76 ARCHEOLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES. 



different parts of Asia ; the ancient population having been derived from the south, 

 and the present Indian race from the more northern part of the same continent." 1 



It will be noticed that these views, so far as they relate to the origin of popula- 

 tion, are simply in accordance with such as had been long entertained, although 

 previously founded on other than anatomical facts. 



Dr. Warren's examinations, however carefully and scientifically conducted, were 

 limited to a small number of crania ; but a collection was then in progress, intended 

 to be sufficiently numerous and varied to insure reliable results. 



In 1830, Dr. Samuel G. Morton, of Philadelphia, already distinguished as a 

 naturalist, having occasion to lecture on the form of the skull as exhibited in the 

 five races of man, found himself unable to procure specimens of each for his illus- 

 trations. Impressed with this great scientific deficiency, he resolved upon making 

 a collection himself. 



By the most indefatigable exertions, and a large expenditure of time and money, 

 he succeeded in obtaining a cabinet of crania superior to any in the world. 2 With 

 these means he prepared his Crania Americana, which has been received by 

 common consent into the highest ranks of that department of literature. 3 In 1842, 

 he read before the Boston Society of Natural History an essay which was after- 

 wards printed with the title of "An Inquiry into the Distinctive Characteristics of 

 the Aboriginal Race of America." A second edition appeared in 1844, and in that 

 year his Crania JEgyptiaca was published with the Transactions of the American 

 Philosophical Society. 



As having more elaborately than any predecessor investigated the comparative 

 physiology of our aborigines, and applied to a greater extent those anatomical tests 

 supposed to be most conclusive in determining national affinities, he must be 

 regarded as representing the highest advance which that branch of science has 

 made in this country. And more than this, his reputation abroad and at home as 

 an able and learned ethnologist has given to his views a position of authority that 



1 Am. Journal of Science, XXXIV, 47. 



3 The cost to Dr. Morton was estimated at from ten to fifteen thousand dollars, and at the time of his 

 death he had accumulated nearly a thousand human skulls, derived from all quarters of the globe. — Dr. 

 Patterson's Memoir of Morton, in " Types of Mankind." 



3 "Crania Americana, or a Comparative View of the Skulls of the various Aboriginal Nations of 

 North and South America. To which is prefixed an Essay on the Varieties of the Human Species." 

 Philad. and Lond., 1839. 



Alexander Von Humboldt addressed a complimentary letter to Dr. Morton in January, 1844, con- 

 taining these expressive words : 



" Les richesses craniologiques que vous avezete' assez heureux de reunir, ont trouve en vous un digne 

 interprete. Votre ouvrage, Monsieur, est egalement remarqualjle par la profondenr des vues anatomiques, 

 par le detail numerique des rapports de conformation organique, par l'absence des reveries poetiques 

 qui sont les mythes de la physiologie moderne, par les generality's dont votre ' Introductory Essay' 

 abonde. Redigeant dans ce moment le plus important de mes ouvrages, qui sera public sous le titre 

 imprudent de Kosmos, je saurai profiter de tant d'excellents apercus sur la distribution des races 

 humaines qui se trouvent epars dans votre beau volume. Que de sacrifices pecuniaires n'avez vous pas 

 du faire, pour atteindre une si graude perfection artistique, et produire un ouvrage qui rivalise avec 

 tout ce que l'on a fait de plus beau en Angleterre et en France." 



