Scientific Reviews. 31 



on the 31st of March. Thus, in the space of nine months, between 

 the date of No. 28, and that promised for March 3lst, we have 

 only three, in lieu of eight numbers. 



We would not make this remark, but that we, with several of 

 our friends, are eager to see the work, as one of reference, rendered 

 useful by being completed. If Mr. Stephens has not yet well de- 

 termined the affinities of some of his new species, let them be pub- 

 lished in a supplement, but do not let the public want their syste- 

 jmatic work. 



We terminate, after this gentle admonition, by expressing our- 

 selves generally satisfied with the execution of the work, wishing 

 it every success, and, if necessary, recommending it to our ento- 

 moloffical friends. 



Des Caracteres Physiologiques des Races Humaines consider es 

 dans leurs rapports avec I'hisloire ; par W. F. Edwards, 

 D. M. &c. 8vo. Paris. 1829. 



Review of M. Edwards' Work ; by M. Decandolle, Bib. Univ. 

 Litterat. Tom. 41. p. 175. ; 



The physical history of the human race forms a page in the book 

 of nature, which no man has hitherto been able to peruse ; and yet 

 the pruriency of the age has already sought to apply the scanty and 

 unconnected knowledge, we possess, in elucidation of historic facts, 

 and in proof of traditional rumours. 



The study of the physiological characters of man has sprung up 

 amongst the novelties of our own day. — Blumenbach, the father of 

 the science, is yet alive, — and the validity of his propositions are 

 yet open to dispute. It appears, then, to be dangerous to attempt 

 the corroboration or refutation of opinions, founded on tradition or 

 on written documents^ by speculations drawn from a young and 

 uncertain science. 



That the natural history of man is yet undetermined, the works 

 of Blumenbach, of Desmoulins, of Bory St. Vincent, of Prichard, 

 of Lawrence, of Virey, of Lacepede, of Smith, and numerous others, 

 sufficiently attest ; and so long as there are men of high repute, 

 who contend that the permanent varieties of the human race pos- 

 sess characters sufficiently distinct to establish their specific differ- 

 ence, — so long as there are those who can, with show of reason, 

 support the opinion that the human race is not the produce of a 

 single pair, — who believe that the inhabitants of the South Sea 

 Islands could not possibly have wandered to their abodes from the 

 summits of the Caucasus, and that the Jews, who are said to have 

 preserved their structural peculiarities for ages, could never be 

 changed into the Ethiopian type, — whilst others with confidence 

 assert the unity of origin, and identity of species, — there is much 

 reason for exceeding cautiousness in the application of the princi- 

 ples we at present recognize. 



