ANTHROPOLOGY. 



By Otis T. Mason. 



INTRODUCTION. 



An exhaustive chronicle of Anthropology for the year 1885 would con- 

 tain the account of a few general and a vast number of special works of 

 great imi>ortance. A cursory view of the titles appended to this brief 

 summary reveals the fact that new portions of the human frame, and 

 new groups of human phenomena, are yearly brought within the area 

 of scientilic investigation. Hand in hand with the widening of the do- 

 main of inquiry has gone on, also, the invention of more refined appa- 

 ratus of research, and the increase of ingenious methods for bringing 

 knowledge into new combinations to ascertain and express means and 

 averages. With respect to the last point, it is gratifying to note that 

 more than one anthropologist has realized the fact that any expression 

 of means which does not also preserve the exact status of each com- 

 ponent is faulty. 



There is one element of true scientific investigation which, under the 

 pressure of circumstances, is being better systematized by anthropolo- 

 gists. It is the classification of the subjects with which they have to 

 deal, according to the laws of evidence. If we may be permitted the use 

 of the term, the knowledges which underlie their scientific speculations 

 and deductions differ most widely, some resting on the testimony of a 

 single individual who has destroyed the last vestige of evidence by 

 which he could make good his word ; other reasonings are based upon 

 the i)reservation of material in such form and abundance, and with 

 such authentication, as to put it within the power of any investigator 

 to report experiments or examine methods. Surely conclusions based 

 upon these two kinds of evidence would differ greatly in their breadth 

 of base. K a report of progress in any science should not omit to call 

 attention to improvements manifested in the methods of the investiga- 

 tor, much more should it mark growing tendencies to conform itself to 

 rigid logic in its inferences. 



WORKS OF GENERAL IMPORTANCE. 



The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia organized courses 

 of scientific lectures during the year, and elected Dr. Daniel G. iJrinton, 



yi5 



