190 Distinctive Characteristics of the 



fer the foregoing observations. I shall continue, as opportimi- 

 ties may occur, to present you with additional information rC' 

 specting our Ichthyology. 



Art. XV.— an INQUIRY INTO THE DISTINCTIVE CHARAC- 

 TERISTICS OF THE ABORIGINAL RACE OF AMERICA. 

 By Samuel George Morton, M. D. (Read at the Annual Meeting, 

 April 27, 1842.) 



To the Members of the Boston Society of J\tatural Histoj-y. 



Gentlemen — On receiving the highly flattering invitation 

 to deliver yonr Annual Address, it occurred to me that nothing 

 would be so appropriate as a review of the present state of 

 Natural Science in this country : but having almost simulta- 

 neously received the Address of Mr. Teschemacher for the past 

 year, I found it so full and satisfactory on this question as to 

 leave little or nothing for further discussion. I have there- 

 fore been induced to seek another field of inquiry, and in so 

 doing, have very naturally turned to a subject which has long 

 occupied my leisure hours, and which, though frequently ex- 

 amined, may yet, I trust, be recurred to with pleasure and in- 

 struction. I propose to take a rapid glance at what I conceive 

 to be the peculiar traits of the Aboriginal race of America, as 

 embraced in five principal considerations, viz : — their organ- 

 ic, moral and intellectual characters, their mode of interment 

 and their maritime enterprise ; and from these 1 shall venture to 

 draw a few definite conclusions. I am aware that it may ap- 

 pear presumptuous to attempt so wide a range within the brief 

 limits of the present occasion, especially as some points can 

 be touched only in the most general manner ; but my object 

 has been to dwell rather upon some of these which have hith- 

 erto received less attention than they obviously deserve, and 

 which are intimately involved in the present inquiry. With 

 this explanation I submit to your indidgent consideration the 

 contents of the following memoir. 



S. G. MORTON. 



