Studies of Savages and Sec (Methuen, 10s. 6d.), a post-
unnous volume by Ernest Crawley, edited by Theodore Etesterman, will dd little to further the reputation of its [istinguished author. These notes (for they are little more han that) add nothing to our knowledge and are often traps or the unwary investigator. They are tendencious gleanings rom the whole field of sexual anthropology, but unfortunately he bulk of the material is already out of date. Des societes miniales of Espinis, published in 1879, for instance, is quoted
as " a modern authority," and a hypothesis of Max Kutschen's, dated 1876, is styled " a more recent deduction." It is not surprising, therefore, that the present century is largely ignored. Each chapter brings together a mass of illustrative examples from all parts of the world ; but as these are torn froth their contexts they are not strictly comparable, and often create a fallacious impression. Geographical terms arc used with a deceptive vagueness to generalize the unique cultural elements of a single tribe. The editing leaves much to be desired. In several instances new editions of an early work arc not noticed in the references, and to plead guilty to silent alterations in the text does not exonerate an editor.
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