PHYSIOLOGICAL RESEARCHES. 83 



These passages, taken almost at random, indicate the bearing of the argument 

 upon the archaeology of this continent. 



The writers have aimed to construct a theory of human natural history from 

 purely scientific facts and archaeological discoveries. 



The monuments of Egypt and Assyria, as explained by Belzoni, Champollion, 

 Rossellini, Wilkinson, Lepsius, Layard, and others, are regarded as sources of 

 reliable chronology, and, under the physiological expositions of Morton, as illus- 

 trating the original types of man. The geological and paloeontological revelations of 

 nature are studied, in preference to records and traditions, for light upon human 

 origins ; and in the general harmony, consistency, and uniformity of physical laws, 

 and the mutual relations of the phenomena of the natural world, are professedly 

 sought the means of solving the mystery of the creation and distribution of all 

 organized beings. 



Considered from this point of view, and without reference to any theological 

 speculations or controversial disquisitions, in which the authors have indulged, 

 their work is an exponent of a method of inquiry which might be expected to 

 yield interesting results. 



Professor Agassiz, in his contribution to this work, points out the manner in 

 which the physical and organic features of the American continents vary from 

 those of the Old World. In the Old World, the tropical realms are in strong con- 

 trast to the temperate zone; tropical Africa has hardly any species of animals in 

 common with Europe; tropical Asia differs equally from its temperate regions; 

 and Australia forms a world by itself. On the contrary, the range of mountains 

 which extends in almost unbroken continuity from the Arctic zone to Cape Horn, 

 establishes a similarity between North and South America, which may be traced 

 also to a great extent in its plants and animals. Entire families, which are pecu- 

 liar to this continent, have their representatives in both Americas. " Thus, with 

 due qualification, it may be said that the whole continent of America is charac- 

 terized by a much greater uniformity of its natural productions, combined with a 

 special localization of many of its subordinate types, which will justify the esta- 

 blishment of many special faunae within its boundaries." " With these facts before 

 us, we may expect that there should be no great diversity among the tribes of man 

 inhabiting this continent. At the same time it should be remembered, that in 

 accordance with the zoological character of the wdiole realm, this race is divided 

 into an infinite number of small tribes, presenting more or less difference one from 

 another." 



In the chapter on The Aboriginal Races of America, by Dr. Nott, it is remarked 

 that, in treating of American races, the purpose is " simply to bring forward such 

 facts as may be sufficient to establish their origin and antiquity," without going 

 into details "respecting the infinitude of types which compose them." Having 

 shown, as he thinks, " that the major divisions of the earth, or its different zoolo- 

 gical provinces, were populated by groups of races bearing to each other certain 

 family resemblances, notwithstanding that, in reality, these races originated in 

 nations, and not in a single pair — thus forming proximate but not identical spe- 

 cies" — he adduces the Mongols, the Caucasians, the Negroes, the Americans, as 



