Song." Miss Alice C. Fletcher; February 7. "Sweden." Josua Lindahl, Ph. D.; March 14, "Islands of the Pacific," Miss Florence Wilson: April 11. "Africa."' Mrs. A. C. Woods.

Books especially recommended for 1899-1900 are: Journal and Memoirs of the American Folk-Lore Society: The American Anthropologist; Brinton: Races and Peoples, new edition; Ratzel: the History of Mankind; Quatrefages: Histoire géneralé des races humaines; Spencer: The Principles of Sociology.

The officers of the Branch for the year 1899-1900 are as follows: President, Charles L. Edwards. Ph. D. First Vice-President, J. D. Buck, M. D. Second Vice-President, V. A. King. Secretary, Mrs. C F. Hopkins Treasurer, Mrs. A. P. McLeod. Advisory Committee, Miss Annie Laws, C. D. Crank. M. D., Mrs. A. C. Woods, Miss Field.

The Branch reports thirty-one active and twenty-five associate members.

1900.— An international congress of folk-lorists, and of all scientific students of popular traditions, is to be held under the patronage of the French government in the series of official congresses of the Exposition of 1900. The